WAEC Literature in English 2018 Theory — Question 10

Model answer

Santigi's reign is peaceful save the crisis that accompanies the coming of the white man into the land. Santigi reigns at the time when Mando land is just coming out of wars with neighbouring towns and villages. King Santigi's reign is aided by the influences from Maligu, the chief adviser to the king, Soko, the village shrine priest and Kindo, the head of the warriors and Santigi's son. Santigi invests much trust in his advisers, especially Maligu and Soko whom he thinks to be aged, wiser and more experienced. He invests little trust in Kindo whom he thinks to be young, inexperienced and impetuous. Santigi's reign witnesses the arrival of the white man (Whitehead) into Mandoland. Through Santigi's gullibility, docility and uncritical adherence to culture, Maligu and Soko are able to worm their ways into his heart. Santigi's trust and confidence in Maligu, the chief adviser and Soko, the village priest, allows him not even a single doubt about their acclaimed mandate from the god that Whitehead should be accepted into Mando land. Santigi dogmatically consents to Soko's demand for sacrifice and ritual believing that this is coming directly from the gods. He partakes in the rituals and shows total readiness to welcome the white man. Santigi's ambivalence to culture is shown in the way he condones disregard to the custom of paying homage and respect as typical of Africa when this is done by Whitehead. This contradicts Santigi's claim to upholding the custom of Mando land. When Whitehead comes to Mando and refuses to pay homage to the king, Kindo takes it upon himself to defend the land by forcing Whitehead to kiss the ground and flogging Parker forty two strokes of cane in accordance with his age. Santigi remains passive to all these. Santigi's ignorance also comes into play as he sheepishly accepts the hemp offered to him by Whitehead. His inability to make the right judgement blindfolds him from seeing the serious havoc that Whitehead has wrought to the culture and tradition of Mando land by disrupting order and sanity among men and women through the use of strong drinks and hemps. Santigi's reign is characterized by lawlessness which contradicts what the king claims to stand against. In his own reign and royal presence, Maligu, Soko and Whitehead are able to conveniently perpetrate crimes and abet lawlessness in Mando land. Santigi's demonstration of mediocrity results in deaths and sacrilegious acts in the play. Parker kills Soko, the village priest; Kindo also kills Parker while Whitehead's blood is spilled on the sacrifice stone. All these happen on the peace day. Looking at Kindo's banishment, it is predictable that Maligu might eventually become king after Santigi's death.