book review of inheritance by david mulwa

Inheritance

David mulwa.

140 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

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Inheritance by David Mulwa setbook guide, themes, and summary

Inheritance by David Mulwa is a play revolving around individuality and development perspectives as seen through the eyes of a modern-day liberated African. It highlights the conflict between the white settlers and African natives over land inheritance, leadership, and resources.

Inheritance by David Mulwa narrates the story of the King of Kutula as he fights for his people’s independence. The British rulers are not willing to cooperate with him for his open-mindedness. They’d rather have a leader who easily bends to the imperialist’s whims.

Inheritance by David Mulwa characters

In any work of art, characters are used by the authors to voice their messages. In plays and setbooks , they are brought to life, taking different forms as the director deems necessary. In Inheritance, David Mulwa has created vivid characters, including:

• King Kutula XV – He was the last post-colonial ruler of Kutula. He is also Lacuna and Reverend Sangoi’s father.
• Governor Thorne Macay – He is the last colonial governor of Kutula.
• Bishop Menninger – He is the representative of colonialist religion.
• Attendants I and II – They are staff at the palace.
• Reverend Sangoi – She is Lacuna’s half-sister after adoption by the late King Kutula for her wit and intelligence.
• Judah Zen Melo – He is Tamina’s husband and father of three, including Lulu and Bengo’s brother.
• Tamina Zen Melo – She is Judah’s wife and a mother of three, including Lulu.
• Romanus Bengo – He is Judah Zen Melo’s brother and Lulu’s uncle.
• Lacuna Kasoo – He is the son of the former King Kutula XVI. He becomes the first leader after Kutula’s independence.
• Mama Melissa – One of the leaders and Lacuna’s wife.
• Daniel Goldstein – He is a company man representing neo-colonial interests in Kutula.
• Lulu Zen Melo – She is the daughter of Tamina and Judah Zen Melo.
• Councilor Malipoa – He is the closest and most trusted leader by Lacuna.
• Robert Rollerstone – He is a young and energetic foreign investor in Kutula.
• Councilor Chipande – He is Lacuna’s most trusted person in running Kutula.

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The Inheritance summary

Inheritance by David Mulwa is set in colonial Africa in Kutula during the British invasion . The British rulers led extravagant lives at the expense of the poor people of Kutula, who were their slaves.

During the reign of King Kutula, Governor Thorne Macay was the colonial governor representing the British Monarchy. He worked closely with the morally decayed Bishop Menninger. The Bishop used the church to learn Kutula’s people's weaknesses and report them to the governor.

The people’s traditional leader, King Kutula XV, is committed to overthrowing the British leadership regardless of everything it takes. He sets on a mission to create a national uprising against the white settlers, and luckily, he succeeds in driving away the white rulers.

Upon the exit of the British rulers, Kutula becomes a republic, and Lacuna Kasoso rises to leadership after the death of his father, King Kutula XV. While alive and in power, King Kutula adopted Sangoi hoping she would earn Western education and become a societal pillar.

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Unfortunately, governance becomes worse than the colonial rule making Kutula descend to poverty, corruption, and nepotism. To keep his people in check, Lacuna extends punishment and denies rightful employment to the dissidents and their families.

For instance, Judah and his family are in turmoil after he refuses to pledge his loyalty to the new leader. However, after Bengo’s release from prison, he joins the revolution to overthrow Lacuna.

Meanwhile, Lacuna struggles to repay his loans after squandering donor funds and stashing the rest in foreign banks . In addition, he detains the international financiers at the palace. Bengo gathers enough support who overtakes Lacuna’s security , thus overtaking the palace.

Eventually, Lacuna and his close allies are detained, the financiers are given safe passage to the airport, and Reverend Sangoi rises to power.

Themes in Inheritance by David Mulwa

The book’s ideas are unified by various outstanding themes throughout the story. They are a representation of the bigger issues emerging as the characters go about their lives. They include:

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1. Misuse of power

Power is misused severally in the book. Lacuna constructs a dam 15 kilometres away from the people causing them misery; some are forced to walk a whole day to access water. In addition, he is portrayed as a hands-off leader, preferring to give orders rather than do the work.

2. Oppression

In the book, those opposing the ruler face oppression. For instance, Lacuna claims Bengo is the thorn in his political side and wants Judah to prove his loyalty by killing Bengo , his brother. Upon refusal, he is beaten, relieved of duties in the government and thrown into prison.

In another instance, Lulu is detained against her will when she denies his advances. He flirts and kisses her against her will. Lacuna denies Lulu permission to attend her father's 2nd interment as required by customary laws. Despite her cries, Lulu is detained for more than a month.

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3. Exploitation

Throughout the play, the poor are exploited by those in power. Councilor Chipande controls Tamina by forcing her to sell him her land for peanuts. In addition, with her husband being jobless after being kicked out of the government, she is forced to work at Chipande’s coffee plantation.

The people of Kutula live in excessive poverty throughout the play. More than three decades after attaining their independence, the people are still poor. They are overburdened by massive international debt, heavy taxation, and land grabbing by their African leaders .

5. Imperialism

Like most countries after independence, Kutula also suffers from imperialism. Even though King Kutula had a good vision for his people, he was assassinated, leaving his greedy son, Lacuna, in power. Even though the people are free, they are still controlled by international financiers.

