ESSAYS FROM A SILENT SONG AND OTHER STORIES

1.Some cultural practises do not add value and hence should be done away with. Show the truthfulness of this assertion based on Eric Ng’maryo’s story Ivory Bangles (20 marks)

Culture is significant because it governs people's way of life and keeps them together. But certain customs are harmful to those who uphold them, as illustrated in Eric Ng'maryo's story Ivory Bangles. Such customs ought to be abandoned because of this.

To begin with, polygamy is an example of a cultural practise that has persisted in acceptance despite having no value. In the story, we understand how highly valued this practise is in the community. Consequently, a man who rejects it is viewed as a discussion point. This is made very evident when the elderly man, a reputable chief's counsellor, is mentioned because he only had one wife. According to the story, it was unheard of for a person as powerful as the old man, an aspiring chief, to have just one wife. The old guy is content in his marriage, and he loves his wife so much that he gave her a 24-bangle set made of ivory, therefore, this cultural custom is considered to have no significance. Additionally, the old man's use of a riddle to defy the chief's demand that he wed another wife also demonstrates the negative effects of polygamy. The meaning of the riddle suggests that a wife, a co-wife, witchcraft, and death all allude to the negative consequences of this archaic custom. Therefore, polygamy should be outlawed because it is harmful and offers nothing to society.

Secondly, the trust that people have in the seer and the act of seeking his advice is another cultural tradition that has no value. Because his people regarded him as their tribal priest and seer, the old man in this story goes to consult the seer when he notices some blood specks in the goat's liver that he just killed. We can also see how important he is when the old man's wife dismisses his demands and the old man strongly corrects her, reminding her that the seer is the representative of their deceased dads. However, we can also see that this belief adds no value because some of the advice given is bound to be harmful. The seer's counsel to the old man, "That the pebbles demand that he beat his wife and send her back to her father's home," verifies this. The seer claims that the spirits are envious of a happy wife who is not subjected to domestic violence from her husband. This demonstrates that having faith in the seer is harmful rather than beneficial.

Additionally, it is not true—as is commonly believed—that a goat's liver containing blood specks is an indication that something negative is about to occur. This is merely a traditional viewpoint, not one that has received any kind of evidence. Since he had seen some blood specks in the goat's liver that he had just slaughtered, the old man went to consult the seer. The man doesn't agree with the wife's rejection of the seer's demands because his convictions in them are so deep. The wife claimed that the seer responded with revenge against her for declining his marriage proposal. The old man tells the wife that the seer did not put blood specks on the goat's liver; therefore, the earlier argument no longer seems reasonable. This justifies the conclusion that some cultural traditions are not beneficial and should be done away with.

Last but not least, beating a woman is another cultural practise that people value despite doing more harm than good. According to the seer's stone, the old man's wife was going to pass away because the spirits were jealous of a content wife who had experienced no abuse from her husband up until old age. This demonstrates the value placed on the molestation of women. The elderly man is instructed to give his wife the customary beating before sending her back to her parent's house to prevent her death. Even though the elderly man offers to provide numerous goats to avert the disasters, the pebbles insist on the ritual beating, triggering the old man and his wife to devise an elaborate plan to mislead the stones. Leveri, the son of the old man, is able to demonstrate the negative effects of wife-beating as usual. The old man's wife recalls how her daughter-in-law had been beaten by the son to within a fingernail's distance of her grave. This demonstrates that the ritual beating can almost be fatal, supporting the argument that it should be abandoned.

In conclusion, even though culture unites people, some archaic customs ought to be abandoned because they do more harm than good.

2.'Power abuse leads to regret.' Write an essay supporting this claim with examples from Naguib Mahfouz's A Man of Awesome Power.

A lack of common sense leads to rash actions that may haunt us for the rest of our lives. Tayyib al-Mahdi misuses and loses his incredible power in A Man of incredible Power due to times of impulsive imprudence.

To begin with,Tayyib al-Mahdi has incredible power to punish a taxi driver who ignores him when he hails one. Tayyib al-Mahdi attempts to hail a taxi, but the driver dismissively dismisses him. Tayyib al-Mahdi is more irritated now than he was before. In his rage, he makes an irrational decision to punish the man. He fears that he will cause a collision with the driver. Instead, he decides to shatter the taxi's rear wheels. He understands that he should only use his abilities for good, but his rage causes him to be irresponsible. Tayyib al-Mahdi looks at the defenceless man as he goes by, bitter and enraged. He believes he has taught the man a valuable lesson.

In addition, Tayyib al-Mahdi punishes the radio broadcaster hurriedly because he disagrees with him. The announcer was expounding on optimistic future developments after Tayyib al-Mahdi's noteworthy services were misinterpreted as a state awakening or outright rebirth. Tayyib al-Mahdi uses his incredible power to fill a gaping sinkhole, lock a dangerously hanging electrical box, clear a pile of trash, and drain a sewer. Tayyib al-Mahdi is irritated by the announcer's promises, which focus on the future rather than what has been done. Tayyib al-Mahdy is enraged and unthinkingly punishes the man with a spell of persistent sneezing. He sneezes uncontrollably until he is unable to talk, at which point he plays a recorded song called "Walk Around and See." Al-Mahdi intends to censor the media by prohibiting any discussion that irritates him. He would make speakers who irritated him sneeze, scream like women at a wedding, or suffer from excessive diarrhoea. Tayyib al-Mahdi is high on joy and happiness.

Futhermore, Tayyib al-Mahdi likewise abuses his amazing power by pursuing the beautiful woman at the zoo at the expense of his good objectives. Tayyib al-Mahdi visits the zoo's tea garden on purpose to properly plan how to use his new abilities. He, on the other hand, utilises it to entice a beautiful and intriguing woman who catches his eye. Tayyib al-Mahdi is consumed by an unexplainable urge, one that is out of the ordinary and improper given his enormous load of adequate planning and understanding of demands. This woman doesn't notice Tayyib al-Mahdi until he sends her a covert message utilising his incredible powers, which drives her head over heels. Instead of healing the planet, he tries to heal himself. This rash decision causes him to lose his abilities and his vivid mood. Because of his selfishness, the miracle vanishes like a dream. He will be haunted with a terrible grief for the rest of his life.

