The River and the Source Essay Questions

What are the ways in which the female characters in the novel push back on the roles prescribed to women in society?

In the novel, Akoko stands up to oppressive traditional practices and challenges them. After her mother-in-law accuses her of bewitching her husband, Owuor Kembo, Akoko decides she would rather return to her family home than be disrespected. Her actions defy tradition, which prohibited a woman from severing ties of her marriage because the union was considered sacred. Elizabeth Awiti pursues an education, and is the only girl in her class; people in the community wonder what man would ever want to marry her because she is so educated. While traditionally women were expected to get married and bear children, Vera, Elizabeth Awiti’s daughter, chooses a different path. She joins Opus Dei, an institution of the Catholic Church whose members do not marry.

How does colonialism shape Kenyan society and the characters in The River and the Source?

Colonialism provides the historical backdrop for the novel. Ogola does not go into great detail about historical events, but instead references details that provide the reader clues as to the historical events that shaped the society in which the characters live. From the first page, Akoko’s birth is directly linked in time with the construction of a railway system in Kenya, which would accelerate British control and influence over the country. Early encounters are filled with rumors of the strangeness and magic of white people, while later generations in the novel have more direct contact with the colonial powers. They attend their schools in the mission, adopt Catholicism, learn English and begin getting salaries. All of these changes affect society, bringing both positive and negative change into the characters’ lives.

Contrast the characters of chief Owuor Kembo and his brother Otieno Kembo. What social values do their characters reflect?

While Owuor Kembo and Otieno Kembo are siblings, they embody vastly different ideas of manhood. Owuor Kembo is the chief of the village and is the epitome of power and authority. He takes honor and pride very seriously, and represents the ideal Luo man in all ways except his decision to remain monogamous. On the other hand, his brother Otieno is lazy and greedy, relying on his brother, the chief, to pay the bride price for his many wives. When Otieno becomes chief, he takes advantage of the position for his personal gain without feeling a responsibility to his people. Otieno is the embodiment of misogyny that exists in society; he’s dismissive and disrespectful of women in direct contrast, with the deep respect Owuor has for his wife Akoko.

What is the significance of the title of the novel?

The title of the novel, The River and the Source, refers to Akoko and her bloodline. The novel follows Akoko and generations of her family through over one hundred years of Kenyan history. Throughout, the metaphor of Akoko as the source and her bloodline as a river is used. Akoko’s strength and spirit motivate her descedents to persevere through life’s joys and hardships.

What does Ogola reveal about the Luo people over the course of the novel, their culture, traditions and history?

Ogola takes great care to detail the Luo language, customs, and beliefs in the novel. For the Luo, naming holds deep significance, individuals are given multiple names relating to the season they are born, honored ancestors, significant dreams, and their own personalities. Marriage rites are also steeped in tradition, from the negotiation of the bride price to the ‘kidnapping’ of a girl from her father’s home, marriage is seen as an agreement between two families rather than two individuals. Over the course of the novel, Ogola describes not only the Luo customs but how they changed and adapted in the face of colonization and modernization.