Frequently asked questions about Inheritance by David Mulwa

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• What is the relevance of the title Inheritance by David Mulwa? The play explores the role of inheritance property and the suffering it has caused the people of Kutula.
• Is there satire in The Inheritance by David Mulwa? Yes, David Mulwa satirises Kutula leaders who thrive at the expense of their poor subjects.
• What are the character traits of Lulu in Inheritance ? Lulu, Tamina and Judah's daughter, is intelligent, rebellious, social, and insensitive.
• What is the setting of Inheritance by David Mulwa? The play is set in colonial Africa in the Kutula colony under the British rulers.
• Who is the author of Inheritance ? Inheritance is written by David Mulwa, a Kenyan author, actor, lecturer, and director of Kenya Performing Arts in Nairobi.
• Where is the prologue in the Inheritance set? The prologue is set in the colonial leader Governor Thorne Macay's office.
• What literary device has been used in Inheritance by David Mulwa? David has used symbolism in various forms, including objects, characters, and animals.

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Inheritance by David Mulwa - Final word

Inheritance is what is left behind by a deceased person to their family members. However, when applied in literature works, the term bears different meanings. For instance, as seen above, Inheritance by David Mulwa revolves around corruption, oppression, abuse of power, and poverty.

Tuko.co.ke published an article about The Samaritan set book summary notes, characters, theme, and guide. The Samaritan is a recently authorised KICD obligatory play set book for secondary schools.

The Samaritan set book play exposes political leaders' avarice and aspirations while inspiring individuals to avoid evil for the sake of society. It's an excellent read that brings up to date everything that has gone wrong in African states.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

KCSE Setbooks Guides

Inheritance by david mulwa notes summary.

Inheritance is a play that revolves around individuality and the perspective of development as seen by modern day ‘independent’ African states. In the play, particularly the prologue, we get to find that the King of Kutula wanted real independence for his people. However, the British were unwilling to work with such an open-minded individual. They were looking for a leader who will bend to the whims of the imperialists. The perfect candidate was the son of King Kutula known by the name Lacuna Kasoo.

CHARACTER AND CHARACTERIZATION IN THE PLAY INHERITANCE BY DAVID MULWA

Introduction

Characters are the voice of the author in any works of art. In plays, they come alive and may take different forms depending on the director of the play. In the play Inheritance, David Mulwa creates vivid characters some of whom we may have encountered in real life. For instance, Lacuna Kasoo is a clear mirror of our current Kenyan politicians. He is as greedy as he is detached from the problems facing his people. As we explore characters we need to look at them as people who may have or do exist in real life. A character like Judah Zen Meloh represents a confusion of sorts. The Judah we know in the Bible betrayed Jesus while our Judah in the play does not want to betray his blood brother. Although, we need to tell the difference between Judah and Judas. Talking about Judah, he was the son of Jacob in the Old Testament of the Bible. He is the man who came up with the brilliant idea of selling Joseph Ishmaelites.

Our Judah, on the other hand is neither Judas nor Judah the brother of Joseph. He is the brother of Romanus Bengo and the man who tries in vein to redeem his name after he refused Lacuna Kasoo’s directive of eliminating the stubborn Romanus Bengo. Other characters like Tamina, Malipoa and Chipande play mute to all the atrocities being committed in Kutula as long as they get by. In plays, characters play different roles so as to bring out the playwright’s message. In the play Inheritance, David Mulwa creates colonial and post-colonial characters who shape the direction of the play and the ripples of their decisions are felt in the present day Kutula. Bishop Menninger sets in motion neocolonialism by his plans to assassinate the arrogant King Kutula XV. On the other hand, King Kutula plants a seed of hope in princess Sangoi which manifests itself when princess Sangoi now reverend leads a bloodless revolution that ousts Lacuna Kasoo from power effectively ending the colonial grasp over Kutula.

LULU ZEN MELO She is the daughter of Tamina and Judah Zen Melo. Romanus Bengo, the activist is her uncle. Lulu has two brothers both of whom are mentioned but do not play an active role in the play. However, they are pivotal in bringing down Lacuna Kasoo’s leadership.

Lulu is an outstanding student at a local government institution. She has dreams of studying up to university level and becoming a doctor. However, with recession in Kutula, her mother has no money for her university entrance exam.

Lulu gets upset with the complacency of her mother especially when her future is in jeopardy. Her mother’s piety disgusts her. She wants her mother to stop her religious myopism and protest against the dictatorial leadership of Lacuna Kasoo. Nevertheless, it is not just religion that has created fear among the people, Lulu’s mother included, but the fear for the repercussions like those meted on Lulu’s father.

Lulu displays a rather peculiar personality. On the one hand, she is a naive, innocent and easily trusting girl. That is one of the reason she plays a pivotal role in the commemoration of King Kutula’s death. On the other hand, she is a defiant follower of Romanus Bengo and a fearless critic of the gospel of mindless obedience and fear. Her outspokenness and outgoing nature makes her mingle with Robert Rollerston- a key investor in Kutula. Out of politeness, Lacuna does not get to spend the night with Lulu as had been planned. Lacuna is incensed by Lulu’s behaviour but according to Malipoa, the ritual can be performed at a later date.

She, however, stands for the voice of the oppressed young women who are put down by oppressive leadership and backward traditional practices meant to prey on the weak and the vulnerable. Her triumph after Lacuna’s fall is the win for women who have forever been yoked by a retogressive society.

CHARACTER TRAITS

Intelligent/radical/resilient Lulu is top of her class and an active participant in many of her school’s activities. She nurtures a dream of becoming a doctor. This drives her to join the radicalized in her society. In her struggle she is displays a not-giving-up attitude despite the financial constraints in the familyand the fluctuating Kutula economy.

Rebellious/persistent/insistent/vocal Lulu is rebels against religious and moral standards of her society. It is not really being rebellious but she speaks defiantly against her mother’s religious and moral beliefs which she alludes to their current state. Her scathing remarks against Bishop Menninger’s religion makes her earn stern discipline from her mother. However, this does not stop her from speaking but marks a journey towards activism which ends up with her interacting with Robert Rollerstone.

