Blossoms of the Savannah Essay Sample and Questions

1."Desperate times demand desperate measures," they say. Use Blossoms of the Savannah by H.R. Ole Kulet to back up your points in the essay.

Sometimes, in trying times, the circumstances we find ourselves in force us to use unpleasant methods to deal with the problems we are facing. This statement is portrayed in H.R. Ole Kulet's Blossoms of the Savannah by Resian, Ole Kaelo, Mama Milanoi, and Joseph Parmuat.

 To begin with, Resian finds herself in a desperate situation, which calls for a desperate measure. In the novel, after his father, Ole Kaelo, is retrenched from the Agribix company in Nakuru, which has been his family's source of livelihood, he decides to sign a business contract with the notorious criminal Oloisuduri, who later demands a hand in marriage for his younger daughter, Resian. Due to her upcoming forced marriage to Oloisuduri, a man who is her father's agemate, Resian will soon find herself in a desperate situation. Resian aspired to enrol at Egerton University to earn a degree in veterinary medicine, but the marriage proposal had put all of her plans in jeopardy. In her attempt to deal with this problem, Resian confronts her father at his agriculture shop, who confirms her worst fear that he has received her bride price. Therefore, she contemplates committing suicide by drowning herself in the River Nasila, but luckily, Olarinkoi saves the day and manages to convince her otherwise. Her attempt to drown herself was a last-ditch effort to deal with the dire circumstances she was in at the time—namely, the impending forced marriage to Oloisuduri. Resians' actions do demonstrate that we sometimes need to be prepared to cope with unpleasant situations, no matter how unpleasant the answers may be.

Secondly, Ole Kaelo is in a desperate circumstance that necessitates a desperate response. In the novel, Ole Kaelo had to act quickly to come up with a strategy to support his family, which was dependent on him as its sole provider after being laid off from the Agribix firm in Nakuru, the only source of income for the family. This caused him to act desperately and enter into a commercial transaction with the dishonest Oloisuduri despite the stern warning of his mentor and buddy Ole Supeyo. Ole Kaelo viewed this as an excellent chance to mingle with Nasila's great men and a magnificent opportunity to inform his tribesmen and Nasila of his return. This, however, was only a temporary solution because it later caused issues. Oloisuduri lived up to his reputation and devised a scheme to extort money, only to alter his mind and demand a hand in marriage for Ole Kaelo's younger daughter, Resian. Ole Kaelo was facing retrenchment, and signing business contracts was a last-ditch effort to provide him with a source of income. Ole Kaelo's actions demonstrate that extreme measures must be taken in desperate circumstances.

 In addition, Mama Milanoi is in dire circumstances that call for drastic measures. In the book, Ole Kaelo's family is faced with the issue of Oloisuduri demanding to marry Resian after getting into a business deal with the untrustworthy Oloisuduri. As a result, Resian was forced to flee her home with the aid of Olarinkoi, who, oblivious to her, had ulterior motives of his own. Resian's absence put the Ole Kaelos in a bind, and they needed to come up with a solution. In an effort to solve the issue, Mama Milanoi plays a crucial role in fooling her remaining daughter Taiyo into going with the women in search of her younger sister, only to have her forcibly circumcised to take the place of the missing sister. Resian's escape is the reason behind the desperate scheme to swap Resian for Taiyo. This does, in fact, clearly demonstrate the need for drastic measures in urgent situations.

 

Finally, the two vagabonds who harassed Resian and Taiyo find themselves in a predicament that necessitates drastic action. Resian and Taiyo had spent some time in their father's agricultural shop in Nasila and were returning home when they were approached by the two vagrants who tried to rape them. Ole Kaelo gathers his clansmen after learning of the terrible incident, and they begin searching for the missing perpetrators. Fearing for their lives, the two escapees beg for mercy as they hide their heads between the legs of the two elderly men after being eventually apprehended from their hiding place. The desperate act spares the lives of two wanderers who were about to face the fury of Ole Kaelos clansmen baying for their blood because, according to Maa culture, anyone who commits a crime is spared if he begs for mercy under an old man's legs, regardless of the crime done. They were in danger of being speared to death, but their desperate action of concealing their heads under the old men's legs and pleading for compassion rescued them. This experience demonstrates how dire circumstances necessitate equally dire actions.

 Once more, Resian is faced with a precarious circumstance that necessitates drastic action. This occurs as a result of her father's, Ole Kaelo's, layoff and his involvement with Oloisuduri, a very dubious figure in Nasila. Resian is forced to flee her home because of Oloisuduri's insistence that he must marry her, and she does so with the assistance of Olarinkoi, another person of dubious morality who has promised to take her to her mentor, the Emakererei. Things go bad for Resian when she is stuck in Olarinkoi's home, who is conspiring with her mono-eyed mother. Resian bites Olarinkoi's thumb in a last-ditch effort to avoid being raped. This buys Resian some much-needed time while she recovers and also delays the scheduled forced circumcision and marriage to Olarinkoi. She is able to avoid being forced into early marriage to Olarinkoi and forced female genital mutilation thanks to the kind nurse Nabaru. In fact, the Resian experience demonstrates the truth of the adage, "Desperate times call for desperate measures." 

Joseph Parmuat is also in dire circumstances that call for drastic measures. Resian fled his house in the book in order to avoid being forced into an arranged marriage with Oloisuduri, which put Taiyo, who had been spared, in jeopardy. She falls for her mother's deception and decides to go with the woman to persuade Resian to eat when she is forcefully circumcised. After this horrible incident, Taiyo's health deteriorates, and she is unable to recover from the mutilation. Joseph Parmuat decides to take matters into his own hands, contacts Emakereri, and together they come up with a plan to save Taiyo. In order to give the Emakererei men a chance to save Taiyo, Joseph Parmuat successfully tricks the morans Oloisuduri recruited into going on a drinking binge. Taiyo's life is saved by this desperate action, but Joseph is killed by the morans once they understand he has duped them. The drastic measures taken in a position of need are best illustrated by Joseph's deeds. 

In conclusion, Resian, Ole Kaelo, Mama Milanoi, the vagabonds, and Joseph Parmuat find themselves in desperate positions, which forces them to apply desperate solutions to address the issues.

2.Making careless decisions can have negative effects. Write an essay in support of this claim, closely referencing HR. Ole Kulet's Blossoms of the Savannah.

When people make decisions without using excellent judgement, the outcomes are typically negative.Ole Kulet does a good job of illustrating this in his book Blossoms of the Savannah.

To begin with, by doing business with Oloisudori, Ole Kaelo makes a careless choice.When Agribix Limited terminates Ole Kaelo job. He decides to move his family back to Nasila, where he was born. He runs a store selling agricultural goods here. Oloisudori provides funding for his company. Additionally, Oloisudori assists him in obtaining several commercial contracts. He aids Ole Kaelo in obtaining a four-year contract to provide agricultural inputs like fertilizer, seeds, herbicides, and fungicides to all government institutions in Nasila. Ole Supeyo, his mentor, cautions him against becoming involved with Oloisudori. Oloisudori, according to him, is corrupt. He warns Ole Kaelo to keep him away from his girls and compares him to a hyena and a wild he-goat.Ole Kaelo pays no attention. When Oloisudori requests his daughter Resians' hand in marriage, he is haunted by this choice. First, Resian needs to be circumcised. Her goal is to attend Egerton.University. Their connection is further strained when she confronts her father about his plan in his shop and he slaps her. She dashes to the Nasila River and considers killing herself. Olarinkoi discovers her and offers to take her to Ntare naaju so she can meet Minik ene Nkoitoi, who might be able to assist her in continuing her education. Ole Kaelo loses his daughter as a result of his hasty action.Olarinkoi is left behind with Nasila.