Lastly, Tayyib al-Mahdi similarly makes the poor decision to wield his authority without first determining how to use it. He begins by performing random miracles. Some services are unforgettable, such as eliminating a pile of trash and draining an open sewer. Others are the result of pure resentment and rash personal revenge, such as fracturing the cab wheels. He eventually realises that he has to deliberate on how to effectively use his skills. He acquires guides to the department of government, factories, and private firms along the coast, among other things, he aims to fix our prisons, schools, and colleges, commercial markets, and the press, among other things. He intends to meticulously organise each stage. He wishes to quiet any uproar and dissuade any deviation. He intends to repair his country first, and subsequently the world. However, he gets distracted by the gorgeous woman at the zoo and fails to stay focused on the plan. He abandons his ambitions in order to pursue the woman with his abilities. This rash decision costs him his authority, and he is tormented by an endless sadness as a result.

Poor decisions are always preceded by a lack of excellent judgement, as Tayyib al-Mahdi discovers the hard way.

3.Positive character attributes make people stand out. Write an essay to support this claim using illustrations from Vrenika Pather's Ninema.

Exemplary qualities inspire admiration and appreciation. Ninema is a young, attractive woman who epitomises splendour due to her outstanding nature. At the market, she stands out from the rest of the crowd.

To begin with, Ninema works hard. She gets up at 4:00 AM to harvest her garden's herbs. Her crops are healthy, and she has green fingers. She also runs a successful business. She works as a fresh produce vendor at the Indian market. Her parents taught her the trade.Her company generates a healthy profit. Her hanky is bulging with cash and coins at the conclusion of a long workday. She is astonishingly superior to others because of her diligence.

 

Secondly, Ninema is a tough city lady. She is as durable as worn-out boots. Although she is happy and accepts her circumstances, she does not give up on them. She overcomes several obstacles and succeeds. She is hence esteemed. Ninema is similarly concentrated. When people compliment her on her physical beauty, she doesn't give a damn about the minor details. She has long, black hair, and is a stunning woman. Her attractiveness grabs attention.Her hips move as she goes while carrying the baskets on her head. Her high, strong breasts hold her flawless body in place as the sari flows about her. Men stop and turn to look at her because of her long, toned arms and narrow waist. With penetrating black eyes, she looks at them. Her prominent cheekbones are admired by women. She ignores the attention being directed at her. She is completely focused on making a living. She has no time to squander, so she avoids chit-chatting with other women in the market. Ninema is indeed concentrated.

In addition, Ninema is friendly and gives good customer service. She is intelligent enough to offer friendly customer service. She pays special attention to her first and last clients. She claims they are lucky. She learnt her craft from her parents, and as a result, she respects and believes in the value of inherited wisdom. She excels at bookkeeping as well. She can count more quickly than you can say "herb". All of her devoted customers are treated with respect and gratitude by her. She skillfully manages Mrs. Singh's obstinacy and calls her aunt with respect.

Furthermore, Clients appreciate Ninema's friendliness. Mr. Chimran is constantly the first to stand by her side.He is said to be in love with Ninema by the other women. He is a wealthy attorney from a high caste of Brahmins. He yet has a crush on Ninema, a low caste, impoverished girl. She brightens his days. She sells him too much before her mother objects. He finds it inconceivable that a planned marriage would prevent him from going to Ninema's shop. Despite being wealthy, Mrs. Singh likes to purchase her herbs from Ninema. To spend more time with Ninema and get out of her enormous, lonely mansion, she haggles for lesser prices. In an effort to engage Ninema more, she continues to bargain. Also, Ninema shows a personal interest in the lives of her clients. She is aware of who's daughter recently wed, whose son is studying medicine in India, who moved into a new home, and where they bought it.

Also, Ninema exudes confidence and self-assurance. She has an iron grip on her business. She is confident and independent; she is her own person. She refuses to conform to what other people want from her. This bothers many individuals as much as it thrills them. It makes her popular with the women in the other stands. They frequently made compromises both at business and at home. They are upset with themselves because of this. Ninema is admired by them. Despite the fact that she is one of them, they respect her because she is unique. They are curious about her secret. Mrs. Singh haggles with Ninema for lesser costs but she won't budge.

Because Ninema is organised, her business succeeds. She receives a consistent stream of clients. She presents her herbs in an enticing way. The appearance and aroma of her stall draw in consumers. The herbs of Ninema are in high demand. When the wealthy professionals come to her during their lunch hour, she is constantly busy.
And Ninema is hard. She looks at the amorous man who tries to block her path and bother her. She fights him so fiercely to defend herself that the shameless man is stunned. The other women at the market clap their hands in approval, boo, and laugh heartily.

Ninema is wise (Six). Despite being a poor girl and leading a simple life, she has enormous dreams. In order to purchase a large house of her own, she saves some of her money. Neither hot running water nor a kitchen are currently present in her home. She needs to use the cold water from the outside tap to wash her face and feet. She does, however, intend to utilise the money she is saving to purchase a home with a kitchen and running hot water. There will be a sizable garden there where she can grow fruit.

In conclusion, Ninema represents/is the height of magnificence. She appears strikingly superior to her colleagues because of her admirable features. Indeed, having excellent qualities helps us stand out and get respect.

Read Samples essays and questions to learn how to write winning set book essays from Henry Ole Kulet's Blossoms of the Savannah. HERE.

4.'Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.' Write any essay validating the above assertion using Tayyib al-Mahdi as your point of reference from the story A Man of Awesome Power by Naguib Mahfouz

The more power you have, the more likely you are to abuse it. Tayyib allowed the power get to his head and misused his power as illustrated in A Man of Awesome Power by Naguib Mahfouz

To begin with,Tayyib hails a taxi to take him to the city, but the driver refuses to stop and speeds away without looking at him.This was not the first time something like this had occurred. Tayyib became more irritated than he had ever been before, he considered punishing the driver, he remembered the warning that whoever is given power like mine must only use it for good, but he let his rage get the best of him and stared at the taxi's rear wheels, both of which exploded suddenly like bombs. The driver came to a halt, slapping his palms together in frustration. Tayyib believed he had taught the motorist a valuable lesson. As he passed the driver, he looked back, satisfied that he had delivered him a lesson he deserved and was not regretful about it.

