Dramatic Irony: Waiyaki
The greatest irony is that Waiyaki, who tries to unite the two rival communities, fails in his endeavor because the inhabitants of the two ridges are more hostile than ever. Instead of leading his tribe to a better life, he ends up losing all his schools, which means that all his hard work and dedication was in vain. This is ironic because Waiyaki was "The Teacher": the Messiah, the savior, and the hero of the tribe. He was supposed to unify the people, but he could not do so.
Dramatic Irony: Waiyaki's Second Birth
The people attending the ceremony of Waiyaki's second birth expect it to be a happy experience for him. After all, he is now one step closer to becoming a man and a full member of the tribe. However, the outcome is the opposite: he keeps crying, which frightens the people around him because this was not what usually happens. The irony is heightened in the sense that he is their future savior: the son of Chege, the chosen one.
Situational Irony: Christianity
When Muthoni tells her sister that she wants to get circumcised, Nyambura points out that this tradition is a sin and the work of the devil. However, Muthoni reveals the irony of their own Christian community: "Circumcision did not prevent them from being Christians" (26). Therefore, she emphasizes that the Christians seem to be inconsistent in applying their own rules when it comes to converting people. Joshua is one of the most ardent Christians and is circumcised; Muthoni cannot help but point this out to her sister.
Dramatic Irony: Joshua's Prayers
When Joshua sees the tribes prepare for their pagan rituals, he prays to God: "O, God, why don’t you descend on this wicked generation and finish their evil ways? Circumcision is coming. Fight by me, Oh Lord. Bring down fire and thunder, Bring down the flood." Right in the next sentence, the irony is revealed: "Nothing happened" (32). This is irony on the part of the narrator, who makes it clear that Joshua doesn't have a direct line to God even though he zealously promotes the faith.
