| WHEN RAIN CLOUDS GATHER ] M Bessie Head 4 [awe |BACKGROUND ge Head ws bor 8 mei xpi ia nese har om ly Her motes nan etc aa nncllyJobameshry ly ghee ere gee seh Ee faded home forse aie eines ads ontop sis erotic taet, unc rected’ et ee meer pangs andmolavaseloe Hetil boepalo gett ott terrane thc inhaton api Se oes mae ere weal ‘The unwanted, and unloved coloured daughter thot easthe result of this union was removed from the mental hospital before she was a day old. AS she els usin ‘A Question of Power": pin ine ctv you frm the mental pial rotencyou tow nsing home. A day lato Mec rcumed becuse you tit not ook white Theventyou ta Boe fay. A nek ltr you vezeretumed. The women on the comme ssid Whatcon we do with hs dla? ls mother ‘rnnte™ Infect she wa placed with apoor eolovred family, tho wore paid £3 per month toring her up. She {ellsus that ehe neve fel fly integrated into the Ftc the coloured community and when she was ‘Sthe family whom she had come to regard asher ‘ownbecametoo poor to keep her, and once more Sewas removed. “This time she was sent to a Christian Mission ‘orphanage in Durban, However, no-one told her thatthe separation was to be a permanent ons, fnd she expected, when the school holidays arrived to be allowed to return othe only home fhe knew. Upon asking why she had not been allowed to go home the principal of the ‘orphanage, a Christian Missionary, told her ‘bluntly that she would never return tothe woman she called ‘Mother’. Te shock was so great that ‘teacher discovered her lying prostrate under @ ‘ushinthe schoo! arden fa reply to the question {sto what was wrong Bessie replied that she was bing toc as no-one would let her return to her moter. This ted to the Principal taking, her ircty to the Durban Magistrates Court where Something as read ett her that she aber ireard aor understood after hich she was told that her mother was at the woman she hod slayer at a ne woes nr returto the orphanage the Principal old Fert her mater bl bce tbat she seal itl to become insane She then ade the final coup de roe nth he information that te father was tack stable and, Nothing wa tne to ste the blow tin he Years ome whenever the Principal wanted fo punish ter she would be reminded of her mother's insanity an the fact that she would probably 80 the ame way. This gave her such hated of tisionariyand Crstantythat she determined rer to set fot i a Cristian church again as eng asthe ved «a vow that she kept from the ‘ys eft school ut her death. ‘esse was educated as teacher with money left by her mother for her daughter's education. However, she stllfetno sense ofidentity with any Of the people or places with which she came into contact, and so she took ab as a journalist, for this gave her freedom of movement, She had hoped thatthe Coloured Community of Cape “Town would give her the identification and sense Of belonging for which she was looking, but in aa Interview with Cecil Abrahams she said ‘Here were people with various shades of brown. Thote who looked white those who looked brows and those who looked like Indians, and those wha looked like Aficans. AS a newcomer tothe Cape, I thought [had found the ideal place Nformy mised-race soul But quickly and Dainfuly learned tha if you were not fully {pounded in the colour brown, you would have f0 ‘be etcided fom the communis business and be ready fo endure insult [ew then that would no fd retin the God forsaken county.” ‘She left for Botswana, fecling that the racial and social problems might be absent in this independent country. Unfortunately even her entry there seems 10 have been complicated by political controversy, for she was refusedclzenhip, the reason wat never revealed, and ‘onlyallowedtoeave South Ain ona ei 59. aan sewed nati 0 obtain passport. Ava reat she had to deine smanyivation that were sed to her once sbe Became each as writer. at nh ater that she was suddenly granted. citizenship, vitoutever repping, and agsnthe ean or the change of deesion was aver reveled In the novel When Rain Clouds Gather’, which {isthe fist of the three novels she wrote, she tells 1s a Title about the way she came to ‘arrive in Botswana and some ofthe problems of setlingin 2 strange country. Like her other novels she has incorporated her experiences into a fitional story, yet much of what she writes is based on events which happened to her. [Bessie Head firmly believed thatthe problems of Southern Africa were threefold. Power Everyone wanted mote power for himself, no maiter who he was or how much he already had. ‘The tribal leaders wanted power; thelr younger brothers and sons wanted power, the new politieal rulers, or these who aspired tobe rulers Wanted power. Until the power situation was, ‘resolved there would neve be peace. 2 —‘Themisuse ofauthority. ‘The misuse of authority was not confined to the white man. Everyone who hada litle authority veanted to impose it onto someone. Therefore there wasa pecking order in which someone was shay a the bottom. In ation the ones who had ait auhortywamedto increase what hey had, ust as those who exercted a great amount of authority were never happy une hey could exercise even more. This war true of every ee rou, 3 Racism. Racism, like power and authority was aot ‘confined to the white man. Each race or tribal group thought iselfberier than the one before In consequence there was a continuous battle for supremacy. Those who said that racism was ‘merelythe white man's attemptstoimpose hiswill ‘on those of other colour groups was mistaken, Rocism was part and parcel of every person, Unt this fact was recognised and accepted there could never be peace and harmony. Bessie Head truly believed that uatil all three a beaten and overcome there can never be an acceptable and equal standard of living for everyone in Southera Africa. ‘This was particularly truc of the novel ‘Meu which was Bessie Head's second novel, but itis alsocvident in‘When Rain Clouds Gather’ In an interview she said: “The esearch I did among Botswana people for ‘Mani’ gave me the greatest insight and advantage fo work right athe roots of racial hatred. I foundd (ur above all