In addition,Mama Milanoi makes a poor choice when she chooses to remain quiet while her daughters are subjected to harsh cultural norms. After Ole Kaelo is laid off, Taiyo and Resian move to Nasila, where they are stigmatised as "intoiye nemengalana".Resian will be circumcised by Ole Kaelo, who also intends to wed her to Oloisudori. Mama Milanoi is aware that one of her goals is to enroll at Egerton University and pursue a veterinary medical degree. However, she is unable to stand up for Resian against her will. She gives in to the Nasillian culture's pressure. She is aware that FGM is a terrible and unpleasant procedure, yet she does not speak out against it with Ole Kaelo. She knows exactly what happened when Taiyo was hoodwinked and forcibly circumcised, but she says nothing. The terrible result of her submission is that Resian escapes from her house with the aid of Olarinkoi, meets Minik ene Nkoitoi, and eventually enrols at Egerton University. The trust of Mama Milanoi's daughter is broken.Ole Kaelo pays a price when he decides against giving Resian and Taiyo the opportunity to continue their study at Egerton University

Furthermore,  Ole Kaelo requests that Joseph Parmuat instruct them in Nasila traditional practises in order to prepare them for marriage and circumcision. Resians is constantly nagging her sister Taiyo to talk to their father about the possibility of enrolling at Egerton University because she is so passionate about education. Her father becomes furious with her when she attempts to question the prospect of marrying her to Oloisudori who had given Ole Kaelo presents and money. He fails to shield her daughter from the extortionist's predatory advances. With the aid of Olarinkoi, Resian is able to eventually flee Nasila. Later, she meets Minik ene Nkoitoi, who gives her the push she needs to depart for Nakuru to enrol in Egerton University.As a result, Oloisudori loses her.

In deciding to accompany Resian and Taiyo all the way to the Ntare naaju property, Oloisudori made a mistake. The Kaelos propose Taiyo as a replacement after his first pick for a wife, Resian, flees with Olarinkoi. She was circumcised before being brought back to the hamlet by Minik's men. his loss of both of them. They are pursued by Oloisudorii all the way to Minikene Nkoitoi's ranch. He chooses to confront Minik despite being aware that she is referred to as a "entangoroi," or wasp. He says he has already paid enough dowry for both Taiyo and Resian and demands one of them.

Even their own father won't get them out, according to Minik. Oloisudori is asked to leave by her.Chaos breaks out when he orders his troops to seize Resian. They are attacked by Minik's 400 workers, who completely beat them before torching his pricey vehicles and turning them into smouldering shells. Oloisudori loses all of his vehicles despite putting a lot of money, time, and effort into trying to win Resian over Olarinkoi makes two bad choices 

 He tries to rape Resian after first kidnapping her. When Resian flees her house and is deciding what to do next by the Nasila River, Olarinkoi shows up and informs her that Oloisudori's men are searching for her everywhere.In order to meet Minik, her idol, he promises to drive her to Ntare Naaju. She agrees because she trusts him because he frequently visits their home, and because he protects Taiyo and her from the vagrants Ntara Muyo and Lante when they attempt to rape them. Olatinkoi breaks his promises. Instead, he drives her to Inkiito. He confines her to a filthy cabin. He returns that evening stone-cold and insistent that Resian is his wife. He makes fun of her education, grabs her by the throat, tears her clothes, and shoves his thumb into her mouth, where she bites down on it until he bleeds. She nearly cut off the thumb. When his mother chastises him, Olarinkoi experiences both bodily and emotional pain, and eventually he hides out out of shame. Resian is rescued by Naburu, the nurse, who the mono-eyed woman had refused to care for following Resian's circumcision. Naburu brings a lorry driver, who transports them to Ntare naaju. In addition to the harm to his body and mind, Olarinkoi's careless choice prevents him from marrying Resian.

 Lastly,when she gets Taiyo into getting his navel cut, Mama Milanoi makes an unstoppable decision.In order to prevent Resian from getting married to Oloisudori, Resian flees with Olarinkoi, and Taiyo is proposed as a replacement. She is permitted to travel with the three Esoit women by Mama Milanoi. Taiyo is told a lie that Resia is on a hunger strike and hasn't eaten in three days. For the sake of Resian, they want her to travel with them to Esoit. She complies and follows them joyfully because her mother has assured her that their father and power will never attempt to forcefully wed them to any guy. She is upset at Esoit because no one helps her or talks about Resian. She is instead abandoned in a filthy cottage. The following morning, she is forcibly circumcised by a "enkamuratani" after being pulled out of the hut by a mob of ecstatic ladies and having 20 litres of cold water dumped on her head. She collapses from the pain of the ordeal. Later, with the aid of Joseph Parmuat, who used alcohol to dupe the soldiers watching over her, she is freed by Minik's men. The guards try to pursue Minik's men while throwing stones at them, but they are unsuccessful. Parmuat is killed with a spear. When Taoiyo is taken to Minik's ranch, Mama Milanoi misplaces her.

In conclusion, characters like Oloisudoiri and Olarinkoi teach us that making unwise judgements frequently has unfavourable results.

3"Evildoers are always rewarded for their misdeeds." Demonstrate the using illustrations from H.R. Ole Kulet's Blossoms of the Savannah

Characters like Ole Kaelo, Mama Milanoi, Ololusuduri, and Olarinkoi do bad things but pay the price for them in H.R. Ole Kulet's Blossoms of the Savannah.

To begin with,Ole Kaelo relocated his family from Nakuru to Nasila following his dismissal from Agribix Limited, without consulting his wife or informing his children of his plans. He had built them a house and founded an agricultural shop in Nasila, which was supported by Oloisudori, a well-known assassin, poacher, smuggler, and extortionist. He was infamous for lending money to businesspeople and then extorting the unthinkable amount of money from them. Oloisudori arrives to Ole Kaelo to execute his normal extortion, but he encounters Resian outside the door and falls in love with her right away. By forcing his way inside the house and brushing her breasts with his fingertips, he violates Resian's privacy. He also makes her uneasy by looking at her bosom, leading Resian to believe that one of her buttons is undone, only to discover that everything was fine.Oloisudori does not take no for an answer and casually requests that Ole Kaelo give him his two children, Resian for himself and Taiyo for a friend. Ole Kaelo is stunned by his requests and spends sleepless nights with his wife, Mama Milanoi, while he agonises over them.Ole Kaelo had little choice but to comply with Oloisudori's demand because their house and business were funded by Oloisudori contracts. Ole Kaelo gives Resian to Oloisudori in order to save Taiyo, the apple of his eye. All of this does not go as planned, as Resian flees after learning that her father had already engaged her to Oloisudori and that she would not be continuing her education at Egerton University, where she had always hoped to become a veterinary doctor. This compels Ole Kaelo to rethink his strategy and give up Taiyo in place of Resian. Taiyo is lied and lead to Esoit village by her mother, who claims that Resian is on a hunger strike and that only Taiyo can help her. Taiyo is ambushed in Esoit and circumcised before being brought to Oloisudori which was the plan. This backfires on Ole Kaelo once more, as Joseph and Minik's men rescue Taiyo from the forced marriage. Ole Kaelo loses both of his daughters, who now despise him for his betrayal and refuse to be identified as his offspring.

In addition, Mama Milanoi adores her daughters Resian and Taiyo, but her loyalty is bound up in tradition; she is divided between protecting them from circumcision and early marriage, both of which would make her a pariah in Nasila. She chooses tradition over questioning her husband and takes on the responsibility of preparing the girls for early marriage and circumcision.She realises that betraying her daughters will cause them to lose trust in her, but she still goes with Ole Kaelo to Oloisudori's mansion to see the house that has been built for Resian in an attempt to persuade her to accept his marriage proposal as his seventh wife.Mama Milanoi even agrees to Oloisudori's plan to kidnap Resian if she rejects the marriage preparations. Reasian flees her house after learning of her engagement to Oloisudori. Mama Milanoi is one of three ladies that persuade Taiyo to travel to Esoit village in order to save her sister Resian from her hunger strike. Taiyo is eventually forcibly circumcised and is ready to be handed up to Olisudori as a compensation for Resian. As these things happen to her daughters, Mama Milanoi does nothing to change the situation; instead, she follows every plan Ole Kaelo and Oloisudori make for her girls. Both daughters pledged on Minik's ranch, which had saved them, that they would not be like their mother and would only marry when the moment was right, rather than traditionally, as their mother had. Ironically, Resian found a mother in Nabaru who was a stranger to her. Minik was a better role model for them than their mother could ever be. Milanoi lost both of her daughters because she opted to adhere to her guns rather than prioritise her children.

