African Literature

1. A GRAIN OF WHEAT
CHARACTER AND THEME
Prepared by: Kailas Gohil

2. ABOUT NGUGI WA
THIONGO
• Ngugi Wa Thiong’o was Kenyan
writer.
• He was considered East Africa’s
leading novelist.
• Ngugi adopted his traditional
name and wrote in the Banta
Language Kenya’s Kikuyu
people

3. ABOUT NOVEL
• Historical Novel.
• Novel Frist published
in 1967 by
Heinemann.
• Kenyas struggle for
independence.

4. A GRAIN OF WHEAT
CHARACTER
1. Mugo
2. Gikonoyo
3. Mumbi
4. Karnaja
5. Kihika
6. John
Thompson

5. MUGO
• He was hero in this novel.
• He was Handsome, Introverted, Mysterious
man.
• He lives in the village and spent time in the
detainment camps.
• He secretly was the one who betrayed
Kihika.
• He announeces he was guilty at the Uhuru
celebration.
• He is nervous, full of contradictory thought.

6. MUMBI
• She was beautiful woman in the village.
• She admired by Men particularly Karana and
Gikonyo and his wife, sister of Kihika.
• Gikonyo left, mumbi take responsibility of
house and his mother.
• Ideal patriotic woman fighting for freedom.
• Thiong’o wants to demonstrate that,
“If African woman had not been such an inner
force, Kenyan would have never been what it
is today”.

7. EXAMPLE OF THE SCARLET
LATTER,
A GRAIN OF WHEAT
• Same Position of Hester and Mumbi
• Same Position of Chillingworth and Gikonyo
• Same Position of Dimmesdale and Karanja

8. KARANJA
• Karanja was an opportunist and collaborator with British.
• Hw woks at the Githima Library and Serve as go between
for Mrs. Dickinson.
• The libration and Mistress of John Themopson.
• His village is Thabai.
• He become notorious for his cruelty.
• After Independence, He flees.

9. GIKONYO
• Hw was Carpenter, Businessman, merried to Mumbi.
• He Chieves Pinancial security.
• He was away from Mumbi.
Kihika
• Resistance fighter
• He was conquered apolice sation and kiiled the hated District Officer Robson.
• He was caught and hanged and after being betrayed bty Mugo, Kihika Joined Mau
Mau as a young man.

10. A GRAIN OF WHEAT :
THEME
• Colonialism and it’s legacies
• Individuals and the Community
• Betrayal,Guilt and Redemption
• Forgiveness
• Power of Nature
• Violence
• Silence and confession