dat the ype of exploitation and evi! is dependent on a tack of communication ‘benween the oppressor and the people he ‘oppresses. t would horify an oppressor to know ‘that his victim has the same longings, feelings, ‘and sensitivities as he has. BESSIE HEAD'S NOVELS Inher theee novels, When Rain Clouds Gather, ‘Maru’ and ‘A Question of Power’ Bessie Head has tried to recreate the three stages of het life, which she spoke about in an interview about het novels, when she sid er easier work was filled with “personal data ‘and response to challenges that were on the whole intemal and private” She recreates the diferent stages of her own life through the experiences of characters who ‘represent er ow moral vision and fear of power. Heer novels display her vision and search for ‘human social sexual and politcal values within a social ‘order freed from the associated with apartheid, tations because oftheir sex. Ther disadvantages and their bruised selsimage also features you look at Paulina and Mma-Millipede itis not ifficult torecognise this aspect of her work and thinking.Besse Head BESSIE HEAD'S SEARCH FOR IDENTITY, In'When Rain Clouds Gather she deals withthe search for roots from diferent perspectives. She Shows the way thie search affets her various characters, Her characters represent diferent social backgrounds. They are all victims of political, trial, sexual or even eeligous power. “Makhaya is a typical vietim of political power ‘which manifests itself in racial oppression, This ‘was something to which Bessie Head had been exposed, Like Bessie Head he fles South Altica, taking refuge in Botswana to eseape prosecution for anti-apartheid activities in South Africa, The village in which he finds himself, Golema Ma Jsmade up of refugees all of whom have suffered from various grief Wials or tribulations. Each personisstriving omakea nev lifeinancw place. The advent of Gilbert Balfour with his revolutionary cooperative agricultural projet fives them a base on which to work and build a new if and community, Gilbe lke the other characters is also running ‘away froma Life which he finds oppressive. Im is. case it is the emotionally arid middle-class background into which he has been bora and bred, He wants life which offers challenges, not ‘one filled with predictable stability fo the village of Golema Mii we also meet Dinorego and Maa Milipede, both of whom have suffered from power abuse earlier in lie ‘Mma Millipede was Unable to marry the man she loved: Dinorego™ because acorrupt chet wanted her, but soon got tired of her and cast her aside in four of women who would satily him more easy It isoaly a these two people reach old age tha they are reunited and able to befriends. It againat this background that Makhaya final {grows out ofthe hate which has been gradually ‘consuming him. FEAR AND REALITY esie Head strives to show us the realism of the world, but it is a realism which has to be ecogaized and secepted against the background: ‘ofa people who have previously aat been exposed to modern ideslogy or farming technology. Tn dition we have the reactions of a chief who i jealous ofthe co-operatve’sencroachment on his {raditional privileges and who is determined to toaintain there privileges no matter what the cost invohed, We see Chief Matenge’s efforts 0 stop the co-operative from sueceedingin order that he wil not be forced to give up his luerative speculation, We are aware of the corey Which is rife and on whieh Chief Matenge has, built his life, We are also aware that if the co-operative is to sueceed, and the people of Golema Mmidi ste to have any chance ofa stable and economically ible future, then corruption rust be annihilated. In addition we see Chief Matenge's urge to dominate those around him, To a lesser extent oas Tsepe shows similar tendencies, but his ae cay dealt with by the people who sponsor him ‘vay periodically, so that he is able ‘Whea Makhaya first enters this community he is ‘a maa filled with selfdestroctive hatred, but the nergy with which he immerse himsefin the new ‘venture, together with helove which he discovers{for Paulina, soon purges him ofthese feelings so that he finds a new peace and harmony in his love for, and eventual marriage of, Paulina Sebeso, who is also Mecing a disastrous marriage. This Tove symbolizes harmony between characters of different races, different sexes and different ages, as well as the victory of love over oppressive power Gilbert and Makhaya discover an essential unity inther fist long conversation, despite their very different backgrounds and ideals. Gilbert running “away” from England, Makhaya is running “Into” a settled life with wife and children: “He wanted afew simple answers on how olive well and sanely. He wanted to nda the comple of haved and humiliation that had dominated his Ife for so long” For the first time in Golema Mmidi he is able to live a life which is unified, as opposed to the {fragmented one he has been accustomed to live in South Africa. He is sensitive, trustworthy and patient, and has the ability, lacking in Gilbert, to make people do his bidding as a reslt of hie personality. Gilbert, who isa scientist lacks the ‘charisma exerted by Makhaya: a] “Gilbert was o complete contrast 10 this wavering ambiguous world in which Makhaya lived. He! was first and foremos a practical down-to-earth ‘ind of man, intent only on being of useful service to his fellow men. There was nothing {fanciful in hon yet the workings of his mind often confused and fascinated Mokhaya. It was like one gigantic storage house of facts and Sigues and plans and inutve impressions.” (age 81) characters. From Gilbert, Dinorego and Mma Millpede he can take, and appreciate, the values of gencrosity, sharing, companionship, orgivenessand positivenes, He isable finaly 10 sy: “Loving one woman had brought hin to this realization that it was only people who could Dring he rea rewards of ving that it was only ‘People who give love and happiness” (Page 163) Bessie Head has used Makhaya to ilusrate that the ravages of power canbe destroyedif the good in man prevails over the evil in him and