 Futhermore, Olarinkoi arrived at Ole Kaelo's home as any other visitor would, but his continued presence was unusual in that he was always present for all meals, listened to all Kaelo family conversations, but remained mute. On one occasion, he defended Resain and Taiyo from the two vagabonds' attempted rape.His bravery is rewarded by being appointed as the girls' bodyguard and gaining the trust of both Taiyo and Resian, who apologise for being insensitive to him.Resian runs away from home after learning from Oloisudori that her father, Ole Kaelo, had previously engaged her to Oloisudori without her knowledge. Unsure what to do, she thinks of committing suicide in the Nasila river. Olarinkoi appears by chance and pledges to take her to Minik, who would assist her.Unfortunately, he took her to his hut in Inkiito, where he instructed Resian to cook supper and then left her alone, only to return in the middle of the night, inebriated, and attempt to rape her. Resian, determined to keep her dignity, fights him off, even biting his thumb, and he hits her so hard that she collapses. Resian was nurtured for several days by Nabaru, who had been directed by Onkoiboni to do so, and once she was strong enough to be circumcised, Olarinkoi would abscond with her to Tanzania and marry her while the search for her by Ole Kaelo and Oloisudori died down. Olanrinkoi was excommunicated for several days by his mother for trying to have his way with Resian, while knowing that rape was not part of the prophecy. Nabaru resolves to assist her escape Olarinkoi and the Enkoiboni after hearing about her troubles at her father's hands from Resian. With the assistance of Nabaru, Resian is able to reach Minik's ranch, and Olarinkoi loses her.

Lastly, despite being an unscrupulous character who survived on extortion, Oloisudori was an extremely wealthy man, and most Nasila businessmen respected his fortune. Olosudori was accustomed to getting his way, and no one could ever tell him no. He'd previously married six wives, but he was obsessed with money and women. He knew Resian would be his seventh wife the moment he met her. On his usual visit to Ole Kaelo, he quickly abandons his planned extortion and demands Resian as his wife and Taiyo as his companion. He requests that Ole Kaelo plan the circumcisions of both Resian and Taiyo. He also gives Ole Kaelo 500,000 for the bride price and gifts for everyone in the Kaelo family, but neither his gifts nor his wealth impress Resian and Taiyo. Both girls return the gifts to Oloisudori, explaining that they were given as a token of gratitude for his generosity. Oloisudori advertised the search for Resian and offered a prize if she could be found, but nothing came of it. Minik's forces, as well as Joseph Parmuat, arrive in time to save the girls. Before they leave for Egerton University, Oloisudori learns of Resian and Taiyo's farewell party. He demands Resian and Taiyo from Minik, due to having paid a bride price that could cover both girls. Minik maintains his firm stance, telling him that none of the females would be leaving the ranch. When Oloisudori tried to force his way through, his men were defeated and his cars were burned to ashes, forcing them all to flee for their lives.

In conclusion, as a punishment for their evil behavior, all those who had done wrong were punished.

Some characters in Henry Ole Kulet's novel Blossoms of the Savannah, such as Reisan and Taiyo, face difficult challenges and emerge not only victorious but also stronger.

4.'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.' With illustrations from Blossoms of the Savannah by Henry Ole Kulet, validate the above statement. 

To begin with, Resian faces numerous challenges, but she eventually overcomes them and emerges victorious and stronger. According to the text, Resian has always aspired to go to Egerton University and study veterinary medicine. Despite her dissatisfaction with the idea of the family relocating from Nakuru to Nasila as a result of her father's Ole Kaelo retrenchment, she does not abandon her dreams. At Nasila, she faces a number of challenges, including the planned forcible female genital mutilation, which leads to a forced early marriage to Oloisuduri, her father's financier. She constantly pushes her older sister, Taiyo, and her mother, Mama Milanoi, to discuss her desire to attend Egerton University with her father. When all else fails, she approaches her father, Ole Kaelo, after an encounter with Oloisuduri confirms her worst fear: an impending arranged marriage to Oloisuduri. The impending marriage causes Resian to lose hope and consider drowning herself in the Nasila River. But her perseverance pays off in the end. She eventually makes it to Ntare Naaju with the help of Nabaru, the enkaabani, and her dreams of joining Egerton are realised. This just goes to show that tough times do not last, but tough people do.

Secondly, Resian faces numerous challenges but overcomes them by coming out strong. Resian manages to avoid his forced marriages to Oloisuduri and, later, Olarinkoi in the text. Oloisuduri, her father's business associate, falls in love with Resian and persuades Ole Kaelo Resian's father to agree to marry her younger daughter, Resian. Resians adamantly states that will happen over her dead body, and she is determined not to let that happen. She escapes Oloisuduri with the 'assistance' of Olarinkoi, only to find herself in a similar situation with Olarinkoi, who wants to marry her by force after circumcision. Olarinkoi and his mother, the enkoiboni, had made plans for her, thankfully with the assistance of Nabaru. Resian eventually overcomes all of these obstacles and arrives in Nare Naju, where, with the help of Minik, she discovers a safe heaven free of forced marriage. This is proof that the difficulties we face in life make us stronger.

In addition, Resian faces numerous obstacles but overcomes them by coming out strong. In the text, Resian is determined not to undergo forcible circumcision. Olarinkoi told her he would take her to her mentor's ranch,the Emakererei. Unbeknownst to her, plans were in the works to circumcise her, marry her off to Olarinkoi, and transport her to Tanzania.  Resian escapes with the assistance of Nabaru, who has grown to love her as a mother would her daughter. Nabaru, the kind nurse, convinces a truck driver to take a diversion on his way back to the ranch to pick up Resian. Despite the fact that she is sick and even collapses as she opens the door, the heavy rains, and the risk of Olarinkoi,who is in hot pursuit,  catching her,she manages to reach the truck and therefore did not have to undergo the archaic female genital mutilation. This shows that with determination, nothing is impossible to accomplish.

Also,Taiyo is another character who goes through adversity but comes out strong. Taiyo faces many challenges in the text, including forced circumcision, but eventually manages to avoid the planned forced marriage and even enrols at Egertion University. Taiyo, Resian's elder sister, is betrayed by her mother, Mama Milanoi, who lies to her, and she follows the three women in Esoit to rescue Resian, whom they claim has gone on a hunger strike. Unfortunately for her, Taiyo realises too late that it was all a trick after being forcefully circumcised. She is saved from the impending forced marriage with the help of Joseph Parmuat and Minik's rescue team, and she later manages to join her sister Resian, and together they join Egerton University with the help of Minik. Taiyo's strong will to overcome these challenges shines through when she says that they circumcised her physically but not mentally, demonstrating that challenges only make people stronger.

Finally, Minik Ene Nkotoi faces many challenges but emerges stronger. In the text,Minik Ene Nkotoi fought against FGM and early marriages. She faces threats from Ole Supeyo, insults from Oloisuduri for calling her a spinster, and curses from Ole Musanka for calling her a wasp. All of this does not deter her efforts, and she succeeds in saving not only Resian and Taiyo, but also 500 other girls from forced femalegenital mutilationl and planned marriages. Her determination to succeed propels her to overcome all obstacles.

In conclusion, the challenges that characters like Resian, Taiyo, and Minik Ene Nkotoi face make them emerge not only victorious but also strong.

5.Choices have consequences. Show the truthfulness of the above statement in reference to the novel.

  Introduction

       The choices which we make definitely determines the outcome we get later in life. Wrong choices have negative effects in our future. In Blossoms of the Savannah, Ole Kaelo makes several wrong choices which affects his life and that of his daughters and other people like Joseph Permuat adversely.

-          Ole Kaelo decides to do business with Oloisudori despite warnings from his friends against it.

-          Defies his friend’s warnings to keep his daughters away from Oloisudori

-          Signs a business contract with him and receives a loan. Later he is blackmailed threatened to either give out his daughters in marriage or his business be brought down.

       Agrees to give his daughters Resian in marriage to Oloisudori to save his business and set more wealth as dowry in return.This leads to so many problems to his family. This decision destroys the relationship between him and his daughters Resian. His daughter runs away from home. She at the point thinks about suicide. Later she falls in the hands of Olarinkoi who want to marry her by force.

-          Mama Milanoi decides to give away her daughter for circumcision. She cheats her that is being taken to her sister Resian. She plans to have her circumcised and then married off to Oloisudori.This action hurts her daughter so much. It destroys the trust between mother and daughter. She also lives to regret her decision.

-          Ole Kaelos decision to host Olarinkoi in their house without probing his character and Oralinkoi which he exploits to cheat Resian.He promises to take her to Minik ranch but ends up attempting to rape her and circumcise her by force.

       Conclusion

       It is indeed true that the choices we make determines the outcomes we get. Bad decisions leads to a lot of suffering and regrets.

