Characterization - SS2 Literature Lesson Note

Characterization

SOKO

Soko is the chief priest of Mando land whose words are considered as the words of the gods and the ancestors. Hence, Mando people believe his words to be true. Contrarily, he takes the opportunity to deceive the land with selfish lies. He tells them that he sleeps in the sacred ancient cave, but, he secretly gets out of the cave in the night to have a rest in a beautiful hut in the bush. He also lies about the coming of the white man, saying that it is ordained by the gods as his coming will bring good fortune to the land. This he connives with Maligu to deceive the people because of the money the Whiteman promises.

Soko represents an African agent who assists the colonial masters in the exploitation of African natural resources.

KINDO

Here is the son of king Santigi of Mando and the Chief Warrior of the land. He is the only one who can read in Mando land apart from Maligu the traitor. He stands against the coming of the Whiteman even when Soko has prophesied otherwise. He naturally hates Maligu because his instincts believes that Maligu is a traitor. He also doubts the spiritual competence of Soko since he notices that Soko does not sleep in the cave as he (Soko) claims.

He has a brave heart, fearless and ever ready to defend his people against any kind of tyranny. He symbolizes those who stands against the tyranny of the colonial masters and their Trojan gifts. He fights against exploitation and relegation/disrespect of the African culture.

MALIGU

Maligu is the King’s chief adviser who supports the coming of the White stranger. He went ahead to blackmail Soko to misinform the people that the coming of the Whiteman will bring good fortune and not trouble.

A greedy fellow who wants to get rich quick. He wrongly advices the King just to arrive at his selfish needs. He is not in any way reliable. He betrays the king’s trust by bringing in a stranger to come and tap into their natural resources wrongly. He deceives everyone including the Whiteman himself.

Maligu represents the greedy African who supports the exploitation of Africa and her dehumanization, just to have a large pocket.

SANTIGI

This is the King of Mando land and the Father of Prince Kindo. As a king he has it at heart to lead his people into no troubles after the communal war ended. But he is blinded by the trust he places on Soko and Maligu.

He is a stringent King who believes in the dictates of the tradition and the custom of the people to the extent of sending his own son into exile for killing a man.

He represents African leaders who fall prey to the deceptions of their greedy subordinates.

WHITEHEAD

Here is the white stranger who came with trouble. Through the help of Maligu and Soko he enters Mando land with the motive of doing away with their diamonds. This devilish motive he covers under the guise of farming tobacco.

Wicked and very manipulative. He offers tobacco to most of the people to keep them intoxicated so as to keep their mind away from his real mission. Whitehead trusts no one, including Maligu. This explains why he did not tell Maligu his plans initially. In fact, lack of trust and act of wickedness led him into killing Parker, his right hand man.

He represents the Whiteman whose interest is only on the exploitation of the African land.

SIMA

This is the palace guard that aids Kindo in some activities.

WARA

Wara is Kindo’s secret lover whose Mando citizenship is in question. She is made to run away from the land by Soko after drugging her with tobacco, kidnapping her, and giving her to Whitehead as a sex machine so that Kindo will not find out what happened to her.

Maligu and Soko earlier on planned to use her for the cleansing sacrifice before she escapes as Soko advises her to do so.

PARKER

Parker is a black man and is more like Whitehead’s secretary and messenger. He helps in the arrival of whitehead and the dissemination of relevant information that will accelerate the achievement of the Whiteman’s plan.