Social/outgoing/vibrant She is a free spirit a character that earns her a leading role in the commemoration ceremony. Her vibrant soul makes her meet and spend the night with Robert Rollerstone. Although, she was supposed to entertain Lacuna Kasoo, she more than engaged with a like-minded individual and young investor Robert Rollestone.

Naive/Easily Trusting/vulnerable/weak/Pure One of the reasons as to why Lulu was chosen is because of her purity. I should point out that the word Lulu is Swahili for Gold. Therefore, Lulu was as pure as gold. However, her naivete landed her in a hot mess when she learned about the true intention of her being invited in the royal palace. Although, she was driven by the desire to find someone who would finance her education, her vulnerability could be hereditary own undoing.

Demanding/Insensitive/provocative/forceful Lulu is tired of pretending and demands action from her mother. She is insensitive to her parents struggles against the biting poverty and demands that something should be done for her education. Her painful stand makes her appear as a spoilt brat to her mother.

LACUNA KASOO

He is the son of the former King Kutula XVI. He becomes the first leader of the independent Kutula state. As the head of state, Lacuna Kasoo uses his powers to intimidate the people and gain personal wealth as he runs the economy of Kutula down.

Despite the skyrocketing inflation and donors withholding funding, Lacuna is oblivious of the suffering of the masses. He continues to impose stricter rules on the people demanding more concessions on the citizenry. In the silver mines, despite the rickety machines, he demands for more output. This leads to the death of Judah Zen Melo. Around the state, there is massive land grabbing by state to satisfy multinational conglomerate while displacing the poor commofolk.

As can be seen in the play, Lacuna leads his tribesmen and those loyal to him in grabbing state resources. For instance, Lacuna controls the silver mines while Councillor Chipande has large tracts of land in the village from which Lulu resides. Moreover, he rewards those loyal to him with lucrative jobs. He also tortures and fires those who cannot do what has been asked of them.

However, towards the middle of the play, he changes tact. Firstly, he releasedpolitical prisoners including Romanus Bengo. Secondly, he appoints Rev. Sangoi into senior position. Lastly, he reaches out to elders from Bukelenge Basin in order to discuss evacuation plans. Nevertheless, Lacuna’s olive beach was just a veil to get his way. But he was wrong this time. The elders were tired of being manipulated and refused to convince the people to evacuate.

Lacuna represents the voice and puppet of the former colonial masters. Instead of serving his people, he is much more interested in serving two industrialists who control his pocket money. When he fails to pay the industrialists their loans, he realises how vulnerable his position is. Although, he tries to exercise his sovereign power, it is too late because on both sides he has been rejected.

He also represents a class of political elites who believe in the inferiority of their own people. In this regard , they outsource everything subjecting the masses to foreign exploitation. As can be seen in the play, the silver mines and cash crop farming are encouraged over other basic production. In fact, the evacuation from Bukelenge plains is meant for further foreign investment.

Greedy/Corrupt/impatient/ Lacuna Kasoo participates in the execution of his father in order to rise to power. While in power, he uses his position and authority to enrich himself. According to Rollerstone, Lacuna has millions of shillings in foreign accounts. Besides, the loans he takes do not go to economic development as seen in the old machines used by miners in the silver mines. Most of the money is either used for his entertainment or banked for him and his henchmen.

Stupid/Ignorant/Reckless

Lacuna finds pride in associating with internationally financiers whom he believes have his interests at heart. He believes that since he conspired with former colonial masters to end his father, then they owe him. However, when he fails to pay the loans, he realised that business does not have a human face.

Although he is advised by Chipande not to detain the foreigners, he ignores the plea. He also strongly believes in his military despite the growing opposition in the country. That’s one of the reasons he is removed from office.

His ignorance makes him believe Malipoa’s predictions and prophecies when the only thing needed was to listen to his people.

Superstitious/pretender/ignorant/arrogant

Lacuna believes in the wise counsel of Malipoa especially on the matters concerning the leadership of Kutula. He has the notion that he is the rightful heir to the throne of Kutula and that the popular opinion does not count. He pretends to care for the development of his country yet he misuses the loans and grants given by the foreigners to bring development. Lacuna believes that his father was a failure and that he has done more for his country than his predecessor. He talks about free education and healthcare when all that is needed is economic empowerment so that the people can afford education and healthcare among other things. He believes that his subjects do not have intellectual know-how to participate in the complex international trade.

Dictatorial/authoritative/Power hungry Lacuna is described by Bishop menninger as “an ingenious greedy rascal that’s utterly devoid of human feelings.... Nero and Caligula all rolled into one ambitious mould.”(pg15) In his desire to ascend to power, he assassinated his own father. While in power he uses fear and intimidation to rule and control his subjects. He rewards loyalists like Malipoa and Chipande and torture dissidents like Judah and his brother Bengo. Judah had been asked to get rid of his activist brother but he politely refused. This decision turned around Judah’s life from a successful civil servant to a poor man who would die struggling to make ends meet. Activists like Bengo are jailbirds while loyalists continue to loot the country’s coffers with the help of Lacuna himself.

Easy to manipulate/myopic/dependent

Menninger knew Lacuna so well. He is the one who prepared him for the role he would play later in life- that of ending the life of his wife. The foreigners first used him to eliminate the humanitarian leader and

then continually used him to loot both the natural and agricultural resources through loans whose interests were very high. Since Lacuna was not a visionary leader he easily fell for easy cash that lands Kutula into inflation. Dependence on foreign aid becomes Lacuna’s major undoing since the people rebel against him.