In addition,Tayyib walked to the café to get a cup of coffee to clear his head. He was listening to the radio as an announcer talked about the exciting advances that were coming up in the future. Tayyib became irritated because similar promises had previously delighted him but had only resulted in frustration. Tayyib became enraged and demanded that the announcer from afar tell us what had already been accomplished, not what was yet to be accomplished! Then he thought to himself that only sneezing would silence the radio.The man sneezed loudly without warning, then remained silent.The man sneezed several times more, and unable to continue, he was compelled to close by playing a recorded tune. Tayyib was overjoyed with his achievement and victory, and he resolved to purge auditory and visual broadcasting of anything unworthy of their noble ideals. He would end any conversation that irritated him, utter trilling noises like to those heard at weddings, or leave when uncontrollable diarrhoea began.

Futhermore, Tayyib was still at the café when he noticed Sulayman Bey al-Hamawi surrounded by servile devotees and followers. Sulayman's sycophants were these individuals. Sulayman was seen by the authorities as one of the reforms' "fat cats" among the city's impoverished. Tayyib used his authority to order him to go straight to the tax prosecutor's office to apologize and say he would pay the millions of pounds he owed. Tayyib was overjoyed with his accomplishment and rubbed his hands together in delight. He expected to read about himself in the newspapers the next day. He knew Sulayman would wonder what had happened to him once he returned to his villa.

Lastly, At the entrance to the tea garden, he noticed a lovely lady approaching to take a seat next to him. She was stunning and appealing. Tayyib found himself aroused in ways he hadn't felt since marrying his wife Hanniya. The attraction stunned him, but the woman ignored him.Tayyib reflected to himself that she had no idea he could make her fall head over heels at command. He paused before sending her a covert message, and the woman immediately looked at him. Tayyib succumbed to his ecstasy and forgot about his beliefs and life; he closed his note book, and they both succumbed to fate. Tayyib realised he had made a mistake on his way home one evening. When Hanniya discovered he wasn't in his usual mood, he pretended to have a cold. He pledged not to make the same mistake again, but it was too late, and the devastation he had created was irreversible. His power had been stripped from him, and he was unable to stop it. For the rest of his life, he was plagued with a profound grief.

Tayyib clearly let the emotion of having the awesome power overpower him, and the process did not take into account the conditions of being in possession of the awesome power.He eventually lost it like if it were a dream.

5.When one is given power, he/she should use it only for good but more often than not people use it for wrong purposes. Support this statement basing your argument from Naguib Mahfouz's A Man of Awesome Power

Many people who are in powerful positions or who have been gifted with some
sort of power tend to abuse it. Instead of utilizing it for improvement of the society at large, they use it for their own selfish interests or to punish those that have wronged them. same scenario is seen in A Man of Awesome Power through a number of illustrations.
We see Tayyib al- Mahdi utilizing the power given to him for revenge. This is not a
good a way of power utilization as it causes harm to others. Tayyib realizes that he
has power to order things to be and he sets out to utilize the power to change his country. However, the first episode where he utilizes this power shows that he is utilizing it to hit back at a person who offends him. The driver of the taxi that he hails suffers his wrath for refusing to stop. When Tayyib is on his way to the heart of the town, he hails a taxi but the driver simply waves a hand at him in haughty refuses. Tayyib's irritation makes him stare at the rear wheels of the taxi and the two explode suddenly. He ignores the voice that reminds him that he should only use his power for good
and lets his anger control him. This act of revenge was deliberate since as Tayyib
bypasses the driver he feels that he has taught the man a lesson. By utilizing his
power to hit back at the taxi driver, Tayyib shows that people with power use it for
wrong purposes.
We further see wrong utilization of power where Tayyib causes the man in the bus to suffer stomach pains. Although the man had physically attacked a woman, causing him to suffer stomach cramps not justified. Tayyib encounters a confrontation between the man and a woman in a public bus and the man ends up slapping the woman. Just like the incident with the taxi driver, Tayyib lets his anger control him where he focused it on the man's stomach and immediately the man suffers severe cramps that cause him to moan and
scream in pain. The pain is so
intense that an ambulance had to be called to fetch him•
Allowing his anger to control him and causing pain to the man who had slapped a
woman is a vengeful act which is wrong thus showing how people with power use
it for wrong purposes.
Beside, Tayyib uses the power bestowed on him to interfere with the radio
presentation by causing the presenter to start sneezing. While seated in the café,
he hears a radio announcer expounding on the developments that were to be
expected in the future. Tayyib feels that the announcer should report on what
has been achieved yet instead of giving false hopes to the people. Tayyib thus
decides to cause some sneezing to attack the announcer since it was the only
way to stop him.
Soon after, the announcer develops massive sneezes that prevent him from
carrying on with the presentation. Tayyib feels happy and victorious after the
unexpected conclusion of the announcement. Although his desire is to purify the
broadcasting sector, the approach of causing massive sneezing to the presenter is
harmful and thus wrong.
Lastly, Tayyib is seen to use the power given to him to satisfy his sexual passion and
desires. Tayyib utilizes the power to make a woman that he is attracted to notice
him. While he is seated at the tea garden planning how to effectively use his
power, Tayyib notices a beautiful woman approaching the entrance of the
garden. The woman does not notice him at first and Tayyib thinks of how through
his powers he can cause her to be head -over-heels with him. He then sends her
a hidden message and she responds to him. He sees nothing wrong with
satisfying his desires as a way of repairing himself. He closes his note book and
they surrender to fate, This is an immoral act since Tayyib is married to Haniya
whom he had remained faithful to throughout their marriage.
People gifted with power should strive to use it only for good purposes and not to
cause pain and suffering to others or for immoral deeds like Tayyib did.

