WAEC Literature in English 2016 Theory — Question 8

Model answer

Kindo is the son of the king and the head of the warriors of Mandoland. He is a hunter and heir-apparent to the throne of Mando. Kindo is an upright defender of his people. He is willing to defend his culture and his people even to his own hurt. He had fought his first war as a boy. He is a sensitive character. He monitors the affairs of Mando kingdom. An ambitious character, Kindo is stubborn and impetuous. Just like Maligu, Kindo can read and write and he is privy to every information in the town. He loves and protects the customs of his people. Kindo is boastful and keeps a dossier on people. In his words, 'The enemy warrior that will kill Kindo has not been born.' Kindo controls the warriors of Mando land. Two of his warriors are Sima and Boko. Kindo is a vigilant warrior and hunter. He is sensitive to the happenings around him. In his words, he says: 'I feel something in the air, Wara. The hunter sees with his eyes and ears and nose. He sees with his whole body. I smell trouble. It makes me restless. It makes me distrust everybody.' This is typical of a real warlord. Kindo manifests this in his ability to predict and suspect Maligu and Soko's egregious plans. Kindo is not oblivious of the intrigues of Maligu and Soko. He is a perceptible character. He can from the outset sense the disastrous effects of allowing Whitehead into Mando land. Unlike other characters, Kindo is ready to challenge the status quo if the need be. He kicks against the coming of the Whitehead and questions the veracity of Soko's order for sacrifice and the divine consent on Whitehead's coming. When the white man refuses to observe the custom by paying obeisance to the king, he forces him to kiss the ground and undergo forty two strokes of cane for his right hand man (Parker). Kindo does not allow his love for his woman (Wara) to interfere with his business as the warlord. He tells Wara that his heart beats for his people and Wara is also part. Kindo cannot be cowed by the concerted efforts of Maligu, Soko and Whitehead to rape Wara. Rather, they sense danger when Wara escapes. Kindo poses threat to the perpetrators of evil in the play. He kills Parker, the white man's assistant and he is consequently banished from the village. Kindo is not moved by the banishment because he is a courageous character who has vowed to die a 'warrior king' and 'always fight for the truth.' Kindo ends the colonial exploitation of his people in his own time. He orders his men to seize Whitehead take him to the sacrifice stone. Whitehead is killed by Kindo. After killing Whitehead, he promises to return to claim the throne of Mando land, followed by his fellow warriors.