ROBERT ROLLERSTONE He is a young energetic foreign investor in Kutula. He plays the role of the bad cop, a business face that has no time for petty conversations like his counterpart Daniel Goldstein. Robert dislikes Lacuna because he believes that the old geezer has thrown Kutula into turmoil. In fact he fearlessly blames Lacuna for the deplorable condition of the country. However, this should not be construed as a sympathetic foreigner. He is just angry because Lacuna has severally failed to to service the loans extended to the country of Kutula.

Meanwhile, the same Robert who could be construed as a sympathetic foreigner, has compelled Lacuna government to allocate prime plots for foreign investment according to his terms. In this regard, he is contributing to more suffering to those who will be evicted in Bukelenge for the said project. Therefore, his interests in Kutula are purely business and has no interest with the ‘stupid’ locals who do not know how to utilize the numerous local resource for development.

Nevertheless, Robert saves Lulu from imminent sacrificial ritual organized by Malipoa in the palace. Lulu was supposed to spend the night with Lacuna according to ‘traditions’ after the celebrations to celebrate the death of King Kutula XV. However, that night the oblivious Lulu spent the night entertaining Robert.

Tough/officious/Straightforward He does not babysit Lacuna Kasoo as Daniel does. He is gruff and bold as he reads out the terms of the loans extended to Kutula and the results for the loans. His official manner makes Lacuna despise him. He readily threatens to take all the money Lacuna and his henchmen have stashed in foreign accounts.

Young/ambitious/business-minded Robert is young and ambitious. His youth drives him into taking bigger risks to expand company operations in Kutula despite the marauding corruption. However, this time round he does want to finance the agricultural projects with company oversight and leave Lacuna’s government out of it.

Outgoing/good listener/social When Robert meets the young Lulu, they instantly hit it off and becomes friends. He keen sense of listening makes him gain insights into operations in Kutula and that is why he does not want to pamper Lacuna any further.

Quick-tempered/Unpretentious/concerned/arrogant Robert knew very well the operations in Kutula and how the leadership misappropriated state resources. For this reason he hated them and did not want to play any games with them. He also shows concern for the local people and that’s why he wants to invest in them. However, he does not ask the people what they should want since he believes that his company has all the answers for the ‘ignorant’ folk

ROMANUS BENGO Romanus Bengo is the brother to Judah Zen Melo and uncle to Lulu and her two brothers. He is the leading civil rights activist in Kutula having escaped death when his brother Judah refused to finish him as had been ordered by Lacuna Kasoo.

According to Tamina, Judah had cursed Judah since it is Judah’s activism that had made them lose their jobs, cars and lands and were now living in abject poverty. Tamina does seem to blame Romanus for the situation in her household.

However, Romanus is adamant. He believes that the only way out of Kutula’s situation is to speak against Lacuna’s excesses despite the apparent challenges. Lulu shares her uncle’ssentiments and so does her brother’s who join him in the revolution that ousts Lacuna Kasoo from power. Therefore, Romanus becomes the voice of reason and hope in the play.

Calm/patient/persistent He displays a calm demeanour even in times when he is incarcerated. He shows patience because he knows fully well that he is dealing with people confronted by teachings of submission and respect for those in authority and the poor. He does not give up in his fight even when imprisoned.

Educated/radicalized/brave/courageous/fearless Judah made sure that Bengo obtained the best education in Kutula. It is this education that exposed Bengo to the suffering of his people and made him decide to fight for the rights of the people. Despite the prosecution of rights activists, Bengo displayed courage knowing fully well the risks to which he exposed himself.

Hopeful/reliable/charismatic/dependable Bengo is hopeful that he will overcome Lacuna’s reign of tyranny. He makes sure that he is reliable and using his wit and charm attracts a huge following. Kind/forgiving/understanding Bengo accommodates everyone and does not take it to heart when his brother curses him. He also understands why Tamina hates and despises him.

TAMINA ZEN MELO Tamina is the wide of Judah Zen Melo. She has three children with him among them Lulu. Currently, Tamina lives in poverty. She is pained by the fact that she has been compelled to live a miserable life because of her stubborn brother-in-law.

Instead of Tamina blaming her situation on Lacuna’s situation, she blames it on her brother-in-law. She is among the majority who believe in doing nothing even when the leadership is blatantly corrupt and unreasonable. She believes that Lacuna was annointed by God and only God shall remove him from office. She is patient as she is prayerful.

Nevertheless, towards the end, she joined the protesting bandwagon that yanks Lacuna from office. This happens late for she had previously lost her husband.

DANIEL GOLDSTEIN Daniel Goldstein is a company man. Together with Robert Rollerstone, they represent neo-colonial interests in Kutula. Goldstein is a wide old man who knows how to manipulate Lacuna Kasoo. He is the man looks towards as a friend and a confidant. He builds such trust in Lacuna which makes Lacuna feel comfortable to work with him. However, once he has put Lacuna into his grasp, he brings in Robert to finish what Goldstein had started. The withdrawal of Goldstein is very tactical since he shows that there is nothing he can do to help. Goldstein claims that business has no human face.

Goldstein’s mannerisms and conduct are the very core of how the situation is in Kutula. He is unlike his counterpart Robert. He is ruthless and cunning. He uses polite talk and praise to uplift Lacuna then once he has gotten an opportunity, he takes a business tone tearing down Lacuna. He knows very well that Lacuna leads a bunch of greedy uneducated loyalists who do not understand investments, but he keeps on extending loans which are grabbed and carted to foreign accounts.

Hiding on the principle of sovereignty, he choses not to pursue the matter of rampant corruption in Kutula. However, when his business is threatened by the huge loans taken by Lacuna, he is ready to take what readily belongs to him including emptying Lacuna’s foreign accounts.