i love replaces power, SYMBOLS ‘The harsh wasteland of Botswana and the images of death and deeay which are so evident throughout the novel all underscore the destructive clement found in Matenge. The barbed wire fence which Makhaya succesfully crosses oer signifies his wetory over the malignant frees ranged against him and all the othr visionaries, such as Gilbert, whe are ‘be found in this novel {cs their personal inner powers which tumph ‘overall the obstacles ranged against them and ‘which enable Makhaya and Gilbert, together with Dinorego and Paulina, with a litle help from Mra Milipede,to givebirthto anew social order and to offer new personal values for all the participants ‘The beautifully artistic productions of Paulina's ‘on, made at a time when he was in the grip of both drought and-B, demonstrate the power of ‘eativity over evi. iis these objects which are to bring solace to his grieving mother and laughter back into her life. Whee there is laughter there cannot be permanent despair. Where there is Deauty there is also hope for the future, Tis only if laughter and beauty are replaced by despair that hope ceases to exist,CHAPTER I CONTENT “The man st inthe sal hut beside the border fener. The hut was onthe South Afican ie of the border and he wanted to go tothe Basan Side of the border. The only wayto ge ere you ‘were an illegal imiiprant tod had o xt 8 Passport, as to ums fast sponte ers he Fame of rough land wich wae No Man's Land, but fist twas necessary to get ver the ll turbed wire fence which ra aig the South ‘Alican ‘side, then if you had been fornate nogh oe clear acne No Man's Land there apts enero be nation eter He had arrived at th hu ost a twas geting Tpit, and’ he kw that he had no chance of AMlemping the escape unl was dark TA ‘pean tayig inte ht, wih the door close, for the ence day order not tobe seen. He tied the Border Patrol ei pase he ba went by trey faléhou. At leat it coud be eed po, tithe screaming ofthe siten ait passed the ut ‘tas making him more and more newous. He was a pleasant lookiag man, but ery nervous. He never looked anyone straight in the eye, but turned his face slighty to one side. He appeared to trust no one. The old man whose hut he was tsing know litle about him. Megal emigrants Frequently came to use his hut, and the exra money he got was useful. The okd man guessed thatthe younger man was either Xhosa or Zulu the had the long thin cheekbones found in these tribes, but the escapee had told him little about Himself. When the old man came tothe hut tovards yh was arin a bol of ik por ‘Theyoung mans pleted (sc halt wasbot, forthiswes June the coldest tine of he year, nd be felt rove, in adton tothe cramps which tere forming'n be stomach fom nerves. The Young man desperately wanted ostcch hiss eter the old man explained ihe were seen and Feported theo otter people would not beable to {Se the bu in their bid to escape. The old man ‘would probably be put in prison for helping people fo escape, The old an knew all aout ferves, and the fat that brandy helped, so he Offered to send for some, an offer gratefully fccepled bythe young man Tt would also mean that the old man could have brandy, which he tnjojed almost as much as the stories tha the eeapecs told him when they were more relaxed He vas hoping that one day he would be able to tellhisstorcs to the people of his illage who did hot know that he helped fugitives: cross the border. (Once the brendy had begun to celax him the Young man fold the old man that ‘Makhiays, admitting that he was a Zulu even though he spoke in Tswana. Makhaya was not prove of kis tribe who thought themselves beter {hanallthe other wibes. He alo felt that hismame twas wtodg for him. Ie means one who stays at home, something he bad never be content todo. ‘The ld man blamed ton education, feeling that tmade everyone discontented, ‘Makhaya admitted that he bad just come out of prison, then he suddenly took aserap of paper out (this inside pocket and burned it without saying 4 word. The old man thought this very strange, apecily as Makhaya wasinthe middle of eating fnd slopped toburathe paper. After doing so he ‘refused to tell the old man anything els. ‘The old man did his best to gather more information, but with little success, He told Malaya that the Batswana people were very proud of their wribalism. If be did not like {tballsm Makhaya should not go to their coustry. However, Makhaya only laughed, He feared ‘no-one, noteven the white man. The ony thing he ‘wanted was to feel ee. ‘Soon Mathaya was lft alone again, but this time the brandy helped to stop ham becoming too tense. Soonit was seven oelock and dark, It was time for him to make his escape attempt. Fe put his heavy coat into his leather bags with the Fest of his goode and climbed the seven footbarbed wire fence. Then he began to run as quickly as he could. Soon he was climbing the seven foot fence on the other sie, bute stil did ‘ot feel free. He needed to get away from the border as far and as fast as possible. Postion of Botswana in relation to Southens Aten For half-anchour he ran, until the sirens brought 1im to his senses. He was making so much noise that people would be alerted. He was also cold, He put on his coat, took a few sips from the brandy bottle, and started to walk quietly now away from the border, ‘The sound of bells surprised him for he could not see anyone and be bad no idea where they were coming from. He was surrounded by trees and ‘began to think be was going mad. He wondered if it Was witeh doctors, but if so he need not be raid, for witch doctors were human, an old woman aad a child by the huts, The child 8 git! of about tea, was drawing patterns with a on the grou Mackaya called softly to the woman, but as she replied her voice was very loud. When he asked for shelter she accused him of being a South African spy. He was getting wortied, for he was sure everyone would hear her Voice, it was so loud. He spoke a little more sotly, begging her ‘ot to shout, and gradually her voice got quieter She offered him the use ofa hut for ten shillings, ‘hich he willingly paid. However, while