6.The novel Blossoms of the Savannah is a text that insights into the challenges facing African  Women. Show the truth of this statement while drawing illustrations from the text.

1)            Female genital mutilation has adversely affected women. Taiyo is forcefully circumcised.

This is in accordance with Oloisudori’s directives that he could not marry an uncircumcised girl. Taiyo suffers anguish and turmoil as a result and the pain remains raw in her heart. FGM in Nasila is meant to prepare a girl for marriage which in Taiyo’s case would have interfered with her dream of joining Egerton University

 

2)            Early marriages deprive women of their right to an education. Ole Supeyo has married of all his daughters and educated his sons. While at Olarinkoi’s homestead, Resian notices very young girls married to men twice or thrice their ages. Some are as young as 15.

 

3)            Partriarchy hampers development as women have no freedom of expression. Minik is labeled a wasp for rescuing girls from FGM and speaking against it. There’s unequal partnership in the marriage of Ole Kaelo to Mama Milanoi as her voice is suppressed. She is unable to express herself in regard to Ole Kaelo’s decision to marry off Resian to Oloisudori. This is traumatizing for Resian as she has to jump over many hurdles to join the University

 

4)            The Nasilian cultural practice of clanism interferes with relationships between young people. Joseph Parmuat and Taiyo are caught in a rut as they love each other but the culture cannot allow the love to blossom. They are slotted among those who cannot marry. Taiyo feels that their destiny should be in their own hands and a culture that neither feeds nor clothes them should not dictate their lives.

        7.  Regardless of the challenges a person faces in life, one’s determination can make them achieve their dreams. Drawing illustrations from the Blossoms of the Savannah, By Olet Kulet write an essay in support of this statement. 

           Resian is determined to go to Egerton University.

-      The parents are not supporting the idea, the sister is hesitant and sluggish in fronting the idea to the father as she wishes.

-      The father establishes a shop in which they are to work which she is against, tells the sister.’  “I don’t want to work in that shop.” Tells dad, “who spoke to you about enrolment at the university?” Tells dad on the face she will still go to the university and he will witness her graduation. She eventually goes to Egerton University which is her Nirvana.

 

       Resian is also determined to fight against FGM and other negative Nasila cultures which she finally succeeds.

-      The parents and the Nasila people purpose to circumcise her against her wish, Joseph is brought to train them and educate them about FGM and the Nasila culture, but she had no interest in this. She fears FGM and tells Taiyo to persuade the father to allow them go back to Nakuru and enrol at the university. She hates the fact that Joseph has come to teach them on the abcd of a good Nasilan wife that can please  a husband. She says’ No, I refuse to be taught unless at the university. We eventually see her go to her dream university.

 

       Resian is determined to be like Emakererei. When Yeiyo Kiti tells them that she comes from the same village with Emakererei, she says she admires her and definitely wants to be like her who had succeeded in high school and joined Makerere University. The father takes dowry from Oloisudori who intends to marry her against her wish. When she expresses her disappointment to him, he beats her making her go to Nasila River to commit suicide only to be rescued by Olarinkoi who helps her escape by cheating her that he is taking her to Emakererei.

 

       Resian has a dream of getting to Emakererei’s place to see her since she is her role model. While at Olarinkoi’s home, she luckily get Nabaru the nurse who takes care of her and she tells Resian that she has loved her determination and fighting spirit since she started nursing her. Nabaru tells her that she is ready to help her get what she, wants and go wherever she wants. She bites Olarinkoi’s finger in defence against the rape and survives injuries from the struggle which renders her unconscious. She still finds courage to tell Nabaru to help her get to Minik’s ranch. Though she is sick, she struggles to move stumbling from side to side determinedly as they escape the morning when she is to be circumcised. With the help of Nabaru, she finally gets at Emakererei’s place. She welcomes them and tells the driver to bring her to the station for her to talk more with her.

 

       Resian is determined to become a doctor - She tells the sister that she doesn’t want to be a parent unless she had obtained a degree. She also says she wants to be called Doctor Resian Kaelon. Despite the father refusing to take her back to the university, her suffering while travelling with Olarinkoi, her almost being raped, she finally is given a letter of admission to Egerton university. She organises a party for the girls and as they were driven to the university on fifth September, it was hard to believe that their long cherished ambition and aspiration had at long last become a reality. This means that she is going to study her dream course.

8.“Women empowerment is something that can be best achieved by women themselves.” Write an essay that examines the role of women in their own liberation basing your arguments on the novel.

-          In the Olarinkoi legend, the women decided to circumcise themselves to curtail excessive sexual urge that led to their being sexually abused. The likes of Minik en Nkoitoi, Resian and Taiyo are the ones to bring it to an end.

-          It is Resian who fights off rape by biting Olarinkoi’s thumb.

-          It is Nabaru, a woman, who plans and executes Resian’s escape from a trap in Olarinkoi’s house.

-          It is the educated women like Minik who find old practices of F.G.M and forced marriages repugnant and are rescuing girls from them.

-          Minik is ready to empower Resian and Taiyo further by enrolling them at Egerton University. They look to a future that is economically stable that their father failed to give them.

-          Conclusion: Men are beneficiaries of the status quo- customary practices that oppress women- and cannot liberate them.

9.Gender bias is tantamount to violation of human rights. Write an essay in support of the  assertion   drawing illustrations from blossoms of the savannah By H.R Ole Kulet

 Introduction

 

Today’s position on the male and female gender is that men and women are equal and none of the gender should dominate over the other.In Blossoms of the Savannah, women are culturally forced to be subservient to men, a practice that denies them some fundamental rights as human beings.

 

A wife has the right to state his position on any matter even if it is contrary to the husband’s position. This is not the case with Mama Milanoi, wife to Ole Kaelo. She admits that she did not know which man her husband was doing business with and even if she did, she would not do anything about it for he was the one who carried the family’s vision. She thus leaves every aspect of decision making to him whether those decisions are good or bad.

 

A woman is a being to be loved and not to love back. Although Ole Kaelo genuinely loved Mama Milanoi when he saw her first, her feelings on him are immaterial. Women were not expected to resist  a man’s advances according to Nasilian culture. This is a great violation of her right to love or hate. In her case there is no room for that. It is also expected that Resian should give into Oloisudori’s plans to marry her. Refusal is regarded as stubbornness. In fact, Oloisudori claims that none of his wives put any resistance in his interest in them. This means that their feelings for him did not matter a great violation of their freedom to choose their marriage partner.

 

Resian and Taiyo are forced to undergo cultural coaching by Joseph Pamuat.  Rusian rebels this citing inequality in the plan. She opines that if they were boys, such a thing would not be done on them. Instead, they would be freely roaming Nasila with nobody bothering them. In their case, there is no such option simply because they are girls. Their right to choose what to and not to learn is violated. Girls are taught how to cook for their men but there are no lessons for boys on how to please women . Resian opposes such arrangements saying she would not be taught to solely please men. She claims that even boys should be taught how to please women.

 

Gender inequality in this society elevates man over the woman to the extent that Resian says that it made men assume that they had right over the body of any woman. This has reduced women to be objects of sex to be exploited by men at will. This practice started with the Ilarinkon worriors who sexually exploited women after arousing their desires. Taiyo and Resian undergo several rape attempts with Resian ending up being raped by Olarinkoi who assumes he has every right over her body. These inequalities have greatly undermined women’s right to privacy and to choose whom to have sexual relation with.

 

Gender inequality does not just stop at that. Instead, it is a major cause of violation of basic human rights that all should be accorded a chance to enjoy. Women in the novel have most of their rights curtailed as a result of gender imbalance between men and women.

10.It requires a strong character for a woman to rise in a patriarchal set up. With relevant illustrations from Blossoms of the Savannah by H.R ole Kulet, write an essay to bring out the relevance of this assertion.

   In this question the candidate must mention how men are in an advantaged position in the society and how this makes achievements for women impossible, the candidate must mention the character trait that enable some women overcome this huddle (one female character should be used for illustrating this), the candidate also needs to mention the achievement gotten by women who exhibit these traits.

 

Introduction: women find themselves in the receiving end in communities that give the boy child an upper hand over the girl child. In such societies a woman would need an extraordinary character to be successful.