Firm/Calm/Intelligent/Wise/brilliant/calculating/Categorical

He speaks calmly and wins Lacuna’s confidence. Thereafter, he walks Lacuna through the financial debt the leadership owes him until he reduces Lacuna into a helpless beggar. When they started speaking, Lacuna had the authority but towards the end of the conversation we realize that Lacuna is just a puppet but power belongs to Daniel Goldstein. He knows exactly how to put Lacuna in his place despite Lacuna’s arrogance.

Manipulative/cunning/Liberal Goldstein averted Lacuna’s desire for power to greed for money. In this way, he knew Lacuna being lazy and stupid, he won’t look for opportunities to create wealth but take the easy way out- borrow loans. At the beginning he made sure that the loans appeared to have been a mutual consent between two parties. However, he knew pretty well that the loans would be a noose around the people of Kutula especially given the fact that the leadership was clueless. Have bagged Kutula’s resources, he takes a liberal stand and throws in Robert Rollerstone- a fierce financier who makes Lacuna regret his decisions. On the other hand, Daniel plays as helpless as Lacuna.

Heartless/Pretender/aloof Daniel knew very well the insatiable greed Lacuna and his cabinet had, however, he continued to finance Lacuna’s government. The huge debt coupled with inflation lands a majority of the people of Kutula into abject poverty. However, Daniel’s company still has the audacity to proclaim further investment that would evacuate the people from their homes in Bukelenge Valley.

COUNCILLOR CHIPANDE Chipande is Lacuna’s trusted hand in running Kutula. He is a people pleaser and astute follower of Lacuna. Together with Malipoa, they form a ring of trusted allies of Lacuna. Using their positions and power, they enrich themselves by grabbing up lands and embezzling government resources. Chipande is Lacuna Kasoo’s strongest ally. He is there to advice Lacuna Kasoo to tread lightly infront of the two white people. As can be seen, he employs a modest and humble tone with the westerners but is bossy around his countrymen. He believes in the colonial mindset of being ruthless to keep the natives in tow.

As a land owner, Chipande pays his employees peanuts so as to keep them coming. He does not extend credit facilities and that is why Tamina has no savings or nowhere to turn when Lulu asks for school fees money.

COUNCILLOR MALIPOA Together with Chipande, they are the closest and most trusted leaders who surround Lacuna Kasoo. Malipoa plays as the traditional and religious advisor to Lacuna Kasoo just like Menninger was the advisor to the colonial Governor Thorne Macay.

As a religious advisor, Malipoa ensures that he continues to incalculate religious rituals that raise Lacuna to Devine status. In this regard, people of Kutula believe that the Lacuna was chosen by God and no one can supplant him from the office. It is Malipoa traditional rituals that keep Lacuna in office for long. Malipoa also demands certain privileges to be extended to the leader. An example is that the people should offer a pure girl teenager to Lacuna as a piece of sacrifice to appease the ancestors and bless Kutula. It is for this reason that Lulu had been chosen to entertain Lacuna Kasoo.

PRINCESS/ REVEREND SANGOI She is Lacuna Kasoo’s half-sister. She has been adopted by the late King Kutula the XV because of her intelligence and wit. Although she had come from poor background, the little girl was infatuated by the white man’s religion and education.

King Kutula seeing this, he requested that Bishop Menninger should ensure that the girl obtained the best of the white man’s education. However, Menninger had other plans for the girl-he wanted to make her a good for nothing religious and philosophical fanatic who would have nothing to do with the suffering of her people but fervently in search of the white man’s philosophies burried in books. Menninger was wrong. It seems the King had seen something human in the little girl. For although the girl grew to become a Reverend, she never forgot her people. In fact she used the bible to elevate the suffering of her people and fight for the muffled freedoms.

This made her at loggerheads with her half-brother Lacuna Kasoo. Kasoo tries to buy her by appointing her into office as councillor and representative of the people but she refuses to silence the voice of the people. Instead she leads the opposition against Lacuna Kasoo and his foreign saboteurs.

JUDAH ZEN MELO Judah is the father to three children, Lulu and her two brothers. He is the husband to Tamina. He is also the brother to Romanus Bengo.

Judah is an obedient folower to Lacuna Kasoo. He rises above the ranks and becomes one of the most powerful people in Kutula. However, Judah’s brother Romanus Bengo, refuses to tow the line. He becomes a leading activist in Kutula. When Lacuna Kasoo asks Judah to deal with his brother Bengo. Judah declines because he cannot shed the blood of his own brother.

Thereafter, Judah is attacked by a mysterious gang that leaves him for dead. When he recovers, thanks to Reverend Sangoi’s husband. He finds out that he has lost favour with Lacuna Kasoo. For the rest of his life he would work hard to please Lacuna to no avail until when he is killed at the mines.

KING KUTULA XV King Kutula XV was the last post colonial leader in Kutula. He was the father to Lacuna Kasoo, who succeeded him and Reverend Sangoi- an adopted child. King Kutula appears in the prologue. He is one of the driving force behind the activism manifested in Romanus and Sangoi.

Kutula’s wisdom and defiance drives the colonial authorities to device a means of eliminating him. Kutula favours complete emancipation as opposed to political freedom when the economy of his people is still in the tentacles of the super powers. His sentiments are shared by Sangoi, who when she released the two foreign friends declared that Kutula was ready to do business with them at her own discretion. GOVERNOR THORNE MACAY He is the last colonial Governor of Kutula. He hopes to continue the exploitation of Kutula by foreign force. However, he meets a defiant King Kutula.

