Tradition and the place of women in ole Kulet's novel

Cover of Henry Ole Kulet's novel Blossoms of the Savannah.

What you need to know:

  • On their first day in Nasila, Taiyo and Resian share breakfast with 16 or so children aged between three and 16.
  • Their mothers were there, too (pg. 16). In the home, life and work is communal, with each mother having her own house and cooking her own food.
  • All grown-up daughters help each of the mothers with the chores. Selflessness is encouraged and selfishness shunned as everything is  shared (pg. 149).

Blossoms of the Savannah by H.R. ole Kulet tackles various thematic concerns emerging in a changing society. It depicts how a family that has lived in a town struggles to fit in a rural area, amid difficulties of merging both experiences.

Today, we will examine the themes of tradition, the place of women in society, alienation and cultural conflict.

Tradition in a society is vital as it binds members together and ensures harmonious co-existence. In ole Kulet’s novel, the Maa society reveals a rich culture through the various activities.

The community practices communalism, female circumcision and self-governance. Polygamy is embraced, as seen in Simiren, who has four wives with Yeiyo-Botorr being the eldest.

On their first day in Nasila, Taiyo and Resian share breakfast with 16 or so children aged between three and 16. Their mothers were there, too (pg. 16). In the home, life and work is communal, with each mother having her own house and cooking her own food. All grown-up daughters help each of the mothers with the chores. Selflessness is encouraged and selfishness shunned as everything is  shared (pg. 149).

During ole Kaelo’s homecoming, every one chips in to make the event a success. Young men of his Ilmolelian clan are charged with the responsibility of organising the activities for the day (pg. 39). A large number of people turn up, even uniformed children perform a dance.

Female circumcision is an accepted and honoured rite of passage in this community. They believe it tames an otherwise wild gender. Like cattle that need dehorning, this tradition is meant to ensure docility in women.

Taiyo and Resian are referred by a derogatory name intoiye nemengalana because they have not undergone the rite. Mama Milanoi remembers that in her days, no girl got married before circumcision. A girl who became pregnant before circumcision was derogatorily referred to as entaapai. She and the family could be derided. She could be circumcised when giving birth and married off to the oldest man in the village.

The Maa culture has clear rules for self-governance. There are rules to guide relationships and to punish offenders. Simiren informs mama Milanoi that Joseph Parmuat is a brother of Taiyo since they are from the same clan and sub-clan. When two young men, Ntara Muyo and Lante, attempt to rape Taiyo and Resian, they tuck their heads between the protective legs of two old men. This saves their lives. They are fined two heifers each and Ntara Muyo an extra heifer to cover the shame that he has caused by accosting his own sister.

The place of women is an emergent issue in this community. The relationship between Mama Milanoi and ole Kaelo is not equal as the husband makes all decisions while as a wife, she is not expected to oppose him. A woman does not choose a marriage partner and tradition does not allow her to offer any resistance. When Mama Milanoi’s hand is sought in marriage, she accepts without resistance.

Taiyo and Resian know that their mother is in awe of their father who holds her captive and never for once allows her to express her own opinion on any matter, however minor. This robs her the opportunity to protect her daughters from circumcision.

Alienation is also an emergent theme in this novel. Ole Kaelo and his family have been away from Nasila for many years. Upon his retrenchment, he moves back to Nasila with his family and they are confronted with Nasila culture. Ole Kaelo is monogamous in a community that practices polygamy and has two daughters where sons are cherished. He is likened to a mono-eyed giant who stands on legs of straw.

He calls the clan elders megalomaniacs trapped in archaic traditions that would be better buried and forgotten. However, Simiren who had remained in Nasila, is more appreciated and considered the cultural head of the Kaelos.

They issue of the status of Kaelo’s daughters as uncircumcised become a real issue once they settle in Nasila. It gnaws Mama Milanoi as she realises that the community cherishes female circumcision. On their first day, the girls are accosted by a man who wants to know what kind of stuff they are made of. He tells them that soon they will come to know that there was no place for women of their ilk.

Taiyo goes against traditional Nasila culture by falling in love with Joseph, who is of her clan. She is also ignorant of the types of love that exist in the Maa culture. Their relationship is forbidden as they are considered related. Taiyo is against that tradition since she feels that it curtails her freedom to marry anybody she falls in love with (p.133). Mama Milanoi feels that her daughters know very little of Nasila culture and that they are children of a new undefined culture.

Joseph Parmuat coaches Resian and Taiyo in traditional song and dance. Resian’s interest in the coaching wanes as her desire is university education and that could not be substituted for anything else.

CULTURE CONFLICT

Culture conflict is another theme evident in this community. The Kaelo family that had lived in Nakuru and exposed to different cultures experiences a clash with Nasila culture when they move back to the rural area.

Mama Milanoi hopes to get two sons-in–law from reputable families to catapult them right into the centre of the affairs of the community.

There is, however, a setback as she remembers questions from her women friends. She had dismissed them before as busybodies but now it dawns on her that they would be mothers of her would-be sons-in-law.

The status of her daughters now becomes a thorn in the flesh for her and she is in a dilemma as to how to protect them from a culture she considered barbaric. Yet, at the same time, she wants to help them fit into the Nasila culture.

She knows that Nasila people are intolerant to those who do not cherish their traditions. She chooses to be dutiful and submissive to ole Kaelo and abandons her duty to protect her daughters. She wishes to join the fight against practices like FGM but she fears for her marriage. Her fear for her husband keeps her in check, thus she betrays the girls.

Taiyo experiences cultural conflict when she falls in love with Parmuat, who, like her, is from the sub-clan of Iloorasha-kineji. It is, therefore, an abomination if they are to have any illicit contact. Parmuat also experiences the same conflict and he is torn between his feelings and his loyalty to his culture. He considers running away but feels that Nasila culture is too valuable to be abandoned. Nasila culture was a father and mother that had bought him up and nurtured him. After intense soul searching, the wisdom of Maa prevails. He declines her love.

Kaelo also faces cultural conflict when he has to choose between giving out his daughter Resian to his business partner Oloisudori as its success or failure could impact his business. He assures himself that Oloisudori is just a man enjoying the fruit of his labour. He feels that if the plan goes wrong, then they could lose even their house as Oloisudori had given him a loan to buy the house. Ole Kaelo consents to Oloisudori to abduct the girl and take her to his house in Milimani Estate, Nakuru.

The novel has more themes to be explored without the constraints of space. Some of them include change, betrayal, male chauvinism and family relationships, just to mention a few.