6.War causes a lot of harm and thus should be avoided at any cost. Validate this statement basing your illustrations from Chimamanda Adichie's Ghosts(20 Marks)

Whenever parties engage in some form of fighting, there are grave implications that follow as is seen in Ghosts where the civil war that happened in July 6, 1967 cause suffering and pain to the people.

To start with, war is seen to cause displacement of several people. Many people

are forced to run away from their country and their homes when the civil war

broke. Prof. James and Ikenna's meeting takes James down the memory lane

where he recounts how they were forced to evacuate Nsukka in a hurry in July 6, 1967 when the war began. Through their conversation, we learn that Ikenna has lived in Sweden ever since the war began and has only come back to Nsukka recently. He discloses that he was flown out on Red Cross planes just like many other children had been airlifted to Gabon. Prof. James did not escape the displacement since he and his wife, Ebere had to move to America when the war broke out. Many people are seen to have been forced to leave their motherland as a result of the civil war.

secondly, we see that war leads to loss of lives. Several people had their lives cut short due to the civil war that broke out. The return of Ikenna comes as a surprise to Prof, James since Ikenna was thought to have died in the war. It is no wonder that Prof initially thought of throwing a handful of sand at him just like his people did to ensure that it was not a ghost. Actual loss of life is seen through Ikenna's family. While explaining to prof the reason why he never returned to Nsukka after the war, Ikenna tells him that his whole family was killed when Orlu was bombed

during the war thus he had nobody to come back to. It is not just Ikenna who lost loved ones but Prof too. His first daughter Zik died in the war. He tells Ikenna that the war took Zik. It is no wonder they named their second daughter Nkiruka which means: what is ahead is better.

Thirdly, war is seen to cause massive destruction and loss of properties. When Prof James and his wife first returned to Nsukka when the war ended in 1970, they notice major destructions that had occurred. Prof recounts how they found their house and items destroyed. His books were lying in front of the gate, his Mathematical Annals torn and used as tissue paper, the bath tab used as toilet and their photos ripped and their frames broken. The massive destruction of their house was too much that they had to be assigned a different house in a different street to avoid seeing their old house. In the process of their house being destroyed, they lose their Piano that belonged to Ebere. Prof also remembers the landscape of drove back to Nsukka after the war. The massive destruction a recounted by Prof shows

how destructive war is. Lastly, war causes psychological and physical suffering o live with nightmares the victims. Those who experience war and sad memories of it.

Prof James is seen to have lived with the memories of the war. He easily remembers every detail of the war as he recounts it to Ikenna. Ikenna has suffered psychologically as is seen from the fact that he lost all his family in Orlu hence the reason he does not return to Nsukka. His psychological suffering is further seen from the fact that he never remarries after the war took his wife. Further evidence o psychological pain is seen where Prof observes how his people avoided the topic of war and if they engaged in it, it was with some vagueness. The naming of their

second daughter Nkiruka- what is ahead is better, also shows the pain that Prof and  Ebere: were trying to avoid. The people also suffer physical pain.

Prof.James remembers how a wounded soldier was shoved in their car on

the day they returned to Nsukka.

War causes loss of lives, displacement of people and destruction of properties among other effects. People should thus strive to live in harmony and avoid it at all costs.

7.Lack of courtesy between the police and civilians leads to lethal conflicts. Justify the validity of this statement using illustrations from Meja Mwangi's Incident in the park. (20 marks).

Across the world, over centuries, the behaviour of some of the police officers has caused dire repercussions. Sometimes this happens due to excessive use of force or simply wrongful application law and policies, but majority this occurs as a result of impolite Incident in the Park shows how city dwellers, hawkers and loafers find themselves in conflicts with the police over flimsy and petty reasons often ending unpleasantly. When the two constables accost the fruit peddler, he gets startled and confused.

They demand for his licence and identity card which he obviously doesn't have. Then he offers five shillings which doesn't seem good enough as one constable shrugs. This means that at times if the offer were attractive, they would have accepted it and left him. The police refuse to listen to the fruit merchant and harshly shove him along the street to the city telling him he will explain to the judge. This complicates matters even more because the fruit- seller fears the judge more. It throws him into more panic as he has a case that is coming up the following week and the judge is a tyrant.He explains further that he is

selling this time so that he can afford of me but all his entreaties fall on

deaf ears. They remain unimpressed saying nothing until he breaks away

and flees into the crowded city.

The situation escalates when the constables chase the fleeing man shouting

for help from the passers-by. They actually betroth him unto the mob. A

city man intercepts him and another man lunges for him as shouts

increase. Tossed here and there as a suspect, the desperate fruit peddler

stumbles and falls into a ditch. No one seems to care to find out what really

is happening before taking action. No one listens as he pleads for mercy.

7his is where he meets his verdict which is death. According to the crowd,

justice is administered. The mob universally condemn him without

plausible evidence.

By the time the police arrive at the scene, it is too late. Their action is irreversible and fatal. The mob has already killed him for being a thief. They who are supposed to ensure public safety an security have aided the killing of a hardworking hawker by their silly mistake. This should not have happened if they had treated the man Politely. An innocent life is so unnecessarily lost. This makes the public lose confidence in the police. after investigations the truth will come out and it will be hard to trust the police.

In a nutshell, wanton conflicts and deaths of innocent citizen could be averted

if the police handled matters with courtesy and sobriety.

8.Action speaks louder than words. Discuss the truth of this saying using illustrations from Leonard Kibera's A Silent Song. (20 marks)

The character of an individual tells more than what they actually say. Mbane's brother, Ezekiel, preaches water and takes wine. He is so devoted to God as a preacher, but neglects Mbane, to agonize in the streets for a long time until he almost dies.

When he brings Mbane to his hut claiming to rescue him from the barbaric city in order that he can see the light of God, the blind beggar starts to feel more lonely and miserable in the desolate environment. lhe desolate hut is not a habitable place for him as it has a flea-ridden floor. One wonders why he cannot live with his own brother in his own house! This action tells that the preacher does not love his brother. It ironical for Ezekiel to keep preaching to his blind brother about Christ

and salvation instead of first saving him from the harsh street beggary. Ezekiel seems to have already judged him as a sinner and that Christ will come down from heaven to do the good to him. Mbane dies miserably without much help from his brother.

