The River and the Source

Akoko grows up in a patriarchal society where men hold the power and their voices are more valued, yet she refuses to be limited by this. Rather than walk in demurely when she meets her husband, Akoko enters with her head held high and looks him in the eyes as an equal. After her brother-in-law steals her personal wealth and takes over as chief, Akoko sets out on a daring journey to a completely unknown city to fight for her grandson’s birthright, standing up to her brother-in-law and ensuring her family’s well-being. Her decision inspires her daughter Nyabera to seek a new life for herself after she is unable to fulfill society’s expectations of being a wife and mother. The novel is full of examples of female excellence and pushes back on old ideas of women being less worthy than men. Elizabeth pursues an education at a time when many considered it a waste to educate women; her daughter Vera goes against tradition and decides not to marry; and her daughter-in-law Wandia becomes the first Kenyan woman to earn a doctorate in medicine. These women are strong, capable, hardworking, and wise. They demonstrate what is possible when women choose to live their lives honestly and bravely and are supported by those around them.