Plot & Characters
Why was Kamau separated from his family?
He was sent to a detention/concentration camp
Who are the Mau Mau?
African Indigenous group majorly consisting of members from the Kenyan Kikuyu Tribe
What are racial stereotypes?
Derogatory terms or negative beliefs toward certain groups
What is alienation?
isolation from a group or activity
Which group places emphasis on individualism & private property?
British colonizers
How long was Kamau sent away for?
5 years
Who are the Wazungu?
British colonizers
What were stereotypes used to justify?
Slavery, land theft & violence
What is land consolidation?
The retribution of land
Who holds up the law & preserves cultural knowledge in Indigenous communities?
The Elders
What was Kamau’s wife's name?
Muthoni
What was the Mau Mau rebellion in response to?
Seizure of Kenyan land & oppression
What were the Mau Mau depicted as by colonizers?
Brutal & Savages
What is Aguthi?
A work camp used to detain Kikuyu families
What is an example of organized religion during this time period?
Christianity
Why did Kamau’s father not recognize him at first?
He was believed to be dead, making his father question if that was actually his son
What kinds of warfare tactics did were used during these conflicts?
They used Guerilla warfare tactics, ranging from raids to ambushes pressure harassment.
How many Mau Mau died during the Lari massacre?
11,503
How many enclosed camps existed as apart of the Mau Mau emergency?
854
Which culture placed emphasis on spirituality?
Indigenous
What does Kamau do at the end of the story, and what does it symbolize?
He lets the bag of items flow into the river, symbolizing grief & loss of identity
How was the colour classification system categorized?
They were organized using the white, grey & black classification system.
European colonizers used oppression to uphold?
hierarchies
What was Kenya trying to gain through rebellion?
Independence
What is a major difference between how Kenyan people & British colonizers view land?
Communal/Spiritual vs Individualistic