This is least expected from a man of God who should Have preached to his brother through actions of care and concern. Ezekiel portrays religious hypocrisy since Christians would not throw insults and abuses to God's people when they don't agree with them on some issue, or when they do not show that they believe in Jesus Christ. When Mbane shows no interest in Christ, his brother tells him he is worse than a Judas. EIT1is lack of patience for a Christian, especially a preacher, is

not morally acceptable.

Another action that tells of the preachers action is the meaning in his silence

later as Mbane nears his death. Christians, good men and women on a Christmas morning, also display pretence in the way they curse and call him names instead of bringing the good knowledge of Christ to him. They claim, in his hearing, that he is an able-bodied person, only crippled more daily by the idleness of leisurely begging. He could only yearn impotently beyond the reach of darkness and lameness. At times, self-pity overcomes him. To him, the God of the Gospel and religion are comforts beyond his reach as a cripple. His God is his only hope of deliverance from pain, destitution and despair. The people's actions discourage him about Christianity which they profess but not practice.

In conclusion, the true gospel is the action of an individual because it is more

practical than mere words. Actions work and satisfy the heart more than

proclaiming the word of God.

Actions speak louder than words. Discuss the truth of this saying using illustrations from Leonard Kaberia's A Silent Song.

Introduction

Humanity is premised on love for one another. When we fail to show love and compassion to the less privileged in society, we act more or less like beasts. On the other hand building a united caring society needs our deliberate, conscious efforts to reach out to those in need.

Body

- Ezekiel fails to provide proper habitat for his own brother. He is sick and lives in a flea infested hut. The pavement in town may have been better.

- Though the brother is a preacher, and we expect better from him, he fails to take Mbane to hospital for treatment. His wife, however,tries by giving Mbane some medicine.

- The gay pedestrians could pass by talking of bright weather, lovely morning....they

would sing to the blue sky, whistle to the gay morning as their footsteps sang their way down the pavement and this would taunt him. They offered nothing in spite of his condition.

-Some gay people, however, would answer to his pleas( give him money)

- Those working around, though seeing , had an indifferent attitude. They were never touched. Thieves, too, stole from him.

-  Good men who thronged the brothels were not good enough to him. Moreover, they cursed.

- Christians who sang praises and hallelujah noticed him but did not care. In fact they considered him an abled bodied person only crippled more everyday by the idleness of of leisurely begging. They failed to show true Christ's love.

Conclusion

From the above illustrations it's obvious that omission is a sin just as commission.

We should show love through our actions.

9. ‘War can cause a lot of problems in our society and should be avoided at all costs’ Justify the above assertion using Gloria Mwaniga’s story ‘Boyi’

INTRODUCTION (2MKS)

Conflict destroys family ties and communal bonds. Family members are separated from one another, some are traumatized and others are killed as a result of conflict. In Gloria Mwaniga’s ‘Boyi’ the militia which should protect the community land ends up being the one terrorizing the community they vowed to protect. Below are illustrations showing the challenges the community faced as result of conflict within

the community.(It can be general/contextual or both)

Body

W1 Displacement

Conflict causes displacement of people who leave their homes in huge masses to Bungoma and Uganda. The family of the narrator’s friend Chemutai moves to Chwele.The villages of Kopsiro, Saromet,Chepyuk and Chebei are engulfed by a fog of fear. The did not understand the Militia’s motive anymore.

The Militia took away girls to go cook for them. People’s heads were chopped off and bodies were thrown into river Cheptap-burbur. The Militia also raped their own relatives resulting to children born who were transparent as plastic bags. The narrator imagines Boyi’s children playing appearing transparent as the plastic bags. This horrifies her terribly. Since school is disrupted by the conflict such thoughts haunts the narrator and she spends most of her time idle under the flame tree at home.

W2 Family Disintegration

Most of the families are disunited from the rest of their members. The Militia demanded 40,000 land protection tax, 10,000 land protection tax and 30,000 betrayal tax. Boyi’s father could raise the amount and suggested giving away his savings, precious radio and hunting gun and promises to give his bull Mtabakaki to raise the cash but the Militia is adamant and threatens to kill his entire family. Therefore resulted to giving away Boyi who is only 15 years old until he could raise the amount. Boyi’s mother falls into depression, talking in monologues. She shouts at her husband for giving their son away she tears her Kitenge head scurf and tells him that their son is not cloth that one gives away casually. Boyi’s mother and father’s relationship disintegrated as a result of them losing their son to the Militia. Baba tries to justify his action by saying that he had to give him away otherwise the entire family would have have been tortured to death. He, however, is saddened that the boys who had vowed to protect their land had turned on them like a hungry chameleon that eats its intestines. Conflict really ruined their community.

D3 Mental anguish.

Conflict causes devastation that pushes Boyi’s mother to a state of insanity. The narrator finds the mother seated alone on a kiti moto in the kitchen. She neither looks up nor respond to greetings.She screams at the narrator to leave some tea for Boyi who will return from the caves hungry. The screaming goes on for weeks ‘stupid girl you want to finish tea for your brother and he will come from the caves hungry’, she bawls. She would sit stunned gazing at the wall declaring she envisions her son returning home after escaping from the snare of the militia. After her monologues, she would sit sadly and silently. When her madness takes a walk they would brew tea together with the narrator and would nostalgically reminisce stories about Boyi; about how he saved her marriage being a testament that her womb was not tied by Djinis. Conflict drives Baba to partake in strange tradition of burying a banana stem to drive the spirit of death away and appease Boyi’s spirit. The narrator is surprised by her father turning his back on religion.

The mother refuses to be part of the ritual of sending her son’s spirit away. She has lost touch with reality and lives in denial. Boyi’s family was traumatized by the militia.