According to conversation between Kutula and Macay, the Governor turns out to be illiterate to Kutula customs and manner of speaking. He is also oblivious to the suffering of the people as he leads a lavish lifestyle while the majority are languishing in abject poverty. His inhumanity blinds him to the fact that the colonial authority is in fact milking the people dry instead of creating an environment of development and prosperity. He is more interested in Kutula’s mineral and natural resources as opposed to humanitarian interests.

BISHOP MENNINGER He is a representative of colonialist religion. As it were, this religion was tailored to raise submissive initiates who have little opposition to their own humiliation.

Seeing that King Kutula would jeopardize his plans, he hatches a plan to eliminate the king. He also plans to also induct Sangoi into the field of academia such that she has no mind of her own or plans to liberate her people from implanted ignorance.

His plans for King Kutula succeeds in driving the king to death and raising Lacuna into power. However, instead of Sangoi being brainwashed, she comes out well educated in matter political freedom and economic emancipation which she plans to use to bring an about turn in Kutula’s deplorable poverty.

THEMES IN INHERITANCE

Inheritance refers to what is left by the deceased to the family in material wealth or sometimes power. However, the word could have diverse meanings when applied to works of literature. In this respect, David Mulwa looks at inheritance in various ways.

The play revolves around a three decades old Kutula under its new leadership. Having achieved

independence from colonial masters, Kutula is now governed by Lacuna Kasoo-the son of pre- independence King Kutula XV. Lacuna ascended to power after the death of his father. Although the King

has adopted Princess Sangoi as his successor, he dies mysteriously thus handing the power to the greedy, self-centred Lacuna. As it were, Lacuna conspired with the colonial masters to assassinate his father King Kutula XV.

Having assumed power with the help of colonial masters, Lacuna runs the government under the influence of Kutula’s former imperialists. He receives hefty loans aimed at ‘developing’ the country. However, the loans are meant to make Kutula a slave of foreign saboteurs led by Old Daniel Goldstein and young Robert Rollestone. Even though Kutula boasts of being an independent state, there is a lot that suggests that the country inherited the former colonial legacies. For instance, the Daniel Goldstein’s company bankrolls Kutula. Without their loans and donations, Kutula’s economy is bound to collapse. (Pg72) Secondly, when Goldstein points out how blatant misappropriations of funds were in Kutula, he assumes power and even sits on Lacuna Kasoo’s throne just to show who exactly was in power in Kutula. (Pg79) Therefore, Kutula was a sovereign nation under imperial powers.

One of the reasons King Kutula was assassinated was because he was tired of being treated as a slave by colonial authorities. He wanted liberation on Kutula terms not the terms set by the imperialists. He had demanded for total independence- a privilege the super powers were unwilling to extend. In order to control Kutula and perhaps harvest humongous profits from her mineral wealth, the colonial Bishop Menninger suggested the appointment of the greedy yet brainless Lacuna Kasoo. (Pg15) With Lacuna in office the colonialists continued to enjoy the same privileges they had enjoyed during the colonial period. On the other hand, the people of Kutula would suffer in poverty and bad governance as they had during the reign of Thorne Macay- the colonial governor. However, the people believe that the conditions were better of during the colonial period.

The play explores inheritance and its pains to the society. As it were, the people believed in the their leaders, especially King Kutula. On the one hand, locals believed that King Kutula had blessed Princess Sangoi- later Reverend Sangoi as the rightful heir to the throne. While on the other hand, the colonialist hatched a plan to swear in the legitimate child- Lacuna Kasoo as the new leader. Therefore, the struggle was between the rightful heir and the chosen one. In this case the rightful heir won but is thrown out of office in a bloodless coup led by Romanus Bengo.

As can be seen, inheritance maintains the status quo but a fresh breathe of new leadership brings to the table new ideas which can be optimistic for the people. In the play, Reverend Sangoi represents a fresh new leadership that would agree to negotiations with foreign investors as opposed to dictation as seen in Lacuna Kasoo’s regime where foreigners enjoyed while locals suffered in slavery and poor pay. The new Kutula is open to quid pro quo kind of agreement as stated by Reverend Sangoi. (Pg35)

POVERTY From the beginning of the play, we are introduced to abject poverty of the people of Kutula. It is one of the reasons as to why Governor Thorne Macay- the colonial leader cannot agree with King Kutula XV. On one hand, Thorne wants the King to silence the surging rebellion in the colony, while on the other, the King is seen to side with the rebels.

According to the King, he cannot sit there and support what the white masters are doing. Riding on the will of the people, he tells the governor that he has no control over the people but is ready to deliver the people from suffering. This is the reason Thorne and Bishop Menninger conspire to eliminate the King in the prologue.

Over three decades after independence, the people of Kutula are still poor. In independent Kutula, the people are burdened by heavy taxation, huge international debt and wanton land-grabbing by their leaders. Besides these, the leadership is embroiled in massive corruption, nepotism and favoritism. The leader Lacuna Kasoo is as greedy as he is incompetent. However, he is supported by foreign saboteurs who really control the goings on the the state. These foreigners finance forced evictions of people from ancestral land for ‘development’ and also mining rights.

With the leaders at the mercy of the foreigners and the wanton greed in the leadership, poverty is the order of the day. As can be seen in Tamina’s sparsely furnished grass-thatched house, families have little to live for. Tamina can barely feed herself and her daughter. She cannot also afford her daughter’s school fees and the never stopping need for money in the school. (Movement 1) As can be seen, poverty is caused by various factors in Kutula chief among them being the leadership of Lacuna Kasoo. As a leader, he has chosen a cabal of sycophants as councillors and his chief advisors. These group of the elite have awarded themselves large chunks of land and hefty payments through graft which have left Kutula bankrupt and the general population poor.