 

Content

-          Resian is a resilient (resilience) character who has gone through a lot. She knows that her father, like other traditional men, has never really liked her and because of this she goes through her Sister Taiyo and her mother to reach the father. She does not allow her father’s negative talk towards her to put her down. Though she knows that she has been married off to Oloisudori, she refuses to let this affect her desire to join Egerton University and goes on to make this clear to her father. She later on joins the university

-          Resian is also a persistent (persistence) character who never gives up easily. She resolves that she must find her way to Egerton University. She tries to pass this message to her father, who  deslikes her for being a girl, through her sister and her mother. She does not tire to push the two to engage the father on the issue. When it is evident that the two have failed her and that her egocentric father has offered her to Oloisudori in marriage she confronts him and rejects the marriage while at the same time insisting on joining university. When tricked by Olarinkoi, who believes that as a man he can forcefully marry her without consulting her, she fights him and escapes to join university.

-          Resian remains committed (commitment) in her life goals. In a community where a girl child can easily get distracted especially by Olarinkoi who wanted to shatter her dreams by intending to marry her by force and raping her, she courageously fights back by biting his thumb to near amputation. She also makes it clear to her sister Taiyo that she will first get to University education before she can consider getting married. Her commitment in her academics is clearly brought out by her starling performance in school and the father’s acknowledgement of the same.

-          Resian also remains focused (focus) and strong willed in life. She reiterates to her mother that female circumcision has no place in modern world. She further insists that no one would mutilate her against her will. Resian knows that male counterparts have an upper hand in everything. Such is even worse with Oloisudori before whom even Ole Kaelo trembles. Oloisudori does not believe in having to persuade a woman to marry him. Resian however overcomes all the temptations of wealth and pressure from her parents to reject the marriage. She goes on to join university

-          Minik is presented as a woman who is independent minded. Although she is accused by the likes of Ole Musanka of championing what is against the culture, she continues to firmly fight for what she believes in. she is a successful woman who proves wrong the community’s assertion that a woman needs a man to lead a good life. She remains unmarried and not once does she seem disturbed by this. Her strong willed character has seen her rise against perceived strong men like Ole Supeyo and Oloisudori to head a very vast and successful ranch with many people under her

-          Minik’s courageous character makes her face and challenge OIoisudori, the all powerful and untouchable. This trait makes her bring to an end the era of male dominance by burning down Oloisudori’s vehicles and engaging his men to a fierce fight. It is after this that Resian and Taiyo remain under her custody to join the university

 

       Conclusion: it is evident to be successful in a challenging environment one requires a strong personality.

       (NB: ONLY RESIAN AND MINIK THE EMAKEREREI ARE RELEVANT.) 

11. Though rich the Maa culture can also be devastating at times. Show the truth of this statement whilst drawing illustrations from the Blossoms of the Savanna by H.R. OLE KULET.

-          Resia undergoes a dehumanizing ordeal when she is continuously subjected to near forced marriages. She escapes from Oloisudori only to fall into the ruthless hands of Olarinkoi

-          Taiyo is left emotionally and physically devasted when she is forced to undergo FGM by her most trusted friend and mother (Mama Milanoi). This is a scar that she has to live with for the rest of her life.

-          Mama Milanoi is subjected to first hand effects of patriarchy and can’t even make a minor decision about her own daughters. She has to subscribe to her husband’s line of thought as the culture dictates

-          Mink en Koitoi is a loathed household name in Nasila. The traditionists even label her a ‘wasp’ for fighting the oppressive harmful cultural practices that have affected women in the society.

 12.“Where there is a will, there is a way.” With close reference to Resian in Blossoms of the Savanna, write an essay to validate the above saying      

POINTS OF INTERPRETATION

»        The candidate should bring out the episodes in which Resian has a desire for  something and ensures that she actualizes it, how her determination reaps good results.

INTRODUCTION

Success comes by when we know what we want and remain focused to it. When we have desire to succeed in examination for instance, we shall do what it takes to pass. Resian is one such character who stops at nothing other than having her vision realized. (Accept any other introduction i.e. General – specific – General or contextualized)            (2marks)

CONTENT

»        Resian has a great desire to acquire university education. Right from the moment they relocate to Nasila, she hopes that Taiyo would persuade their father to allow enroll in the Egerton University in Nakuru so that she studies veterinary science. She does not at any point enjoy life at Nasila since her mind is set on joining the university. While Taiyo is happy to be trained music and dance by Joseph Parmuat, Resian derives no pleasure in this for all she wants is to join the university. When Taiyo leaves in the company of the father to the shop, Resian is quite elated for she is hopeful that Taiyo will convince their father to enroll them. When Kaelo summons her to brief her about her planned marriage to Oloisudori, she is so excited that she asks her father who between her mother and Taiyo told her her desire to join the university. On learning her father’s plan to marry her off, she still asks if there is a possibility of being enrolled in the university. In the end, through the help of Minik, Resian and Taiyo have admission letters and scholarship to pursue their further studies at Egerton University!

»        Resian is strongly against her being circumcised. Nothing succeeds in convincing her to have the cut. She finds this custom to be archaic and insensible. When Parmuat explains to them the origin of FGM, she tells the mother that it was only relevant when the Larinkon warriors were torturing the women in the past. She questions the wisdom of one continuing to take medicine that cured a disease in the past long after he/she is cured. When she is almost forced into it after being abducted by Olarinkon, she vows she was going to resist it mentally even if she were to have it physically. In the end she evades the cut – with the help of Nabaru, who assists to reach Minik. A crusader against it.

»        Resian detests Oloisudori right from the time she meets him the first time. She describes him as a monster. When she’s informed that Oloisudori would want to be entertained by her, she resists vehemently. When she later learns the father’s plan to marry her off to him she vows that this can only happen over her dead body. As if to prove herself right, she contemplates suicide at the Nasila river upon confirming the fathers plan. She further resists a forced marriage to Olarinkon who pretends to have rescued her from Oloisudori only to reveal his true intentions. Eventually, she marries none of this two men.

»        Resian has a strong desire to meet Minik Ene Nkoitoi, the Emakererei. She learns that Minik is against – FGM and early marriages. Resian finds a role model in Minik. She and Taiyo always ask about how they could meet Minik. Olarinkoi knows Resian’s desire to meet Minik hence lures her into accepting his “rescue” and ends up in Olarinkoi’s home. Even while there, Resian still burns with the desire to meet her role model. She cannot thank Naburu enough for helping her realize her dream. She meets Minik finally and she is besides herself with joy. She is among the Blossoms of the Savannah. In conclusion knowing that what we want is conclusion half way acquiring it. We should never let our attention to drift from our dreams. (Accept any other conclusion 2marks)    

13.Parenting should build an environment of trust and peace in a family. Write an essay that explores how this statement applies to the Ole Kaelo family in Blossoms of the Savannah

Introduction – (2mks)

Body: Points of interpretation;

-        The kind of parenting by Mama Milanoi and her husband does not herald peace and trust in their family.

-        The girls desire to join the university does not receive any attention from the parents. The girls get emotionally affected as a result.

-        Ole Kaelo’s acerbic/stinging tongue is a source of discomfort to his daughters. They enjoy hi absence from the house.

-        The parents secretly conspire to marry off Resian to Oloisudori, which leads to her escape from home and her misery. This betrays her trust.

-        Resian is fully aware that the father loves Taiyo and hates her.

-        Reasian is always on the receiving end, being cajoled and criticized for this or for that by the father. She knows no peace in the family.       

14.Man is the defector leader of the family and when he falters many things are bound to go wrong. Using Ole Kaelo for your illustrations show how the faults by the head of family affect

INTRODUCTION

In the Africa set up men is assured to be the family head. He makes major decisions concerning the family and doesn’t have to consult. Ole Kaelo in Blossoms of the Savannah is a perfect example of such Aman.

Unfortunately for him he faulters and the effects are clear.

Points of interpretation 

-        Ole Kaelo solely opts to move his family to Nasila from Nakuru. He assumes that they will be comfortable and that by taking them to his newly build house will make them happy. Unfortunately, the family does not know joy there. Pressure from the community to have the girls circumcised is overwhelming and denies them joy. Sex also abounds.

-        Ole kaelo gets financial and from Oloisudori, an evil man against all expectations. The result demands to have over his daughter Resian to him. Something that eventually collapses his family.

-        Ole Kaelo opts not to educate his daughters further and instead hoping that they will get good Nasila man to marry them. This is against the expectation of the girls. Resian tells him in his fate that she will join University. This decision that he makes affects the family unity and his image before them. In the end the family breaks up as the girls opt out.

