The River and the Source - Part 4

Q3.      Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow
Odero looked confused for a moment, having expected a spirited fight to reduce the number to at least twenty head. However, he was not a great Chief for nothing. He rose beautifully to the occasion. After all style had to be met with style, Nyadhi with Nyadhi
“Ayie, I have accepted your suit. May the young girl be called so that people of Sakwa may see what a jewel we are giving them.” “Giving us!” thought Otieno in annoyance. ‘at this rate there will be no cattle left for me pay bride price with.’
In a little while Akoko walked in, in the company of her mother. Traditionally the girl at this point should have been the picture of demure shyness, her eyes fixed firmly on the floor, her hands held together in front of her mouth. Not Akoko. She walked in, steps measured, head held high, hands at her sides. Her head swiveled around a bit and then her gaze rested on Owuor. Let him see what he was getting.
‘What a brazen lass, ‘thought Otieno. ‘Thirty head indeed!’ Owour experienced an indescribable sensation. What happened, of course was that he had fallen deeply and irrevocably in love. Since that was not considered particularly important for a successful marriage, he did not understand or appreciate what was happening to him and that it would change his entire life and outlook.
She turned and left the room. Her mother remained for the rest of the ceremony. “People of Sakwa,” continued Aloo, “We are pleased that we have reached an understanding. We hope that a friendship will spring up between us now and into posterity. Let us pour more libation to Were and drink more kong’o to gladden our hearts. Mother of Akoko, please bring us some food.” The feasting went on into the late afternoon until about the tenth hour. Then the suitors had to leave, for chick did not allow them to spend the night.
Questions
  (a) Place this excerpt in its immediate context.          (4mks)
  (b) What were chief Odero’s expections after fixing the bride price at thirty head?                (2mks)
  (c) Why is Otieno disappointed?                   (2mks)
  (d) Explain what Otieno does later in the novel as a sign of dislike for Akoko.                       (4mks)
  (e) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in passage
       (i) Demure
       (ii) Brazen lass
  (f) Change the following into a question          (1mk)
  (g) Describe any two aspects of tradition evident in the excerpt.     (2mks)
  (h) Describe Otieno’s character as depicted in the extract.     (4mks)
  (i) Examine two aspects of style and their effects.      (4mks)
   Answers
  (a) Before
       - The Jodongo had been outside consulting on how much to demand as bride price.
      - They have come back into the hut.
     After
     - The people of Sakwa bring the bride price
     - Akoko is married off after the traditional mock fight
(b) He thought the suitors would request to have it reduced. It wasn’t to be
(c) He did not expect the bride price to be fixed at thirty heads as this would mean there will be no more cattle to pay (bride price) for his own wives
(d) Complains as does his mother about Akoko’s inability to have many children.
He takes away Akoko’s wealth. He is not willing to hand over the chieftaincy to Akoko’s grandchild
(e) (i) Modest
     (ii) A girl who is shameless
(f) Is she not a brazen lass?
(g) Tradition – the behaviour of girls before their suitors – they should be shy, their eyes on the ground hands at their mouths
Suitors cannot spend the night at their in-laws
(h) Selfish – wants Akoko’s bride price reduced so as to benefit “at this rate there will be no cattle left to pay bride price with”
Sarcastic – says “Thirty head indeed.” As he does not approve of Akoko’s behaviour (4mks)
(i) - Metaphor – “Jewel” refers to Akoko – she is precious/her beauty makes her extremely valuable as a jewel
       - Local dialect – “Kong’o” and “Were” -  the local words give the story local flavo

Q5.      Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
 “Let them show that my daughter is not going to starve in that wasteland they call a home.”They trooped back into the hut and the negotiations began in earnest.
            “Brother, people of Sakwa, we are pleased to welcome you to Yimbo. It is customary, because of the good dak between us, for you to marry our daughters and we yours. we are therefore more than neighbours, we have great wat between us of the intermingling of blood though this has not occurred between our two lines so there is no danger of brother marrying sister- a great taboo. Since you are our brothers, we will not make things difficult for you.” Here he stopped to take a sip of Kong’o and you could have heard the ants talk, so great was the silence. However, nobody was fooled by his sweet words.