the child went away ¢0 sweep and prepare it she again Accused him of being a spy: He admitted that he had come from across the border, but told her that be was to start a job the fllowing day, She was not realy deceived, for people entering the country legally came by ran, He needed to know what the bells were which he cold ill hear, sohe asked her, only tobe told that thoy were cowrbells, The cows graved freely in the bush, and the bell allowed their owners to keep ‘of thom, The child had returned and wag staring at him ina way that was very adult for one ‘0 young. However, the room was ready, the bed ‘warm, and he was pleased to goand lie dow. He ‘would lke to have drunk some brandy and gone tosleep, but he was til afraid that the old woman ttl the authortis about him. While he was 8 into the dark his door opened and the child entered. Her grandmother had sent her to tim for purposes of prostitution, but he was not interested, He paid her ten shillings to get rd of her. Whenthe child returned toher grandmother with the money he heard the sudden exclamation of surprise. The old woman could not belive that anyone would pay for nothing, unless they were ‘mad, so she locked her door to keep herself and the child safe from Makhaya! ‘Makbaya found it difficult that anyone as evil as the old woman could submit her grandehild to {his sor of thing, While he had been in prison for the past two years he had heard of many evils, and he had thought that he could help to set the world Fightby protesting, buthe was beginningtorealise that no protest would help whilst old women like thisone taught their grandchildren that mea were Sex organs, ready t0 jump on a young ebild and abuse her, He started to think about his owm home and sisters. Hissisters were the same age asthe child and a litle older. As the eldest he was ally addressed as "But, meaning “Elder Brother”, and treated with far more respect than he felt was necessary. When his father died he decided that he wanted hs sisters to call him by his first name and treat him as an equal and a Siend, His mother had not agreed at all. His answer was that it was necessary to earn respect before being treated with itUd her She Ag the hea he ha desided o leave South tien hs [mi kadbeca very upet, expecially is mothe. Hebd old her that he eld nt sty, mary ad be ciren na county where lack mes Were {alld "oy" dog nd afi Hesante lie ‘Baplace whore poople were respected for thir elise and ate, Kan whit theking these (hough that he fl asleep. He et ic hater the ext morning bore it gt HeeeF eta tmapah tats ogo eur any rom the border. The land ere ‘cna ie te land he ha ef This wast Mathew il: When the sum ose id 0 ‘Saely and comely, and myriads of bids beran to sing and fy around. He could not wee wa ey found to eat becanse ale ‘There were fw hilt he could see fat land and the occasional thombushzl se was thrnbsh, ut he deed that it sbesuifl Seon he wa waking slong wie diet oud. A See ic topped alter tobe Site Bebe took woes any so raat apron ce ng ue are hr waned someone oak and pact inowag ete coli Meenedesromoer equstons Heat iwi by sme ofthe words ht eid tattoo, Hwee, be eed tat he 5 2 {Cet dogs wart eaching at pce ‘Settee ter ues in ch be eShelf Ho hik ue oy and emenber which once were iC Fe ‘Sema esd be na Nhe The tock (her hep ewer shane nl bin nt istowalwerewseoas Bean where be left ibe ock and made bis way 103 esau, which Be though Ioked very ty. rahe went toreporttothe pole for has legal alien. To bis surprise the Station ‘Commander, Beish polis ofie, war malig forhi. Hs picture was on he rom page othe per, under the caption DANGEROUS SABOTEUR FLEES BANNING ORDER. Makhaya protsied that be was nt sboteur and the police ocr agreed with io, He knew that Mathaya might wee down what he woud {et do o small piers of pape, which he put inthis pockets, bute would never doth hinge he thought of The Makhaya was asked if he ‘ed Kame Nrumaht which he replied sd aot expected 1 be asked such an ra was enoogh forthe officer toil in and then told im erst Pa anol ma sat Shoe eee weet Sones Seth iso aes eneehes macs ae Makhaya et th togo nx. Then COMMENT 1, Much of Besse Head's onm experince is fevedod inthis chapter, together with her frst hand knowledge of the way to escape {sympathy wh wi cer reas the fogive. There i, 90 fem to send him back o South Afi, to atempt to notly the South. Aten Shores Wetel hatthere something Spproachingsppathyinbsatitade a he tel Makhaya tit he knows he i 10 Saboctr He hat sommed up his man sa ame tobe condone al alk 2. Hiccomments tht Mathaya vnits notes suet nga ba ae fo ‘at them out, epithe odd incident snhen Mabhays, whist waiting to escape, ‘burned the smal piece of paper which ne sxtaced fom his sie poet, thea resumed eating is food. Obvousy be til ‘ites notes about wit he would like to do. Whilst he isin South Aten teritory ‘We an seo how dangerous such let righ be ifthey lint the wrong hands 3. Makhayasiowstegarding the place cpardig the place ofthe male in Zulu sociey is revolutionary when en in context. This ‘vel was written before the emancipaion of women had 1 Nicumah asthe first President of Ghana, pros Sie ome ae oie Hei era) ta ib the fo svnces oH 48mogzeged very fr, yt we 8 2 mab oom hath ter mt etm a unt not asa superior. He alo adds that unis motamereserorgan wag Sivantage of every young girl. His {itenct om respect ony after he Bs gained i resin and reveutiony. lee tar ahead of histime ‘The exploitation of youn gs is wily Focrened in the scone where the randmothcr sends her ten year old (Banddaughter o hae ex witha sranger (order tear ten sbilings For the first tye Mathys reales that snot just is tribe whic is to blame for the state of Sones, but istheolder members oferery Ure They are steep nod ides Which Uheyare determined to perpetuate. isnot onl the te of young pst cara money fom sx which bing eitcied, bat all the teal eusoms, seh a the one were the eldest male is eld in eespoct Dy teryooe simply ecatse he is the eldest male ‘The comment by the tuck driver tha ‘Matiaye need tbe ashamed of being a rember of the Ndebele ibe because all people are