His Illustrious Writing Career
The novelist of ‘ WEEP NOT, CHILD ‘ that I have recently pored over is Ngugi wa Thiong’o. He was born on January 5, 1938, in Limuru Kenya. Ngugi wa Thiong’o was considered East-Africa’s leading Kenyan novelist, playwright, and literary critic. Weep Not, Child was his first major popular novel in English published in 1964 by Heinemann’s East-African.
Aside from this, his novels include “The River Between” (1965), “A Grain Of Wheat”(1967), “Petals of Blood” ( 1977), and “Devil On The Cross” (1980). However, traditionally he was known as James Ngugi, but after overshadowing three successful novels he adopted the name Ngugi wa Thiong’o.
The Struggling Family
Living Under Oppression
Additionally, WEEP NOT, CHILD is one of his historical fictions that gives the understanding of how quarrels between Mau Mau ( freedom fighters) and white men(people from England and Europe) effected on the lives of several individuals and even complete families destructively.
A Ray of Hope
Secondly, this brings to the realization that to keep the nation alive and peaceful, doesn’t need the power of war. It needs the power of education.
Intensifying Challenges
Rising Tensions Come to a Head
The tale begins with a poor family consisting of a father, two mothers, and four sons. Njoroge is the youngest member of his family and the first person allowed to get an education despite being under bad circumstances. Kamau ‘the second last son’ is trained to be a carpenter. Ngotho ‘the father of four sons’ works on a farm which is owned by a white man.
Consequences of Resistance
In addition, the land of Africa in which Ngotho’s family and many others reside is forcefully occupied by white settlers who have established their rules. They treat black people (African) as slaves and make them work for very little wages. Furthermore, people are now drained from this slavery and the life full of hardship.
Hence, they decide of a strike so that they would get better wages. But unfortunately, after the occurrence of strike, affairs get worse than before. Ngotho gets fired and taken away from land as he attacks on Jacobo ( black man but a traitor of white settlers).
Moreover, people were being killed by white men and Mau Mau everyday. Mau Mau is a gruop of freedom fighters concealed in forest and fighting for the freedom of their homeland. Now that Ngotho is in dire straits, he regrets joining the strike.
The only hope and faith is now Ngoroge’s learning for his family to overcome these aggressions. Ngoroge is a faithful, diligent and strong minded boy. He has faith of education for a prosperous future and a peaceful county.
His dreams and visions consoles himself facing difficulties of the moment by a look at a better day.” Sun will rise tomorrow”, says Ngoroge when darkness falls all around. Occasionally, when Ngoroge comes to grade 9th, every belief, dream, vision, and anticipation ruins up. For his eldest brother Boro murderers Jacobo.
After this, Boro and Kamao both brothers are arrested and their father is killed by white folks. Kori ‘ second eldest brother’ is lost. Circumstances become worst and money is badly needed. Ultimately, Njoroge has to leave his studies to earn and look after his two mothers.
A Story of Strength Amid Adversity
Unwavering Resilience
However, WEEP NOT, CHILD overshadowed by Ngugi wa Thiong’o is a heartbreaking novel that bursts you in tears while glancing at every single page. It just anguished me how the little boy ‘ Ngoroge’ undergoes unlimited adversity from childhood till adulthood consistently.
Except for the fact, that he never loses hope, maintains his mental strength, and consoles himself for a bright future. That’s what the book is under the title of WEEP NOT, CHILD. Consequently, Ngoroge’s curiosity and willingness for education made me more grateful for being one of the opportunistic learners.
An Inspiring Message
To sum up my words, I would prefer to recommend this symbolic book to every individual as it plays an essential role in enhancing your understanding regarding the consequences of colonialism, the necessity of intellectuals in building a nation, and disillusionment.
Mahnoor Javed
S I.T, Hub