WAEC Literature in English 2018 Theory — Question 9

Model answer

The Blood of a Stranger is a play about the colonial exploitation of Africa and how Africans were complicit in the exploitation of their own people. The love for wealth and power drives the actions of some characters in the play, notably: Maligu, Soko, Whitehead and Parker, and this love for wealth and power leads to the tragic end of the play. The play opens with a conversation between Maligu, the king's adviser, and Soko, the village shrine priest. The conversation is surreptitious and it suggests that there is something to be kept confidential between the two characters (Maligu and Soko). Maligu has just received a letter from his brother announcing the coming of the white man. The white man (Whitehead) is to come on the pretext of establishing tobacco plantation meanwhile Whitehead's intention is to explore the diamonds in Mando land and exploit them for his own selfish gain. Mando land is blessed with natural resources, which the people, due to their ignorance and illiteracy, are oblivious of. The love for wealth and power influences the actions of Maligu and Soko. Maligu, being the right-hand man of the king, in collaboration with Soko, their spiritual head, plans to deceive the people into accepting the white man. This he believes will be of financial benefit to him and Soko. Maligu maintains a significant influence on the king. Soko is also the spiritual head and the voice of the gods. His words are highly believed by the people. Having such great influence on the king and the people, Maligu and Soko are able to manipulate the people into accepting Whitehead, a stranger into the land, even when the custom negates it. Soko summons a communal meeting to tell the people about the expected stranger. In the process of the ritual, Soko reveals that a stranger comes to the land, and if they love peace they should treat him well and throw more blood — 'the blood of a virgin, born in another place.' This is utter deception. Soko's poverty and Maligu's greed make them easy tools in the hands of Whitehead. Although they are fully aware of Whitehead's selfish plans and how these are going to be detrimental to the progress and peace of the land, they egg him on. This is typical of how Africans are instrumental in the exploitation of their own people. Although he comes with the pretext of establishing tobacco plantation, Whitehead's main plan is to explore the diamonds which he calls 'evil stones' and exploit them for his own selfish gain. Whitehead gains more influence and confidence through the supports of Maligu and Soko and King Santigi V's ignorance. Whitehead delves into the custom of Mando land, disrupts the people's sanity through the introduction of 'strange drinks' contrary to their local gin (mampama) and the use of what could be suspected as Indian hemp. The ploy to eliminate Kindo who stands as the main opposition to their selfish plans becomes the target of Whitehead, Maligu, Soko and Parker. On coming to Mando land without paying necessary regards to the custom, Kindo has dealt roughly with Whitehead and his right-hand man, Parker. Kindo is also aware of their selfish plans and the plans to deceive the Mando people. Wara becomes their focus. Whitehead demands Wara whom he thinks to be Kindo's strength. The plan to rape Wara and use her for sacrifice would have been successful if not for her resilience and this would have weakened Kindo as planned. The love for wealth and power leads to the tragic ending of the play. This brings about the killings of Parker, Soko and Whitehead. The killing on the peace day and the banishment of Kindo is an indication of how disastrous the love for wealth and power has been to the custom of Mando land.