welcome in Botswana is nother indictment of the tbl sytem, ‘which gives some tries more importance Ind dominance than eter. Its aso interesting to note that all are ‘welcome in Botswana, vlke the South ‘Afsean system whore some are more equal than others, The black South Altican was always treated as being of tower social lace than the white, with colher race groups fiting in between these ‘0, “The us of boy “dog” and “afi” for Hac South Acan mass sign ofthe irspet nich wre hla ts Scvealled white domination which exited ‘wn the novel was writen ‘They ar all wed as terms of despect or ina derogatory vay. Wes Math aes in Btwn he atid of the truck drier, th poe officer, the strangers who give him eens ta th mano he at office al suggest an open end ‘thot th usin ah wich he wuld ave been regarded in South AMticn haps iis to the South incl Dorder that causes the od wore east sock stpicows ames. Notice that te further Makaya gts from 5 Boat Alea the less he is “ase? by the ic The old woman wses escaping rath Atieans to get money, both for ber Sigratabed andthe offer ofthe services Sf Ger granddaughter. The tuck deer sterely ants company on is long one Poorngyer The old man, initially sees Mathes as a possible candidate for Jeavinlaw, bul soon is offering re ‘easy We sal se in ater chapters tow the fricadship clement quickly Replaces that of something which will ‘spply money. 10, The old man whose hat Mabhaya wses in South Africa seems to be a modure of fine helpfulness and grasping avarice Flewans toast peopleto escape, i this is tht desire, bot a the same time he joys their company and their brandy = elping them to drink it 11, Malthays educations seen asa threat in South Afviea but an ase in Botswana, 12. Lookatth comment ofthe old man atthe ‘endofthe chapter and compare it with the attitude Makiaya has left behind in South ‘ss: Goud i everwhere about here and its no secre People con't steal a thing from you, not even _slypence. People can’ ight, not even lan “enemy.” i This is contrast to the newspaper headline: - DANGEROUS SABOTEUR FLEES BANNING ‘ORDER. 13, Contrast the attitude of the old man ‘outside the post office with that of the old woman across the border. The old man ‘nites Makhaya to his home, saying: “A poor person like me can sil be hospitable. ‘The old woman wanted ten shillings for a bed and a further en shilings fr the ne of her granddaughter. a¥. Once we have seen what the ‘Fanddaughtr is expected to do we are ‘ot surprised that het expression i that of ‘much older person, 15. Finallylook at thedifferencein the scenery and countryside that Makhaya has eft and that which be has gone to, Haslet an area of rolling hill; he has arived in a at land, coveredinserub and thorn trees Yet be fecls more at home inthis barten pase than he ever dd inthe lish ete valley otNatal QUESTIONS 1. Why is Makhaya enteriog Botswana Mega ce 2 Of whats Makhaya accused? How do we now that hiss not rc? 3 How do we know that he is trying to [rotect the man who i aiding hin ke South African side ofthe border? 4 > ‘What isthe central point of this chapery SUGGESTED ANSWERS 1 He has beon forbidden to leave Sou Alica for he is under a banning gost which means that he must stayin he hoc, unless he is out at work, He isforbiddew leave the country and has no passport 2 crit visa, Hes accused of plotting act of sabotage He writes them down on small plese ‘aper which he then puts into his pockes He burns his piece of paper with its suggestion. Now there will be se incriminating evidence cither « imeelf or aguinst any of these with lp Racism and tribalism is the same everywhere. Tis not tinted fot oF colour oF social class. ried teed w ateschapter? ave South Ying order his house Ridden sport oF sabotage ces of pocket, vith is "be no + agaist ‘vio help ‘be group CHAPTER II CONTENT A ype vase Golema Msi was en exceptional vgs had teeman ordinary lagen Gilbert Balfour had rived from Eagland sad decided to pot his experimental arming nto practice thee. Golema Masi bad originaly been sated asa ‘efuge for people trying to exeape (om the tragedies of ie, The ther villoges were named der important chiefs or eval this ore had wo {uch importance, Other villages inthe area were ‘aly somadio iar, but Golema Mand ad become a erop arming lg. as wu ia Botswana fr the etre family to migrate to thelr Inds onthe tsi of hee Milage in November, where they would hep with the ploughing and plating. Thea in January all ‘would return andin ine the worsen and children trou leave agato gather inthe crops. The nd ‘masonly seems amesos of ood they did tai. to grow erop for sao profi. Asa eso un igratry habits the ts that they ved in were serylemporary In Golema Moi god, woll-thatched houses tre uit, The ld was well looked after yy enone, men sed women alte, The menblped withthe ploughing and poked after the eat the stomenedthe earth Everjone, manor woman, ‘tho saw a thorn wee beginning fo grow, would polite, for thorn ees educed the amount of oe rst and aalble to them. “Theland was fenced and wood caring and basket making rouge in cara income. Dinoreg, the ‘drag who Bad ited Mahay to accompany im poe, was skill in the making of mats and Tanke from skins of ld animals, rapidly ‘yingat. Golema Midi now bad over four hundred opi ving in and the Paramount Chie Setoto offtally administered ic However, be Enda younger brother, Matenge, who was 2 probleayso had sent in tolivethere and ook ier the ilgeon is befall. This stopped him nosing ble or is brates. Matenge was not a very aice man, He was fpasping. He wanted ersything, pls the poner Fir brother possessed. Whenever someone upset im he would basish them, but thea they would appeal to Sekoto and be reinstated, Sekot0 joved upsetting his broter’s decisions, and ‘here was ile Matenge could do, Gio aur a ft sed Roya a 2 Steen, tet eng to gin fon Serato Gcopnen nd wo of inproneg iSoa production” ater tice yeas be bad tena t Botany, deters tp i {owt rac Hex hat ek ad Secn ip yw es Unto bedded trelachatSckotoowed macho ‘elo ve aoe Ie people eared fo im or heme td no ger neste a tei then bre abr would cae He ally ‘idiedtosnd Gen oGalenahton