If the government has no funds, every citizen is overly taxed in order to raise funds. Besides, the government may resort to austerity measures like firing older citizens from jobs in order to reduce the wage bill. (Pg38) Judah Zen Melo speaks about how he has to keep with younger men in order to maintain his job. As can also be seen, there are very little job opportunities in Kutula with a large pool of the unemployed.

Another cause of poverty in Kutula is government policy. Kutula’s policies are mostly geared towards promoting the welfare of the foreigners. First of all the government deprives the people water by building a white elephant dam. (Pg17) The dam made the entire valley dry. The second policy is evacuation of people to create land for foreign investment. This is one factor that create a quiet rebellion in Kutula.

NEOCOLONIALISM After independence, many countries that were granted independence found themselves drawn towards their former colonial masters. Such countries were drawn by incentives such as the Commonwealth, foreign aid and the promise of assistance in economic development.

Those countries or leaders who refused such arrangements were either assassinated or removed from power. In this respect, the colonialists found themselves coming back as expatriates and financiers for development.

In Kutula, the king who had vision for his people is assassinated. In his place, the colonial players put his greedy son as the new leader democratically elected. In this way, the former powers made leadership decisions for the people of Kutula even though the people’s favourite was princess Sangoi. Although the

power arrangement has changed from kingdom to a democracy. Lacuna Kasoo seem to retain the pre- colonial title of king. Lacuna Kasoo is controlled by two international financiers: Robert Rollerstone and

Daniel Goldstein. Goldstein is as old as Lacuna but Robert is way younger.

On his part, Daniel plays the good cop. He appeases Lacuna while defiantly asking for more concessions from the country. On his part, Lacuna needs more money to run the country. The colonialists knew how greedy Lacuna was, and they planned to use Lacuna’s greed to profit from Kutula’s Silver mines and rich agriculture lands.

Although the country has rich mineral resources and people are working tirelessly in the mines, the country can’t sustainably pay for the loans. Goldstein still demands for more. Indeed, Lacuna’s greed may have sent the mines to bankruptcy. However, if that was the case, then Goldstein would have frozen aid long ago before things got out of hand. They continued supporting Lacuna because they benefited from the mines and also from the loans they extended to the state.

Robert, on the other hand, is the bad cop. Using business voice, he threatens Lacuna to pay up the building loan instalments as had been agreed upon. He goes even further to claim that he could access Lacuna’s Foreign accounts and use the money to repay for the loans.

The foreigners show Lacuna that he could be running a sovereign nation but without money, he was just useless and dependent on their mercy.

RELIGION Many times when we talk about religion, we look at Christianity and other major religion in the world. Although this religions play major roles in literature, there are still many other religions that writers and playwrights also discuss in their works. In this play, Christianity and Kutula traditional religion play a significant role. However, the role played by these two religions is negative.

The play clearly brings out how religion can be applied subjectively to the people. During the colonial era, Bishop Menninger made sure to preach about obedience and humility in order to make the people of Kutula submissive. Besides, he used the sermons to get to know the people especially the young generation. It is within his teachings that he came to learn that Lacuna Kasoo would make a fine leader for Kutula(pg15).

Menninger also observes that Princess Sangoi would be no bother since she was enamoured by the foreign religion. According to the Bishop, Sangoi would be lost in the corridors of academia to worry about leadership. He was wrong as can be seen in the play.

The teachings of humility and obedience seem to have stuck in Kutula even after independence. Coupled with traditional teachings, they have reduced the people of Kutula into fearful sufferers including the leaders. Although some like Romanus Bengo and Lulu are waking up to reality and condemning this act of cowardice, the rest are still in the murk (pg30-47.) Lulu has woken up to realisation that being godly does not mean being stupid and afraid and points it out to her mother. Her mother Tamina, is afraid of those in power that the only person she can raise her voice to is her daughter. She represents the voiceless who suffer under the laws meant to benefit those in power.

Traditional religion is propagated by Councillor Malipoa. Using his understanding of his traditional religion, Malipoa propagates male chauvinistic ideologies which are meant to satisfy Lacuna Kasoo’s insatiable lust for innocent girls. Malipoa postulates that in order for Lacuna to keep his position, he needs to appease the gods by sacrificing a pure untainted girl in the former king’s chambers. This tradition was meant to prey on unwitting parents and thus let the leader defile young women in the name of tradition.

ACTIVISM/ OPPOSITION Activism is involves standing against what can be perceived as a social, political or economic ill in the society. It takes different forms including enlightening the masses through publications, both fictional and factual. It can also include civil disobedience through protests among other ways. In most occasions, activism is a peaceful process whose main agenda is to bring about change in the perceived wrong. However, some protests have turned violent leading to death and destruction of property e.g. the Soweto massacre in South Africa. Nevertheless, such cases occur when those in power decline to give protesters the needed freedom to express what they feel is wrong.

Other instances have seen those in authority arrest activists and put them behind bars for standing against them. Many activists die in the hands of brutal police force and bad governance. However, in Inheritance we come across arrests as can be seen in the case of Romanus Bengo. Bengo could have been a victim of assassination had his brother Judah Zen Melo been a cold hearted murderer. According to the play, Judah had been asked to take care of Romania Bengo but he declined. Judah ended up losing his lucrative job in the government.(pg23)

Activism did not begin with Romanus in the play, it begun with the late King Kutula XV. The king refused to betray his citizens in the prologue. Since he was such an exceptional king, he was poisoned by his own son. (Pg15)

Other Activists in the play are the Reverend Princess Sangoi and the young Lulu. Lulu seems to have been converted into activism by his activist uncle Romanus Bengo. She speaks confidently against the fear that has been instilled to the people by the government to the shock of her mother. (Pg30) Besides Lulu, her two brothers and several elders too join in the resistance against Lacuna Kasoo’s regime. In the play, the people are tired against colonialism and the grasp the former colonial masters have on the New independent Kutula state. Furthermore, they are tired of the increased nepotism and plunder of national resources by Lacuna and his clansmen and loyalists like Malipoa and Chipande. They are crying for openness in governance and an end to colonial policies.

