Every culture has a good side | Blossoms of the Savannah

 

 

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Questions

“As bad as it may be, every culture has a good side. Closely referring to the treatment of the girl child”, write a composition in support of this; drawing your illustrations from H.R. Ole Kulet’s

Blossoms of the Savannah.

 

Introduction

Traditional cultures though condemned have been of great help in caring for the interest and safety of the girl child against wayward/predatory men. This is evident in Nasila culture in Blossoms of the Savannah.

 

C i - Elder’s court

Mama Milanoi laments Oloisudori’s obnoxious act of demanding her daughter Ressian for a wife. Oloisudori is the age mate of Parsimei – Mama Milanoi’s husband. Mama Milanoi recalls that such a thing would have never happened in the past. She says that in those old good days, had her husband tried to enforce such an abomination, she would have appealed to the Elders court which would have ruled him out of order, possibly fined him together with his purported son in law. A public rebuke and cleansing ceremony conducted by the fearsome Oloiboni would shamed the culture – abusers and their collaborators; a deterrent act. (without mentioning of elder’s court, it is thin) page 113-114, 115

 

C ii. - Women’s court

Culture also gave aggrieved women room to call for mass action-swift, vindictive and decisive. It was most feared by men. Mama Milanoi recalls an incident of a manner less old man who got infatuated with a fourteen-year-old daughter of his daughter of his agemate and started stalking her. The man seduces the girl while milking her mother’s cows. The girl reports the incident and her mother appealed to the women’s court for the culprits, let out the calves. No cow was milked no fire was lit in the hearths. Then they attacked the homestead of the accused using firewood, husband’s knobkerries. The old man is beaten thoroughly, stripped naked; teased and paraded naked in all the homesteads. The aggrieved girl would question him and he would be forced to give a certain response. The women’s cry would send all men scampering for safety up in the hills. The accused would be beaten to death. All the men would be denied food and milk till they called the Oloibon to cleanse the homestead and restore peace, love and unit. Such punishment deterred men from offending the sensibilities of Maa. (without appeal to women’s court - thin)Pg 115-117

 

C iii. - Patureishi

Joseph Parmuat cultural lessons and dances helps Ressian and Taiyo understand the various kinds of love that young people in Nasila were involved in. Such love include the conventional and the Patureishi. Those involved in conventional were considered betrothed. Should the betrothed misbehave or offend the sensibilities of the Nasula culture and lose the favour of the girl’s parents, he would forfeit right to marry the girl. Patureshi – institution also checked the conduct and behavior of young people and keep them discipline. The young man who violated it or engages in disgraceful act, disrespect for women, the Paturesihi would shame him. A young man who balanced conventional and Patureishi earned respect and was regarded as a potential leader and of the future of Maa. This safeguarded the girl child. (Role of Patureishi must come out clearly, failure - thin)Pg 125-127

 

C iv. - Punishment of the vagabonds

Another incident where sensibilities of Nasila were breached is when Taiyo and Resian are returning home from their father’s shop. Two young men accosted and attempted to rape them. They dragged them to the bush and Olarinkoi’s appearance and has intervention saved them. This was a serious violation that left the girls traumatized. When they reported to the family, the entire clan is enraged, and a search for the culprit ensures. When they were caught they were clobbered until they bled profusely. They pleaded for mercy and fearfully hid under the legs of and old man. One of them –NtaraMuyo was their first cousin. The other was Lante-son of Kanyira. Elaborate cleansing ceremony is planned and Ole Kaelo is compensated. Taiyo and Resian went to be paid two heifers each. The tenets of Nasila culture ensured justice for the girls. (without punishment, compensation and cleansing ceremony - thin)Pg 140, 156-164

 

C v. - Olarinkoi’s Exile

Olarinkai offers to evacuate Resian to NtareNaaju Ranch – the home of Minil-ene –Nkotoi Emakererei to escape a forcible circumcision and marriage to Oloisudori. Resian who was at the verge of committing suicide saw a savior in Olarinkoi and accepts the offer gratefully. However, he takes her to Inkiito where he goes drinking and comes in at night and attempts to rape her. She bites his thumb and he hurts her until she passes on. Nabaru who nursed her tells her that the mono eyed woman – Olarinkoi’smother had prophesied her marriage to his son but the attempted rape diluted everything. Olorinkoi is banished into exile for days and later the marriage fails to materialize pg 232 – 234

 

C vi.- Ill-intent men

Resian blames her father for the tension in the family for being forced to stay behind to host Oloisudori against her will – Resian opines that this is the neo-culture. Girl child was always protected and shielded from males who ogled and stare at them with no good intentions. Where there were male visitors, the girls were taken to their aunt’s houses to avoid meeting some of these ill-intent fellows. The aunts would instead serve the guests. Fathers too had minimum interaction with their daughters and guarded jealously their privacy and guaranteed them security(without the shielding of girls from men; taking them to aunt’s place, score thin). Pg 174-175

 

Conclusion

It is therefore clear that most traditions of the people have a way of ensuring that its daughters’ security was guaranteed and there is need to perpetuate them.