were Second ot Matenge Ono oher temen would be destroyed. He gave him 250 acres for an experimental farm and 7,000 acres for 2 cattle ranch, The old man, Dinorego, told ‘Makhaya all this as thoy waiked back 0 the village “The land that the wo men walked through {appeared tobe very poor. There was tle grass forthe ctl and even less water: Howerery a8 Dinovega old Makhaya the advent of Gert had adc deren ote date pol er they were prepared to try owt nw ideas, unlike tmany Batswanas There had been a se-back owerer, because Palatine the permit man who worked forthe chit, boyng eae om bis bball {ora low price then sling them fra high price tothe abattoir had realised that withthe advent tte co-operative, making possible foresch man to weigh his etl himself and order a away ttucktotakethem tothe abate both he ad the thief would be out of business, In consequence Peloton let the employ a the chit and came 0 ‘work for Giller Matenge was so annoyed that he banned Peloton but Chit Sehoto rescinded the banning order, so that once again Matenge found himself wrsedby hicbrotherandisword made to appear of no consequence. Dinorego had many more stories ofthe exploits of Gilbert, whom he obviously held in high esteem. He told Makhaya how Gilbert had suggested to Mma-Miillipede that she build ahen coop to protect her fowls from the eagles. At the same time it would enable her to feed the fowls better, and find their egas more easily. In this way she was able toinerease her fowls, make sure that they produced more and beiter eggs, and ‘ultimately sll her surplus eggs. Dinorego then turned to the question of Maria, his daughter, for whom he was searching for @ husband. She was of the new generation, preferring modern things. Gilbert was teaching hher English. After looking at one of is books she had carved shelvesinthe mud walls of the kitehen, thereby making it easier and more convenient to store and find things. Neat she had added curry powder to the goat meat to improve its Navour. Her example had been quickly followed by most of the village women, By this time they were approaching the co-operative and the village. Makhaya noticed Jer pathways had been made with the i ti te Bie Fen aa a reat Sua Cee ce re ie ua sd, serious fhe. Her exes, ego Ot wend a re tee Coal time to notice any more Gilbert arrived. Gilbert was huge, far bigger than anyone expected him to be. He wore khaki shorts and hobnailed boots, the rest ofhis body being burned dark brown by the sun, His eyes were light-blue dnd he always seemed to be looking around for the nex job that he could tackle. ‘When Gilbert met Makhaya he found the name ther dffiult to pronounce, so they settled on ‘Mack’, He saw that this man could be useful to him, As an outsider Gilbert had found it difficult to persuade people to follow his ideas, but if someone who looked like them, talked lke them, and whom they understood, could be persuaded {ojoin hm, then the story might be very different. Hr invited Makhaya to have supper with him. Gilberts hut was furnished simply wth a bed, a table, to chairs and some boxes over which were strewn books and maps. Supper consisted of eans of various things heated up together. Gilbert asked Makhaya what he was running away from, and was surprised to be told that he was not Funning from anything. Rather he was running towards a setled life with a wife and family. He wanted his personality, together with his mame, t0 continue alter his death, Over the past two years he had come clase to death on'a number of Gilbert admitted that he was also looking for 2 Wife, but most of the time he was so tied up in his work that he could offer a wife only about ten per cent ofhis time and attention, However, Makhay felt that Dinorega’s daughter, Maria, was independent enough to be prepared to accepWhen asked Makhaya admitted tht he ad worked for a newspaper in Johannesburg However, he had become dilsoned sed ed joined a underground sabetage movement ad nover done more than wet down his ideas on bis of pape, alls which he had bee ald foro year. Gitbert did not scem worried by this confession {nd asked Maihaya to stay and learn to drive th tractors and educate the women, The women did allthe farm work, ytit was generallythe men who were rained, He quickly dismissed Mathaya's assertion that he ‘knew nothing about farming and it way agreed ‘that Malaya would join Gilbert, ead and carn from his notes, before starting his new job Wheo Dinorego asked Maria if she liked Makhays be got avery non-committal answer, He despaired of ever having prandehitdeen, COMMENT 1. Golema Mmii is unlike the usual Botswana village in that st consists of individuals rather than members of one or two families, all ner related Tn th ease the individuals have come togetie in an attempt to escape fom various tragees interes Maa noc He also is escaping fom problems fo lay Tor bim to hand. e 2 The insight iota agricultural practices is foritdeseribesawayofifesery ditleren from the one we might iaging Men fend et, women frm, howeer, their land san icp prt tt ives so that the village is widespread in order fo super scommisiy dependent upon the fan 3. We become aware of internecine rivay Matenge is jealous of his brother the Paramount Chief Sekoto, therefore he has bbeem banished in all but name and there is 4 constant battle of wits between the two brothers for supremacy. Gilbert Balfour sa removed from the people of Golem Midi in bth Sppenrancs and character ast is ponte {obs ytat ihe same ine canst B u, 2 with the villagers more closely than their ‘wn chiefs, Fe lives ae they do, works 26 hard ifaot harder than they do, and shares all hee joys and sorcows, he system of farming introduced by Giestisnew to Aten, tsar to that tar in daveloped come, We can se the Blending ofthe old and the new “Thoy tematic way that he goes about caperimenting with grase Sad cattle dcrelopment ian indication ofthe serioas way it which ho tackles hi self-appointed tank and of hie scientific background. ‘The corruption that Bessie Head was always strivingto illuminate and eradicate ised she speais aout he way the people are