-        Ole kaelo resolves to have his daughters circumcised and later handover Resian to Oloisudori to be married by him. This is against her wish as the man is old and she does not love him. Her wish is to join Egerton University to further her studies. It is because of this that Resian leaves and is later followed by Taiyo. 

Conclusion

Ole Kaelo blindly makes decision that affects his family as seen above

15. The failure By Mama Milinoi to play her role effectively as the mother to Taiyo and Resian has drastic effects on their lives. Write an essay showing the validity.

INTRODUCTION 

The issue of motherhood is very crucial in raising of children into responsible people. When mothers fail in their role the effects can be unbearable at times. Mama Milanoi is one such a mother who fails in her role as a parent. This is as seen in the text Blossom of the Savannah by HR Ole Kulet.

POINTS OF INTERPRETATION

-        Mama Milanoi fails to protect Resian agaist continued open harassment from her husband ole Kaelo. She fails to reproach her husband for disliking her daughter for no particular reason apart from being a girl. This makes Resian feel out of place and widens the gap between father and daughter.

-        When Ole Kaelo decides to have the girls circumcised mama Milanoi does not agree with him.She however fails to get courage enough to dissolve him. She keeps quiet and even supports his activities.

-        The result is continued mistrust in the family and the girls’ desirest to be away from their home.

-        After Resian makes her escape mama milani’s is actively involved in having Taiyo mutilated in readness to be handed over to Oloisundoni as a wife. This is against her wish. The experience leaves a permanent scar on the live of Taiyo.

-        When Oloisundoni makes his visit at home it is obvious that he harasses Resain who does not hesitate to make her mother aware. The mother instead of coming to the defense of her daughter rebukes her and sends her back to Oloisudori where she is harassed further.

Conclusion:

The irresponsible behavior by Mama Milanoi as a mother leaves the daughter with permanent pain as discussed above.

16.“The strong bond between Resian and Taiyo contributes significantly to their triumph.” Write an essay in support of this statement

No man is an island.  Human beings were created to relate mutually.  The close friendship between Resian and Taiyo is the key to overcoming stormy times that present themselves in their lives as follows: In their new environment at Nasila, the girls meet unique challenges.  They are not used to the communal life for all along they have stayed in an urban set up where life is individualistic.  At Nasila, they have to get used to impromptu visitors and superior male counterparts.  It is the love between the two girls that helps in these scenarios.  The duo stays together most of the times.  By so doing, they share a lot.  Taiyo counsels Resian on using kind language on Yeiyo Botorr, her aunt.  The two girls discuss about danger that lurks from the hostile youth especially because of their uncircumcised condition.

 

In overcoming the challenge of female genital mutilation (FGM), their friendship bond comes in handy.  When Resian goes on a hunger strike, she says it is only Taiyo who can change her stand.  When Taiyo is informed of Resian’s condition, she does not hesitate to offer herself for Resian’s redemption even when there are risks all over.  While at Nasila, they have a lot of time sharing their views towards FGM.  The discussions must have strengthened their hard stands towards FGM.  It is from these discussions that they vow never to give in to FGM.  In the incident when Taiyo and Resian are accosted by two callous young men, their coordination and friendship save them.  The incident finds them while they are walking together where they had visited Maiso for lunch.  If the struggle had been between two men versus one girl, probably she would have surmounted.  Although most of the salvation is largely brought by Olarinkoi the fact that the two girls were together makes it easier for them to go about the ordeal.  Their joint screaming and their escape unhurt is partly contributed by their togetherness.

 

The two birds of a feather hatch a scheme to outwit Oloisudori.  They wrap the gifts he had brought them into a box and title it as a gift.  They then plan how to execute the plan.  They arrange on how Resian is to thank Oloisudori and give him the gift.  They discuss the aim of the gestures to clarify to Oloisudori the fact they cannot be cheated with gifts.  From this co-operation Resian manages to trick Oloisudori and tells off her father and later with Olarinkoi, they manage to leave Nasila.

 

It is clear from the above illustration that strong friendship bonds can help friends go about hard experiences and overcome them in their lives.

17.‘‘Resian’s traumatizing life can be attributed to several characters in the novel”. With clear illustrations from the novel ‘Blossoms of the Savannah’’ 

Ole Kaelo

 

ü  Detests Resian’s the moment she was born wishing she was a boy.

ü  Wants to marry Resian to Oloisudori even though it is against her wish.

ü  Accepts gifts from Oloisudori knowing too well she wants Resian.

ü  Forces Resian to welcome Oloisudori and prepare them food though it was against her wish.

ü  Refuses the request of Resian to join Egerton University

Mama Milanoi

ü  Submissive woman who doesn’t protect her daughter from the husband.

ü  Torn between loyalty to Nasila tradition and her daughter’s well-being when the issue of circumcision arises.

ü  Resian trusted her mother to talk to her father about her joining Egerton University which she does not do.

 

Oloisudori

 

ü  Wants to marry Resian though she hates him.

ü  Tells Ole Kaelo that he wants Resian to welcome them and his guest though Resian hates him.

 

Olarinkoi

ü  Takes advantage of Resian’s trusting nature and abducts her.

ü  Want his mother to circumcise Resian though she does not want to be circumcised.

ü  Tries to rape Resian.

ü  Beats Resian until she is unconscious.

18.Bad decisions can adversely affect our lives. Using Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay in support of the statement with illustrations from the novel.

INTRODUCTION; 

the choices we make can affect us positively or negatively. Bad choices definitely have adverse effects on our future

(i)       Ole kaelo is advised by supeyo what kind of man oloisudori is. He is warned but does not heed the advice. He signs lucrative business deals that end up to hound him when oloisudori demands to marry Resian.

(ii)     ole kaelo makes the bad choice of agreeing to give his daughter Resian  to oloisudori. He wants to save his businesses. This creates a lot of problems for the family that makes the girls to rebel.

(iii)   Olarinkoi is not well known by the kaelos yet nobody questions about his presence. He seems mystery and with time, he becomes a member of the family. The trust he had from Resian turns into more chaos when he attempted to rape her and force he into marriage

(iv)    Mama milanoi makes a bad choice of giving her daughter Taiyo to three strange women cheating that she was being taken to her sister. Her plans are to have her circumcised before being married to oloisudori. This makes her loose the trust from her daughter.  (mark any four well illustrated; 3;3;3;3)

      

       Conclusion

       Bad decisions made knowingly or unknowingly will definitely have negative impact in our lives or on those that are dear to us.

19.“Gender inequality is tantamount to violation of human rights”. Write an essay in support of the assertion drawing your illustrations from Blossoms of the Savannah.

Today’s position on the male and female gender is that  men and women are equal  and none  of the gender should dominate over the other.  In Blossoms of the Savannah, women are culturally forced to be subservient to men, a practice that  denies them  some fundamental rights as human beings.

 

       A wife has the right to state her position on any matter even if it is contrary to the husband’s position. This is not the case with Mama Milanoi, wife to Ole Kaelo. She admits that she did not know which man her husband was doing business with and even if she did, she would not do anything about it for he was the one who carried  the family’s vision. She thus leaves every aspect of decision making to him whether those decisions are good  or bad.

       A woman is a being to be loved and not to love back. Although Ole Kaelo genuinely loved Mama Milanoi when he saw her first, her feelings for him are immaterial. Women were not expected to resist a man’s advances according to Nasilian culture. This is a great violation of her right to love or hate. In her case there is no room for that. It is also expected that Resian should give in to Oloisudori’s plans to marry her. Refusal is regarded as stubbornness. In fact, Oloisudori claims that none of his wives put any resistance in his interest in them. This means that their feeling for him did not matter a great violation of their freedom to choose their marriage partner.

       Resian and Taiyo are forced to undergo cultural coaching by Joseph Parmuat. Resian rebels this citing inequality in the plan. She opines that if they were boys, such a thing would not be done on them. Instead they would be freely roaming Nasila with nobody bothering them. In their case, there is no such option simply because they are girls. Their right to choose what to do and not to learn is violated. Girls are taught how to cook for their men but there are no lessons for boys on how to please women. Resian opposes such arrangements saying she would not be taught to solely please men. She claims that even boys should be taught how to please women.