D4 Misery

In her anguish, Mama is too despondent to eat. She sits muttering to herself without touching her ugali until it would form a brown crust. The narrator would take it and throw it away in the chicken coop. She sits and talks to herself for hours on end lamenting about her suffering. She asks God to tie a rope around her stomach. Boyi’s family was devastated that he had been recruited by the militia by force.

D5 Work disruption

Conflict disrupts work in the village. That December the farmers do not clear their farms for the second planting of maize. The militia steals young crops from the fields and goats from pens. Instead of working, men and women sit and exchange dreadful tales of the horrendous cruelty of the militia. The militia cut people and throw their bodies in rivers, pit latrines and wells. They recruit boys as young as ten years who are forced to kill their own relatives. Instead of protecting the land, the militia goes on an indiscriminate killing their kin's are victims of the aggression instead of beneficiaries. Boyi’s sister has a terrible dream that her brother attacks her and chops her head off into small pieces. She is traumatized by

this dream.

D6 Dehumanisation

As result of war, innocent children turn into savages. These young boys are forced to murder or rape their own kinsmen. Boyi has gone from a God fearing young man to a wanted criminal. Chesaina tells his parents that he is now a marked man. The distressing news crashes Boyi’s parents and reduces oath of them to tears. They cannot wrap their heads around the fact that their good son who recited Psalms

devotedly is now Matwakei’s right hand man and an enemy of the state. War truly ruins families.

D7 Killings

Boyi’s family is devastated by the news of his killing. The nation newspaper headlines screams coldly ‘Ragtag militia leaders killed by Army Forces’ Baba crumples like an old coat due to shock. Mama is too stunned to cry. She simply laughs. Boyi’s sister is too gutted to cry. War has robbed them of their kin in

the prime of his youth. Boyi is murdered brutally after being flung out of a helicopter which was mid air.

There was no body to bury or for Mama to slap for that matter. She does not roll on the ground as is custom. She is neither bitter nor sad. She only has eyes of lunacy and a voice of death. She truly is devastated. She sits on Boyi’s bed together with the daughter who weeps uncontrollably, her tears soaking her clothes. Boyi’s family was deeply destroyed by the war.

CONCLUSION(2 MKS)

It is evident that conflict or crisis has no positive outcome. It instead destroys families and communities and should therefore be shunned.

10.Basing your argument on ‘The Sins of the Fathers’ by Charles Mungoshi, show how Rondo’s scars are as a result of his father’s wrongdoings. 

Introduction

In “The Sins of the Father” by Charles Mungoshi, pain from past

experiences and childhood trauma affect present lives and events. For example,

Rondo's low self-esteem and bitterness emanates from how his father handled him

while growing up. {Any plausible introduction=2mks}

Points of Interpretations

Si. Rondo at four/an old guitar/ first disappointment

 Mr. Rwafa destroys Rondo’s guitar when he is four which guts all the courage out of Rondo and destroys his self-esteem.( Pg. 30-31) Rondo’s uncle gives him an old guitar and his father comes home only to find him strumming tunelessly on the instrument. Out of anger, Mr.Rwafa breaks the guitar strings ultimately throwing the guitar into the fire while claiming that no child of his would be irresponsible rolling stones and idle like Mick Jagers and John Whites. The images of the burning guitar gut all the courage in him. The experience is so traumatizing that he even pees in his shorts. As a result, the incident implants fear in Rondo and he grows up scared of his father. Rondo cannot remember of a time when he was close to his father since his past makes him cry. (pg. 31, 40). His father destroying his guitar creates more rift and space between them ultimately becoming his first disappointment.

Sii. Stammer.

Additionally, Rondo develops a stammer and cannot speak freely due to his

father’s harshness towards him. . (Pg. 31-32) Rondo’s father is a disappointed man

based on many reasons including the fact that he only has one son. He pursues his

duties zealously and fails to distinguish being a father from being a minister. Mr.

Rwafa seems to be on a mission to destroy his son perhaps in the quest of

searching for a duplicate heir. Rondo cannot answer his father’s questions thus

develops a stammer due to his father’s angry nature.

Siii. Rondo at eight/thrashing/neighbors garden/ripe mangoes

Furthermore, Rondo grows up with the feeling of powerlessness based on his

past traumatic encounter with his father at eight after helping himself to a

neighbor’s ripe mangoes. . (Pg. 40) At that formative stage, Rondo is still learning

what is right or wrong. As such, he does not see any problem going into a neighbor’s

farm to eat ripe mangoes. His mother comes to his defense only to fail to help even

after lifting her skirt in the man’s face. Disparaging names are thrown around.

Unfortunately, Mr. Rwafa comes with his thick elephant-hide belt and, even

without bothering to find out what the matter was, joins in to thrash his son.

Although his mother desperately moves from one man to the other pleading for his

release, Rondo feels completely uncomfortable. Consequently, the humiliating

experience brings with it a sense of powerlessness that continually haunts him even

in his old age. Therefore, his father failing to defend him when he was eight

affects his personality later as he becomes powerless in handling life issues.

Siv. Shadow/fool

Also, Rondo continuously thinks of his father as his shadow and he has to

rely on him on many things such as his new journalism job. He always thinks his

father must be right and is too diminished to think otherwise. As such Rondo is

even afraid for his mother whenever she has to oppose Rwafa. His father always

does everything for him. His failure to think independently reduces him to a

laughing stock at his place of work. His friends think he is a fool and he acts as

one. His wife Selina also cautions him to stop being under his father’s shadow. His

father finds him a job deciding for him that it is time he earned his upkeep money.

Rondo also cannot talk against Mr. Rwafa’s sentiments when in the car back “duck

shooting.” It is as though his father controls his every move while directing his

life. As a result of remaining in his father’s shadow, Rondo feels as though Selina

has always been the main decision maker in their marriage. At work, he also feels

incapable of being a good journalist. . (Pg. 28, 29, 32, 41)

Sv. Birthday party

Moreover, during Yuna’s and Rhoda’s birthday party, Mr. Rwafa refers to

Rondo as an effeminate spineless son of the family who marry into their enemies’

families, poisoning the pure blood of the Rwafa clan. . (Pg. 39, 40) This the

watershed and defining moment in the already sour relationship between a father

and son. It is like the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. The disrespect

that his father shows him makes Rondo feel dejected and he cannot bring himself

to look at his father. Rondo cannot bring himself to his feet to even bid farewell to

the departing guests. His father’s rant made him feel ashamed and powerless at

the same time.