defrauded over the price for {he eattle, even by their own leader who is supposed to have their imeress at heart. It ‘san indication ofthe corruption which is ‘fein the Third World couatries, ‘The acceptance ofa man by the villagers is measured by whether he can eat thei goat ‘meat and thes sour-milk porridge, ‘The practical way Gilbert approaches the mate fh foe is seen our of wonder by the villagers, yet it wou regarded as common sense in a developed ‘county When Dinorego speaks of the tolerance of evil in Botswana he is appealing, perhaps ‘consciously, perhaps subconcciously, to a reed which be fel in Makhaya, Dinorego is partly proud ofthe fact that his daughter i taking lessons in English from Gilbert, and imitating things European, at thesame tise he realisesthat bbyso doing she is losing the ol ideas and values which have mattered to his ancestors for so many years He is proud that Maria is showing the ‘ther women the way they should follow. 1 makes him importany, if he were not already important, for itis his dauehter ho isthe leader ofthe village women, ‘The approach to the village, with its graded road and wide open ploughed land 1S a great contrast to the serub, thorn bushes and narrow bracks 50 far ‘encountered in Botswana,4 16. a 18, a of insight. She Maria js 2 womas Martie tne signs of scat, and conn Maina oa ee fee ; The hospi of the ila det in vay Maia greets Makhaya. They may te ib hey ml share Mer Beyaobme, Mor’ nrospeton xin diet cotras to Paulina's direct and uninhibited stare ‘thc we al seat Mathay's announcement o Gilbert hat Bename ig just a tibal name’ isa idan toa the ay some of he ‘Mtican peopl ave prepared lo org0 Mest lates tna fort to bring tfomuetes it the nw worl othe 208 cay. ToGibet person wth tial name wll Beste for wl understand he peo btrhan any European em eer Eopetocn Ger’ realy acceptance of Maya fies us an ndetion of te lneines ENSae insencomarslte putes ya Gir might beable to ea the goat meat Sih sok pore batt obvious Hom iso meal of nc gros Bat Be ‘prefers Wester fod From this chapter we discover that Mathaye, previously worked ars repute pon, plas sme Sih datacom a wells some of e proms whic faced hin South ‘Atak git also explain he reuons fers iuphunament for eewspoper ‘eportes cn to epot what hey se aad erate than hat they a ad Tepe bythe Government cli that {rahi altimportay and he tllng of tha tra tater of prime lnprtate However, we alo see that Makbaya teame dadludoned wah the reporting that he di, feclng that he was not feportig the real de of, ony those thier which sppance tothe warty of Pearle who wand tose thems i pat 2. -Thisiusteates the honesty ofthe man, fo, Toisto face Up (0 facts as they ae ab hem for wha he at, Wont owing over thes. ag have explained th reatons that he peat ee eared joined ance which needed changing, orl wang may tochangeitexeep ly ogl ati. fac that he hos let South Aca el, The fata Gilbert hat Be realed that ikat he was pretending to do was just so a eratence. Ho csexped in Order tp ec ealy once more He ica man who is confused as Gilbert He diy realises The offer to drive 3 TGP and work on th lands also an creo gieehim the chance to sort hime Satan decide what he realy wants rom fie People who work onthe land ae t ec wi etre and a sch hey have no te Tor eatags for they come to terms ‘nth man's roots, which are deeply Unbbedded in the land Gilbert is in no doubt about the Stetigence of Matha, He realises that evwill easily and quickly learn the fundamentals oC agrcature 4 spp invwhich he is proved cored Gilpert’sideas to inst the women in the fodimentsofapseulture sa revaltinary ne for his tm, for wemen were stil tnpected to do manual work, Dut ot 10 tender show intative. Certs ideas concerning cattle feeding fre revolutionary. Cattle were teadionaly fd onl pra netTeat rps Crops. This is a Wester idea which wl seed much persuasive talking before iti scented. We fee some of the despair of Dinorego ‘hen Mara seme not tobe interested a Mathaya, He desporatsly wants tose his daughter mavied and seted stor be dies yet there soem to be lite possiiy of happening onsen be rssQUESTIONS 1. How does Dinorego's attitude towards “Makhaya dif from that of the people he met on the South African side of the border? 2. In what way does Dinorego dif other men of his area? om the 3. What is s0 different about Gilbert's approach to farming wincn compared with that ofthe people of Botswana? SUGGESTED ANSWERS fepayment for his ctions, He would like to sce his daughter marred to Makhaya, Sutthisisonty pat fis reason or aking fakhaya home, He shows compassion sand understanding. 2 “The people who helped him escape form South Aria did ifor what they could gt. ‘The element of trust was absent He is prepared to stay at home and help with the farming, He does not regard Farming merely as women's work. He is also prepared fo listen to Gilbert and help ihim to pt his ideas into action. He appears to bea very far-sighted man, Gilbert sees farming as a communal acy, Is something (0 be undertaken Ball He wants the eaite and the erops to be side by side, He wants land to have a chance (9 recover fom the overgrazing from which i has suffered for so many years He wants ete fed wellso that they produce good meat ada high mill yield. He wants men and women to work together Cane ranged over the land destroying the scamy vegetationCHAPTER Ul con’ iret was a cuanto en er ‘taal ane toed ai Pea Bane iar hn ann NAG eco tll and Ire was eying to, Tae impart what he ew 3 Hee eae ounmtaneship 10 tll den hi ee Years 1 4 the fist week of thei ‘Makha al was a good place for #8 ‘apertmeml farm, at teas i that ae Ie feleian mcrae of eight ices fal year mento ccc Snip ine {Teadramages fo eine Sth ren whereof the calle pectic ha eto oenraring ith he Bette ing eater aay complcey, allowing Sart eed gringo np Cesc crs ha ery tle sional vale s tha in Steuence th eae were hin amd condaon Mm On his arrival fenced in the 280 experimental frm the fence andthe areatobe ploughed, He noticed, that over the next wo yeas the good, nutritional [gras started to grow and the eartol-grass was shed out If this could happen