       Gender inequality in this society elevates man over the woman to the extent that Resian says that it made men assume that they had right over the body of any woman. This has reduced women to be objects of sex to be exploited by men at will. This practice started with the Ilarinkon warriors who sexually exploited women after arousing their desires. Taiyo and Resian undergo several rape attempts with Resian ending up almost being raped by Olarinkoi who assumes he has every right over her body. These inequalities have greatly undermined women’s right to privacy and to choose whom to have sexual relation with.

            Gender inequality does not just stop at that. Instead, it is a major cause of violation of basic human rights that all should be accorded a chance to enjoy. Women in the novel have most of their rights curtailed as a result of gender imbalance between man and women

20.“Sometimes we have to do things alone to succeed, even when everyone is against us.” With illustrations from Blossoms of the Savannah, by Henry Ole Kulet, write a composition to justify this statement.

20. Success or failure is in the mind," using illustrations from

Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay to illustrate the truthfulness

of the statement above.

   Failure or success is in the mind.

- The candidate should highlight both failure and success as occasioned by

different characters in the text.

- There should be a clear connection between the inaction or action that brings

about the failure or success. Consider the following suggestions;

Introduction

Our actions or inactions have direct contribution to what we become. Ordinarily, we would say, we can choose to succeed or fail, depending on the working of our mind.

Blossoms of the Savannah has characters who failed or succeeded because of what was in their mind as shown below.

Body

1. Resian's determination leads to her going to university

2. Resian successfully resists Olarinkoi. She had previously told him that he

may succeed in circumcising her on the body, but in her mind, she would remain

uncircumcised.

3. Resian fights monoeyed woman in a dream, and wins.

4. Taiyo, not so aggressive in her resistance to FGM, becomes a victim.

5. Taiyo is tolerant to the Nasila culture, especially in traditional dances,

she becomes a victim of those very culture.

6. Mama Milanoi's failure to defend and protect her daughters leads to her

losing both of them. She fails as a mother.

7. Minik Ene Nkoito has a determination to succeed. Despite working in

a very hostile environment, she succeeds to rescue or free more

more than three hundred girls from early marriages and circumcision.

21.The Nasila culture is not entirely harmful. Justify this statement with

reference to Blossoms of the Savannah by Henry Ole Kulet.

Points of Interpretation

Ci. Justice system

Nasila culture has an apt and acceptable justice system in place to punish wrong

doers in the society. The two vagabonds are beaten and fined for trying to rape

Taiyo and Resian as they are coming from their fathers shop one afternoon.

Fortunately, Olarinkoi appears from nowhere and beat the two vagabonds. When

Kaelo hears of his daughter’s near rape incident he is so incensed that he is

hopping mad (pg 186). With the help of Joseph Parmuat and young men from the

Ilmolelian clan they form search parties ‘enkitungat’ to hunt down the vagabond.

When they catch up with them hiding in a tree, they are beaten until they bleed

profusely. Luckily for them, they are saved by their hiding between the legs of two

elderly men and pleading for mercy. However, they pay fines; Ntara Muyo pays

three heifers while Lante pays two heifers. (pg 163). At her lowest moment of her

daughters’ mishap, Mama Milanoi retracts, is persuaded and begins to see the

wisdom of the Maa founder. She even talks of the story of the naughty man who

waylaid a fourteen year old girl and how justice was swift. This is a good thing

about Nasilan culture of tempering justice with mercy.(pg 162-164) This practice

also ensures there is no unnecessary bloodshed in Nasila.

Cii. Shielding the girl child

Nasila culture protects the girl child from possible harm. For instance, when Resian

is in the homestead of Uncle Simiren, she discovers that the girl child is always

protected and shielded from males who ogle and stare at girls with not so good

intentions. (pg 175) Whenever males visit, girls are shepherded away into one of

the aunt’s houses. The aunts serve the guests and the girls only come out when the

guests have left. Courteous elders always ask whether there are children before

they enter a house. In this context, children refer to girls. If there are girls in

the home, such elders wait outside until the girls have left.

Ciii. Unity/communalism

Nasila culture foster unity and communalism. For example, in preparing for Ole

Kaelo’s homecoming ceremony, Simiren and his wife gather a retinue of young men

and women from his Ilmolelian clan and charge them with the responsibility of

organizing activities and chores. (pg 39). Ole Kaelo notes that if it was in Nakuru

such youths would have had to be paid. He actually regrets having abandoned his

culture in the first place. While living at Simiren’s home, Taiyo and Resian realize

that everything in the home is shared: love, news, happiness, sorrows, experiences,

time, lotion, combs, work, food and anything else that could be, shared. (pg 149)

Civ. Patureishi

Nasila culture regulates relationship between young men and young women to avoid pre-marital affairs through the institution of Patureishi – an affair that runs

simultaneously with the conventional love. Patureishi is meant to check on the

conduct and behavior of the young people and keep then disciplined. (pg 125-126)

Nasila clan system prevents the chance of a brother marrying a sister. As such,

Joseph Parmuat turns down Taiyo’s advances of love because according to their

culture, people of the same clan cannot marry. Taiyo and Parmuat are both from

the Ilmolelian clan. (pg 137) This cultural expectation on love guard against illicit

relationships.

Cv. Hospitality/generosity

Nasila culture promotes hospitality/generosity. In Nasila, it is not unusual to get up

in the morning and find the living room full of people who have just come to share

breakfast. (pg 35) Initially Taiyo and Resian think that people visiting their home

are intrusive but later discover that in Nasila, the home belongs to all clan

members. When Olarinkoi first come to their house, the girls do not bother since

it is “in line with the Nasilian hospitality where every house is open to sojourners”.

Ole Kaelo recalls with amusement that his clan of Ilmolelian is said to be made up

of ludicrously generous men who would slaughter a bull and foolishly share out all

the meat to others leaving themselves without any. (pg 37) True to this Imolelian

spirit and tradition, when the homecoming party is thrown, Ole Kaelo holds nothing back. He slaughters a fattened ox, six rams and four he-goats. (Pg 38) at five o’ clock Simiren charmingly invites all those present to savour his brother’s lavish hospitality. (Pg 46)

Cvi. Brotherhood

Nasila culture encourages a sense of friendship and brotherly loyalty where

brothers support each other. A case in point is that of Simiren’s show of support

to his brother, Ole Kaelo. For instance, for the 30 years or so that Ole Kaelo is

away in Nakuru, Simiren takes care of everything. He acts as the head of the Kaelo

Family and ably represents the family on behalf of his elder brother and his clan.

There is no argument or rivalry between them. Simiren has always accepted his

position as subordinate ever since they were young and considers his brother as

the olmorijoi. In Ole Kaelo’s absence he runs all kinds of errands for him. Ole Kaelo

has always sent him money many times to buy and sell livestock for him at

Dagoretti Cattle Market. In perhaps the greatest showmanship of brotherhood,

Simiren has always done so faithfully and even sent him back profit. Ole Kaelo also

appreciate him as a capable olkunchai. Simiren also welcomes him back and willingly hands over the mantle of leadership to him. It is this brotherhood that sees him participate fully in the construction of Ole Kaelo’s shop and residential house. (pg 11-12)

Cvii. Cultural Identity

Another positive way of life for the Nasilan people is the insistence and pride in

their cultural identity. Such practices enhance the Maa’s unique identity. For

instance, during the homecoming ceremony, the old Ole Musanka says that Nasila

was a Maa house and that anybody born of Maa is entitled to its shelter. He likens

the Nasilan culture to blood and marrow that gives sustenance to the body. He

warns people who alienate themselves that they risk becoming Olkiriki. He advises

Ole Kaelo to re-assimilate himself into his people’s culture. (Pg 51-52) Cultural

identity is also manifested in the jewelry, ivory beads, coloured lessos, kangas, and

shukas worn in the various occasions. The songs and dances also add to this

beautiful way of life.

Cix. Value for family

The Maa people value family. In the family, there is love, care and provision. Ole

Musanka says this to summarize the importance of family: “Home is Maa, home is

Nasila, home is family and home is the children. He warns that if one kills one of

these pillars then there is no home to think about. He also asks the women of Maa

to welcome Mama Milanoi and her children back home. Ole Kaelo’s care for his

family (pg 9, 29, 30, 31, 59). Simiren also cares for his family. (Pg 152-155)

Cx. Religious/spiritual mentality

The Maa people have a strong religious/spiritual mentality which binds them

together. For example, Ole Kaelo’s home is blessed by the elders who also give good

tiding to the children and property. Apart from performing the revered ceremony

to assimilate Ole Kaelo back to the communal fold of the Ilmolelian, Ole Musanka

also blesses the daughter of Ole Kaelo who served him with a special dish and says

that she will be the mother of the next leader of Nasila and Maa. (pg 52)

{Any 4 well developed points=3x4=12marks}

22.“Fathers are pillars of families and should strive to make the right decisions because when they fail, many things go wrong.” Using Ole Kaelo for illustrations, show how the above statement is valid.