Svi. Suspicions

Rondo suspects that his father Rwafa could have been the one who orchestrated

the murders of his daughters Yuna, six and Rhoda, five; and his father-in-law, Basil

Mzamane. Recent events have been driving Rondo insane and making him see

something else that he had always taken for granted. This is when his friend,

Gaston, ask him whether he knows about the Second Street accidents. (pg 33)

Rondo feels trapped by this revelation. However, he now accepts what he had

refused to think about why his father left the house in morning and what he did

before he returned in the evenings. Consequently, the accumulation of events and

the history behind them makes him so numb that he is almost a zombie when he has the butt of a gun pointing at his father.

Svii. Wedding/ marriage/ignominy

Rondo’s father fails to acknowledge his marriage to Selina. His father actually

frowns and even spit at it instead thus bringing tension in the whole family. Rwafa

is one bombed-out battlefield of scars and cannot forgive his ‘enemies’. He calls it

an ignominy of marrying a muNdevere and further chagrins his son for having a

granddaughter with Ndevere blood as first in the family. After this marriage,

nothing can appease Mr. Rwafa. It is as if his son has been written out, written off,

disappeared. . (Pg. 31, 34) This has always brought tears to Rondo’s eyes to see his

mother and wife together. Due to this tension Rwafa conveniently leaves town ‘on

State Business’ for two weeks and does not attended his son’s wedding. Not

surprising, the bill for the couples wedding is met by Basil Mzamane though his

mother helps in tears. Another result of this strained relationship is that Rondo

has lost touch with his father. He feels more close to his father-in-law, Basil

Mzamane and would choose him as his father if he had a choice. {Any 4 well developed points=3x4=12 marks}

Conclusion

In conclusion, Rondo’s troubles, bitterness, misgivings, powerlessness and low self-

esteem are as a result of what his father did or did not do while he was growing up.

{Any plausible conclusion=2mks}

11.Write a composition to illustrate effects of human-animal conflict drawing illustrations from Eric N'maryo‟s „‟ Ivory Bangles''.

Introduction

Confrontation between wild animals and human being is becoming more rampant in the modern world. During such scenarios, the result becomes adverse both for humans and the animals including and destruction of property. Accept any other relevant introduction

C1: Death of people

Human-animal conflict sometimes gives rise to casualties. People may lose their lives during human-animal confrontation. The Councilors’ wife is killed by a bull elephant. As the scouts chased the elephants which invaded the village with noise and arrows, the bull elephant is wounded. Instead of following the cows into the banana grove, the he elephant picks the path up from the stream out of rage. The elephant enters the Councilors’ grove where his wife had been weeding. The bull attacked the woman, lifting her bodily. It then bashed her on trees and banana plants before putting her on the ground and stamping on her repeatedly. In this manner the woman loses her life.

C2: Destruction of property 

Conflict between human and animals also leads to destruction of property. When the councilor’s wife goes to the market, she gets to learn that a herd of elephants have invaded the village. The people express fear that the beasts would be devastating to the young plants. The scouts warn people of the invasion by a herd of elephants. The elephants have invaded the area including banana groves. The animals cross river Marwe into Mtorobo village. The scouts shout to warn the people of Mtoboro that five she elephants have invaded their banana groves. The wounded bull also invades the grove where the wife of the chief’s councilor had been weeding. 

C3: Killing of animals

Animals are also killed during confrontation between humans and animals. The killing of animals happens for various reasons. On one the one hand, the scouts strike to scare the animals out of their property as in the case of the wounded bull. Also, at the market, the councilor’ wife gets wind that the village has been invaded by elephants,. People however, are somehow relieved because people who know how to use poisoned arrows are already following the herd. They hope that with poisoned arrows, some can be killed. On the other hand, people kill animals for aesthetics and for money. The Chief appreciates the councilor’s wife saying she is comely in the twenty-four bangles she adorned. The chief is privy to the fact the councilor bought them but he is made to understand that the councilor carved them

from the elephant he short with a poisoned arrow. This proves that people may kill animals during human- animal conflict.

 C4: Disturbance

There is disturbance during conflict between human beings and animals. When the elephants invade the village, people who know how to use poisoned arrows are appointed to follow them. The scouts monitor the elephants and warn the public the whole day. They climb on top of trees and make noise relaying warning from one scout to another. They warn people as the elephants move from Sangeyo across river Marwe to Mtoboro homestead in Bware village. The elephants cause great disturbance to the people disrupting their activities. C5: Injuries to the animals

Conflict between people and animals leads to animals being injured by people who attack with a view to driving them away. The bull elephant which eventually kills the woman is because it had been wounded. The elephants are also followed by people who are trained to trained to use arrows. 

Conclusion

Humans and animals sometimes experience strife with far reaching effects. Animal and humans may cross each other’s paths leading to retaliation and counter-retaliation which turn calamitous as lives and property are lost in the duel.

12.Drawing illustrations from Meja Mwangi's, An incident in the Park, write an essay to discuss the problems of urbanization

Introduction.

Many people migrate from rural to urban in areas in search of jobs to better their lives and the lives of their loved as ones. In many cases this doesn't end up as planned as illustrated in Meja Mwangi's An Incident at the Park.

Points to consider

Unemployment

Many of the characters in the story are struggling with poverty and financial hardship, as seen in the fruit seller's efforts to earn money and the idler's request for a cigarette.

Overpopulation

Urban population growth, driven by migration and searching for jobs, has become a significant issue in cities like Nairobi.

However, the masses end up frustrated due to a skills mismatch in the labor market, dwindling economy, and poor governance. But every now and then, a misplaced person rose with a start...

In a few seconds, the thousand or so strong swarm had been swallowed up by the yawning concrete jungle.