            He continued, enjoying immensely the tension he was creating. “Our daughter, Adoyo Obanda is a great beauty whose assets have been praised and sung by many a nyatiti singer from here to Chumbu Kombit, from Sakwa to Loka Nam. She is as fleet as a gazelle and her flying feet have been incorporated into the saying of our village so that mothers sending their daughters on errand tell them to run like Adoyo of the flying feet. She has been carefully brought up and has been taught all the requirements of chik. She is a very apt pupil, and will therefore not bring shame and ruin to her husband by improper conduct.
            Her antecedents are peerless for she can trace her bloodline clear to Ramogi our great father and her blood is pure for we have always taken care to marry correctly. She is also the eldest daughter of our great chief, a man whose fame is known throughout this land. After careful consultation, we have therefore decided that thirty head of cattle should be the proper bride price.” Was that an inaudible gasp from someone at the back? Chief Owour Kembo signaled to his uncle and the old man spoke.
(a)        State what happens just before and after this extract.            (4 marks)
(b)        What is the importance of this ceremony?         (3 marks)
(c)        Identify and illustrate two themes brought out in the extract.            (4 marks)
(d)       Identify and illustrate 3 features of style used in the extract.            (3 marks)
(e)        With illustrations, cite two character traits of Akoko as evidenced in the extract.      (4 marks)
(f)        We have therefore decided that thirty head of cattle should be proper bride price.
            (Rewrite the statement in indirect speech)              (1 mark)
(g)        “Let them show that my daughter is not going to starve in that wasteland they call a home.”
             Who says this and what aspect of his/her character is brought out in the statement?         (2 marks)
(h)        However, nobody was fooled by his sweet words.(change into active voice)        (1 mark)
(i)         What was Otieno’s reaction about the bride prize?          (3 marks)
Answers
(a)   Before
            - Akoko’s marriage negotiations are going on.
            -Chief Odero Gogni calls the council Jodongo outside for consultation.
- he had already sent away twelve suitors who wanted a hand in marriage for his eldest daughter.
            - he liked this particular suitor but wants to trim their arrogance.
            - sets bride price at thirty heads of cattle.    2 marks
        After
            - The suitors request to be allowed to consult.
            - watching  what was going on from her mothers kitchen. Akoko is resigned
            to remaining in her father’s home.
            - the suitors especially Otieno Kembo argue against the high bride price.
            -Owour Kembo accepts the dowry asked for without bargaining.      2 marks
(b)        - the marriage was to portray the great friendship between the two parties involved in
            the case of Sakwa and Yimbo.
            - Intermarriage was to lead to a cordial relationship.
            - Customarily, good neighborliness was to be fostered through marriage.       3 marks
(c)      Tradition
            Marriage institution was core in the people’s lives.
            Negotiations and dowry payments was necessary before marriage took place.
           Love and marriage
            Love wasn’t a necessary ingredient for marriage to take place.
            A girl married the man of her fathers choice.       4 marks
(d)       simile –she is as fleet as a gazelle.
            Personification –you could have heard the ants talk.
            Metaphor –her flying fleet.
            Local language – ‘wat’ ‘dak’ ‘nyatiti’ ‘kongo’                               Any three= 3 marks
(e)        fast/swift –she is as fleet as a gazelle.
            Apt – she is apt pupil
            Pure – her antecedents are peerless …… can trade her bloodline………Her blood is pure.
            Popular – have been praised by many singers                        4 marks
(f)        They  said  that  it had therefore been decided that thirty head of cattle should be the
             proper bride prize.
(g)        chief Odero Gogri
             Proud/egoistic
            - Sets high expectations for his visitors.
            - refers to their home as wasteland.
             Loving /caring
            -wants to ensure his daughter would be comfortable when she gets married.      2 marks
(h)        - we were however not fooled by his sweet words.        2 marks
(i)         - says thirty heads was enough to marry three wives.
            - says women are all the same.
            - suggests that they should get of there.      3 marks