Introduction (2 Marks)

Fathers are heads of their families and they are expected to lead their families in the best way possible which includes making decisions. The decisions that fathers make in their families affects their families directly and therefore they should always make the correct decisions for the sake of their families’ well-being. Ole kaelo made some decisions which were detrimental to his family as discussed below.

(Accept any other relevant introduction that captures the full interpretation of the question

statement)

D1: Relocation from Nakuru to Nasila:

Mama Milanoi and her daughters are not involved in the decision to relocate from Nakuru to Nasila. This unilateral decision disrupts Resian and Taiyo’s dream to pursue university education at Egerton university and exposes the girls to FGM; they are attacked by a vagabond and labelled intoiye nemengalana

D2: Failure to heed Ole Supeyo’s advice on keeping Oloisudori away from his daughters

-Ole Kaelo does not make any conscious effort to keep Oloisudori away from his daughters. As result Oloisudori visits Ole Kaelo’s home and upon setting his eyes on Resian, sexually assaults her by squeezing her breast and ogling at her. He then demands to marry her and that she undergoes fgm.

D3: Giving in to Oloisudori’s demands

-When Oloisudori demands to marry Resian in lieu of his loan, Ole Kaelo does not flatly refuse. He even accepts gifts in form of dowry from Oloisudori and convinces his wife to accept his decision to marry off Resian. He broke the news to his daughter Resian that she would be married to Oloisudori rather than pursue further education at Egerton university and that broke her heart to a point that she even contemplated suicide. As a result, Resian runs away from home.

D4: Subjecting the girls to FGM

Ole Kaelo plans to have the girls undergo FGM in order to fit into the Nasilla culture. He engages Joseph Parmuat, a clan brother, to teach the girls Nasillian culture in readiness for circumcision. To meet Oloisudori’s demand to marry Resian, he plans for her to be abducted and forcefully

circumcised and married off. However, Resian runs away and in her place Taiyo is tricked and forcefully circumcised. Taiyo is rescued and joins Resian at Emakererei’s ranch thus causing family disintegration.

**Accept any other wrong decision by Ole Kaelo that shows negative consequences to the

family.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ole Kaelo’s bad decisions negatively affected his family which finally ended up disintegrating.

(Accept any other valid conclusion)

23.No matter the challenges we face in life, when we focus, we succeed. Support this statement referring to Resian in Blossoms of the Savanna.

Introduction

People undergo various trials in everyday life, if they are dedicated, they triumph. This is the perfect scenario in the life of Resian in the novel Blossoms of the Savannah by H. R. Ole Kulet.

Resian goes against all odds to pursue her dream of joining Egerton University. She affirms to Taiyo this even before they leave for Nasila. Pg. 4, ‘I don’t want to work at the shop…. I want to come back to Nakuru and join Egerton University. I want to take a course in Veterinary Science and become a veterinary doctor….’ She constantly reminds Taiyo to tell the father the idea of them joining the campus during their stay in Nasila. ‘You will then persuade father to allow us come back and join the university....’ When they are attacked by the brute, Resian feels bitter and says that it is imperative for Taiyo to talk to the father to allow them go back… ‘I would never want to be confronted again by a deranged vagabond in this wild and frightening jungle that Papaai has thrown us into.’ When Joseph is sent to coach them, Resian is bitter and is not comfortable but wants to join university. ‘No, I refuse to be taught, I would either be taught at the university…or be taught nothing.’ Pg. 73. When confronted with the father about Oloisudori, she endures his wrath and is remains focused about the idea. Pg. 183/4….’No, I have never spoken to anybody about any of you enrolling at the university.’ 

Resian endures the life with Olarinkoi’s old mother till she is rescued by Nabaru to Emakarerei’s compound. Eventually, she goes against all odds and finally gets entry into the gates of the university. Pg. 284 ‘…they were off to their Nirvana, that was Egerton University.’ Other pages, 121, 144, 147, 153, 181, 183,196, 210, 220 etc.

Resian in her focus to remain uncontaminated by the Nasilian culture goes against all odds to remain uncircumcised. She succeeds in this and at the end does not face the knife. Resian fails to embrace the ritual and is not ready for it whatever the case. She says on pg. 33 ‘We must beat them to it. We must convince him to let us go before they prevail upon him to embrace outdated and archaic traditions.’ She declared that those withered claw-like hands of enkamuratani would only touch her over her dead body! Pg. 58. Resian seethes with ire when she heard that their father was preparing them for a journey that she thought was to lead them back to the stone-age era. She scornfully dismissed the cultural coaching Joseph Parmuat was to undertake as worthless and utter foolishness. Resian questions the mother about the relevance of the ritual and affirms to her that it has no meaning in the woman of today, pg. 90. This means she denounces the practice completely as barbaric. She rebukes it and considers it a tool of oppression used by men to put women down, pg. 103. Her dream on pg. 20 gives her the hope that she would remain intoiye nemngalana hence making her remain focused. The enkamuratani eventually comes with her olmurunya and fortunately, Resian is rescued by Nabaru and she finds her way to Emakerei’s place hence remaining intoiye nemengalana. Others, pg. 235, 244, 246.

Resian succeeds in escaping the challenge of rape by Olarinkoi due to her focus. Olarinkoi tricks Resian and attempts to rape her which makes Resian bite him rendering him docile and as such succeeds in preventing the ordeal. ‘…from today on you are my wife. …. she tried to get away from him, but he held her effortlessly as he brutally continued fumbling with her dress, trying to loosen it. She screamed as loudly as she could while she pushed him away and thrashed frantically about. But that did not deter him and he totally ignored her screams holding her more

firmly with his strong arms. Against her loud protest, he tore her garments and began to push her towards the bed. …. she took the las chance of self-preservation. Mastering all her strength, she thrust his thumb into her mouth; sunk her teeth into the flesh like a ferocious animal and tenaciously held onto it, tugging at it fiercely like a lioness. She could feel the flesh tearing and tasted the salt of his blood as it filled her mouth but she clung unto the thumb as Olarinkoi howled with pain. …. he cried out loudly…. he hit her on her ribcage and he passed out, pg. 221-222. This shows that Resian was focused and had to prevent the rape against all odds which

eventually is successful. Also read Pg. 241, confirms that the rape was not successful. 

Due to her focused nature, Resian goes against all odds to prevent the forced marriage to Oloisudori and eventually achieves his ambition of going to Egerton University. She tells the father and even Oloisudori himself that they can only take her to Nakuru in the said palatial home after they kill her. ‘I can only be your wife over my dead body. Yes, you and mother can kill me and carry my dead body to your palatial home.’ It takes a focused mind to say what she said and eventually she escapes the marriage. Though she undergoes suffering when Olarinkoi abducts her, she endures and to her luck is helped by Nabaru to Emakererei and eventually to the gates of Egerton University. She tells the father that it is better he kills her than hand her over to the monster friend. ‘Yes, kill me now!’ She says Oloisudori is a monster, gangster, bank robber, and an extortionist. She dares his father and walks to watch Nasila River where she is tactfully abducted by the crude Olarinkoi. When Oloisudori pursues her at the Ranch, she is saved and Oloisudori’s vehicles set ablaze. This portrays Resian’s focus not to marry the monster and succeeds in this. Pages, 204, 207, 208, 209, 210 and 211.

In conclusion, Resian is focused in her life, remains so and endures all odds to become successful as has been discussed in the above points.

Resian has been wronged more by her father than the Nasilian society.” Write an essay in agreement with this statement basing your illustrations from the text Blossoms of the Savannah by Henry Ole Kulet. 

24. ‘Success is not a destination but a journey with deliberate delays and detours.’ Referring to Resian in ‘ Blossoms of the Savannah’ discuss the validity of this statement.

25.The Maa community perpetuates the violation of women's right .'Write an essay using illustrations from Henry Ole Kulet's Blossoms of the Savannah.