Levels of Conflict - Blossoms of the Savannah

Discuss the various levels of conflict in the novel using illustrations from Blossoms of the Savannah for illustrations. 

            Cultural conflict – Maa culture is well defined. The culture has advocated for FGM. The society valued FGM and those that had not undergone the right were referred to Intoye Nemengalana, a derogatory term. They were in conflict with the society. Emakererei a known crusader against girl circumcision was forcefully ejected from Ole Supeiyos homestead threatening to clobber her. She was referred to as a wasp, a great threat to Maa culture (p22). Female circumcision he said was not only an honored rite of passage that had been in existence from time immemorial but an important practice that tamed an otherwise wild gender.

ii.                  Modernity vs tradition conflict

Ole Kaelo’s daughters have been brought up in the modern society which is in conflict with the traditional Nasila culture. The Kaelo’s daughter had not undergone FGM pg8. Nasila women who visited her in the past had asked very intrutive question regading her daughter…………….the words they used to describe the status of her daughter, came back to haunt her like demented spirits,  Intoiye Nemegalana, they had called them contemptuously.

Ole Kaelo and Mama Milanoi are alienated – they are in conflict with themselves (p63). She wondered what her daughter knew about FGM. Before retrenchment of her husband which caused their return to Nasila, FGM was a non – issue in her family. She had regarded the practice as archaie rite that had been discarded and forgotten but there it was now rearing its ugly head and threatening to wreak havoc in the young innocent lives of her daughters (Pg63). As she lay besides her husband, she gave thought to what they stood for as a family. What did they believe in, were they traditionalists or were they modernists in embracing the retrogressive cultural values, were they now progressing or retrogressing (pg17)

iii.                Generational conflict/ old and young

The old and the young are in conflict. Those of the old school like Ole Kaelo, Nabaru, Ole Musanka are in conflict with the young like Taiyo and Resian. Ole Kaelo denies Taiyo permission to travel to Mombasa for Music extravanganza p5………. Participate in the music extarvanganza had nearly damaged father daughter relationship p17. The girls looked at one another and giggled. They dismissed their mother’s misplaced fear as born out of misconception by the old generation that girls were weaklings, incapable of deciding what is right. Resian wants to go to school at Egerton University; she wants to be a veterinary doctor while Ole Kaelo does not want to hear that

iv.                Interpersonal conflict

Some persons are in conflict with each other.

-          Ole Kaelo and Resian

-          Ole Kaelo and Oloisundori

-          Oloisudori and Resian

-          Olarinkoi and Resian