in one ‘could happen elsewhere. When other pats ao dated o grow Gilbert dated Dinos thet plans had ben hee Carer dap or Dinrepwas holy person cash ment tne he an wa confmed Git spices ay ella nde that in eater day the streams and thers mene Spe ning ibe aed th nd Soveer to recove tht wich was froded most be fenced in Homers Cae Matenge did not agree at all Tribal ina belonged everyone andshold not heen he sold. 1 the chief wished he ' ace cont FS gum sel Hecate alge te tag to om the pee satel the and srg hem that otc his 0 Lees oi ice rnch teed eo ing business which bronght : nouint of money, o Sonsiderable lose im in 60 hand improved in the fenced-off arca, Then ac won ynch where the same Cite a ier’ ideas about a calle ranch were very Gittscat from any thatthe people of Bose frauen before. stead of tting the ctl roam Sho the ene area he had divided i ino four imps, ene of which he had left empty so that be ould sce how longit took forthe pass orev, naturally. The second had been dug and feplaned wth drought-resistantgrases suitable for grazing. Inthe third camp were a hundred catle. These were thebestof those omned bythe Co-operative members, He had bought them so that he could bred from them. Eventually they ‘wouldbesoldto members who wanted toimprane their herds, The cattle inthe fourth camp were ing fed on special food in an effort to improve the meat when they were killed. Gilbert explained to the old men that he wanted them allo enc ff areas for ets frac the ‘grazing would not be destroyed, the cattle would oy, the animals could be better fe, om diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease would fot be spread. All ere impressed by Gites sincerity, but hoped that he would not take Advantage of them in the future, Howes inoego was prepared to accel value without ‘questioning his cine!‘There were problems (oe overcome, the major Soe being the drovsht which por ope jeu year, When he aeved ert ha rscied Toney from cutside agents ar he Se at ieyitould mot comings to gett an Tae recta fo the farm fo ho eset I msor problem asthe ck of machen Fronctsyaltefrminghsdeen donc ye hich was Ge i thy wer sng bt pining ofthe sesso, wen te round es Tea for looping the oen were ener oo ‘oak after the longmonte doug toe ie to ull the plough. By the tn they had tecpeeduticenty he inysrson mig tens {ded andthe ind be waploughed. Cite Seiad to buy wars which code heb th igre, ut fst he ha to each et tboperte te actors ‘There were problems that Gilber! had not anticipated, The best food erap, for it was drought and disease resistant, as well as being diiked by the red weaver bird who would leave it alone, was millet. Unfortunately the people fefvsed io grow millet because the poorest tribes, the ones that most ofthe Batswana people ooked dows upon, grew millet, The people who considered themselves 10 he superior did not rant to eat the same food as their interiors. Asa Tesult they grew sorghum and maize, both of tihich were attacked by disease and drought, 3s trl asthe bieds, and which produced very Hit food when compared with millet Gilbert decided that ifthe people would not grow millet to eat, then they should grow it to sell so iving themselves money to buy food they preferred, but the authorities refused to susgest this, saying it was none of thir business. Gilbert ‘was so annoyed that he bough millet seed from the authorities and left - in a very bad mood. Fortunately Dinorego was wise enough 0 recognise the value of what Gilbert was doing, tnd be aso started to grow millet as. cash crop. Giber's neat idea was to educate the women, for they were the ones who did most of the farming ‘whit the men looked after the cattle. He. had txrived at thie stage when Makhaya joined him. Makhaya knew nothing about farming and agriculture, but he had an excellent mind that ‘could soak up information and within a week be Understood what Gilbert was tying to do. It was rd fortunate for him that he did not know how desperately Chief Matenge was trying to find & ‘way to get id of kim. (Chic Matenge was determined t0 preserve fwlhorty in the village. He lived in a large ‘tarsi painted cream and drove a huge cream CCheerole, He was now wifcless and childless, for iter hisdivoreehis wifehad kept the wo children (of the marriage. He had been, until recently , Iiendless as well, but recently Joas Tsepe, & politic, had moved in with hima asa guest and A friend. Near bis mansion, which was about two tiles rom Gilber's farm, was the General Dealers shop which supplicd the are necessities which the villagers could not grow: a thrce-roomed shack which served as a primary School, andthe mail depot which distributed the ‘mail which was delivered once a week fom the ‘allway station twenty miles away. There were & few poor huts where those who were forced to ‘work forthe chief lived, These people were paid zo wages, but were slaves he had beem given (Chief Matenge felt that he was far better than any fof the peaple over whom he ruled, yet he had an inferiority complex which he could not overcome. “The iference between Matenge and his brother ‘who was the paramount chief, was that Matenge ‘wanted the old way of ie to coatiaue He did not believe in progres, whereas his brother realised that change was immincat. Matenge had even Frtched a plot to kl is brother, Dut when twas discovered, intend of being Killed himself he was ‘banished to Golem Mid, where he did his best to cause trouble. ‘When Dinorega refused to sit on his advisory councl he tried to get him banished, but Bis brother overthrew the order. There were a faumber of sal decisions ike this all of which Inade Matenge more and moro hated. Thea Gilbert arrived and Matenge’s lst great source ff income, the cattle seling business, was threatened, forthe co-operatives would take the felling of eat out of the bands ofthe few white teaders and rulers ike Matenge, and put it back into the hands of the people themsches. Joas Teepe, Matenge’s friend, was a dangerous ‘an for be represented the National Liberation Party which wanted to Hberate the people from the Government they had voted in. They were for