The River Between

While the harvest is plentiful this year, the villagers worry because the last time crops were bountiful, a great famine followed. During the famine, Chege left the hills and warned people about the encroachment of colonialism. Shortly thereafter, Joshua and Kabonyi converted to Christianity in Siriana, and Chege cut off ties with them, believing that Christianity and “followers of Joshua would bring so many divisions to the land that the tribe would die” (41). On the day before the circumcision ceremony, the village of Kameno prepares with music and dance. Alongside Waiyaki are several other candidates, including Muthoni and Kinuthia. Waiyaki senses that distance has grown between him and his bodily understanding of Gikuyu ways. While he is not able to dance as well as the other boys due to his time amidst the white culture of Siriana, Waiyaki cherishes his experiences and success at Siriana Secondary School. His father’s prophecy now feels unreal to him after his time away, but he looks forward to the circumcision. 

Waiyaki also mulls over Muthoni’s bold rebellion against her religious father. He does not believe that he could rebel against his own father.