Poverty

Urban poverty is also witnessed as many remain loitering and idling reminding the park loungers just how many hours, they had wasted lying idle.'

​'A shaggy thin man sat under a shrub...' (p7). ' Hairy loafer' (p8). ' The idler seated on the bank...' (p8) torn trouser legs.' (p8) 'horny toes. (p9)

Unhygienic conditions

There is also evidence of poor hygiene. The park is littered with debris, cigarette ends and butts. (p8,9). The two gentlemen share puffs on the cigarette. One offers a full cigarette, and smoking in this zone could be a form of escapism from their poverty. (p10).

The fruit seller has only ten shillings which he offers to the constables to spare him. He cannot afford to pay for the license, or even the fine has on another case. (pg 1)

Injustice

The fruit seller is unfairly targeted by the constables and is violently killed by a mob, even though he was simply trying to make a living. This highlights the injustice and prejudice that can be present in society.

Social class

The text touches on the divide between the wealthy office workers and the poor, working-class people who frequent the park.

Conflicts between city authority and street hawkers

When the two constables accost and demand licenses from the ice cream man and the fruit peddler, they tell the merchant that he will only explain to the judge.​

The fruit seller already has a case and is trying to sell to afford a fine. (pl 1). The fruit seller pleads with the constables, who say nothing. 7hefruit seller cursed them and their wives and children... (PI 1).

Brutality

The violence and murder of the fruit seller demonstrate the potential for brutality and aggression in human behavior.

Mob justice / social injustice

The fruit seller is lynched unknowingly by the park people. By the time the constable ran up, the fruit-peddler lay like a broken and twisted ragdoll at the bottom of the ditch. (p12)

He cries and pleads for mercy in vain. had drawn thick red blood over the sparsely bearded face. Dead' was his verdict (p12)

The word 'thief' hovered over the assembled crowd. mob universally condemns him, and it is impossible to tell from which mouth the condemnation is issued. (p12)

Ironically the mob had had what was right. Justice quickly and completely administered ... (PI 2).

Isolation

Many of the characters in the story seem to be isolated and disconnected from others, as seen in the monosyllabic communication of those who sit in twos or threes and the muttering of those who sit alone.

Abandonment

The fish pond, which was once a source of beauty and enjoyment, has been abandoned and left to become overgrown with weeds. This could symbolize the way that society often neglects and abandons certain areas or groups of people.

Drug Abuse

The two gentlemen share puffs of cigarette. The park is littered with debris of cigarette butts and ends (pg. 8,9)

13.“Many individuals struggle with Ghosts from their past” Write an essay in support of the above statement. Using the short story Ghosts by Chimamanda  Adichie  (20mks)

Introduction (2mks)

Most individuals usually struggle to overcome some of the past experiences that they have undergone. This leaves them traumatized for most part of their lives. Chimamanda Adichie short story ‘Ghosts’  brings out characters and situations where people struggle to cope with the experiences they have undergone. For instance Prof. James cannot let go of his wife’s memories which he keeps reliving.  

S1

Ikenna Okoro who was thought to have died during the war in 1967  has unexpectedly returned as a ‘Ghost’ of his former self. People were then evacuated beacause of the bombing. Prof James describes Ikenna as a prominent voice against wide spread corruption and also presumably for Biafran independence. When they meet, Prof James describes him as a man who has become discoloured, dotted with brown age spots. His laughter is nothing like the aggressive sound that reverberated all over the Staff Club in the past. This idea of unexpected return of a person believed to be dead is an emphasy on the idea of people being reminded of the past. Ikenna had to escape using a Red Cross plane to Sweden and did not see the need to come back home after the war since his entire family was dead due to the bombing.

S2

Prof. James’ dead wife Ebere keeps haunting him in the form of a ghost. He often wants to tell his daughter Nkiru that her mother visits during the Hattan winds and less during the rainy season. He does not do so beacause she would conclude that he cannot live by himself and insist that he goes to America where she can take care of him. James memories of his wife are so vivid that he talks of how he would hear the door open downstairs and footsteps would be heard going up. As he lay in the dark room, he would feel his bedcover pulled back, his arms,legs and chest would be massaged by some smooth cream and soft hands. This haunting visits by his wife is proof enough that he has not gotten over ther death of his wife Ebere. Such memories and visitations serve as a mode of dealing with the  pain of death. The war has left a mark on the life of Prof. James he is still reliving its effects even after it ended.

S3

The University current state of corruption and pension issues faced by Ikenna and the narrator is as a result of the past experiences of the war. The present situation in the country seems to be dictated by the past events. For instance Prof James was at the university asking for his pension again . The education minister was accused of having stolen the pension money and deposited in high interest accounts. James and the others who had gone for their pension several times and still not getting anything cursed the vice chancellor and his children for making them suffer. Things had never gone back to normal after the war.

S4

The fake drugs menance is another example of the present day issue that is linked to the past which shows the broken system.Expired drugs were being sold and was the latest plague of their country. James felt that his wife would not have died if things had not been different then. James wonders whether Ikenna had heard about Ebere had lain in hospital getting weaker and weaker. The doctor was puzzled that even after Ebere took her medicine she did not show any signs of improvement. James was too distraught by her condition and by the time they realized that it was the fake drugs nothing could be done.

S5

The effects of the war affected Ebere and James such that when they came back to Nsuka after the war ended in 1970 but they only stayed for a few days. It was too much for them. Their books were charred in front of the garden, under the umbrella tree. There was human waste in their bathtub his mathematical Annal had been used as tissues paper, their photographs ripped and his graduation gown had been used to wipe something and it lay outside the house with ants crawling in out. Although they were assigned a different house on Ezenweze street they still avoided going by the Imoke street because they memories were too sad for them.

In conclusion traumatic events in ones life can affect an individual for the rest of their lives, just like Ikenna and James who lost their loved ones during the war but still have vivid memories of the past that makes them very sad to recall.

Award 2:3:3:3:3:2

·         A repetition of the question in the introduction or conclusion without further explanation scores zero.

1114. 

1