SYCOPHANCY This is the act of pleasing those in authority in order to gain favours. After ascending to power, Lacuna Kasoo made sure that he appointed people who were loyal to him and would do anything to please him. Chief among the loyalists was Councillors Chipande and Malipoa. Malipoa invokes traditional teachings and practices in order to ensure that Lacuna Kasoo was well respected and adored as the chosen leader of the people. Even though Lacuna was unpopular because of his poor leadership, Malipoa ensured that the leader was confident that he was well received by the ancestors and popular among his subjects. On the other hand, Chipande was the liason between Kutula and his foreign friends. He knew all Lacuna’s secrets including the foreign accounts. Both councillors are well rewarded for example Chipande has a huge coffee farm in which Tamina works. People who refused to show their loyalty was punished and denied jobs in Kutula. When Judah was asked get rid of his activist brother, he refused to obey the Lacuna. Therefore, he was beaten and left for the dead. Besides, his job was taken and he spent the rest of his life trying to win Lacuna’s favour.

PLOT ANALYSIS

The Bishop also observed the darkness in people’s hearts. In his interaction with the people of Kutula, the Bishop observed that Lacuna Kasoo was “an ingenious greedy rascal that’s devoid of human feelings.” (page15) In this respect, Lacuna was the perfect candidate to succeed his father King Kutula. The King, Kutula, would meet his untimely death at the hands of his son. Beside Lacuna Kasoo, King Kutula had adopted an intelligent girl Sangoi. The King brought Sangoi to the palace with the intention that the girl would obtain western education in the hopes that she will become one of the pillars of her society. But the bishop had other plans for her, he hoped that ‘the philosophical whelp will lose herself in Western Libraries, looking for devine answers that have eluded even the experts.’(pg15) He was wrong since Sangoi became the leader of the second liberation of her people.

With King Kutula gone and Lacuna Kasoo as president, neocolonial powers led by Daniel Goldstein and young Robert Rollerstone would descend on Kutula- the young state and command the new leader to do their bidding. The country descends into deplorable poverty with corruption and nepotism the order of the day. The new leader Lacuna Kasoo punishes dissidents and rewards loyalists like Councillor Malipoa and Chipande.

In order to keep the people in check, the leader ensures that the entire extended family of dissidents is

punished and denied even gainful employment. A good example is what happens to Judah Zen Melo- Romanus Bengo’s brother. Romanus Bengo is a well-known activist in Kutula, his brother Judah Zen

Melo, on the other hand, was a ‘Law-abiding’ civil servant who was ready to do anything for Lacuna Kasoo except getting rid of Romanus Bengo. When Judah refused, ‘to pluck this thorn out and pledge,’ (pg23) his loyalty a new to Lacuna Kasoo, he was beaten and thrown out into the cold.

Judah who was once a successful civil servant with large pieces of land becomes a pauper. His family is thrown in turmoil. In order to fend for his family, Judah travels allover Kutula leaving his family behind in the hands of his wife Tamina. Tamina has to feed and provide education for their daughter Lulu. Lulu harbours dreams of becoming a doctor like Reverend Sangoi’s husband. Nevertheless, the family’s economic position stands in her way. Talented and determined to succeed, Lulu falls into the shackles of Lacuna Kasoo as a sacrificial virgin during the commemoration of King Kutula’s death. Luckily for her, she dances with Robert instead of dancing and entertaining the leader Lacuna Kasoo.

In order to appease the gods, Lulu is detained in the palace awaiting for the new moon for the rituals to be performed again. However other events happen putting this event in jeopardy.

Judah and his family blame Bengo for their downfall except for their daughter Lulu who admires Bengo’s efforts to fight for the downtrodden. As things are in Kutula, it is better for one to lick the leaders shoe that live hand to mouth like the way Tamina lives. She is even unable to pay for her daughter’s school fees.

When Romanus is released from prison, he learns that his brother had cursed him and he was unwelcome in his brother’s house. His only choice is to join the revolution. Meanwhile, the people are tired with the level of poverty in Kutula and they are turning against the government. In addition, having squandered donor funds and stashed the rest of the loot in foreign banks, Lacuna is unable to service loans. As he tries to silence dissidents on one hand, he is also struggling to appease Robert Rollerstone and Daniel Goldstein- the international financiers. With no apparent exit, Lacuna corners the two financiers and detains them in his palace. Meanwhile, Romanus has gathered enough support from the people. The large numbers of protesters overpower Lacuna’s security and take over the palace. Lacuna and his close associates are detained, Robert and Daniel are given safe passage to the airport and Lacuna’s adopted sister Princess/Reverend Sangoi takes over leadership.

1. Thorne Macay: Governor of Kutula and representative of the King 2. Bishop Menninger: Servant to Thorne Macay 3. King Kutula XV: traditional ruler of Kutula 4. Princess Sangoi: King Kutula’s adopted daughter (later Reverend Sangoi) 5. Romanus Bengo: An Activist 6. Tamina Zen Melo Romanus’ sister-in-law

7. Lulu Zen Melo: Tamina’s daughter, a student 8. Judah Zen Melo: Tamina’s Husband and Brother to Bengo 9. Lacuna Kasoo: Present leader of Kutula Republic 10. Teacher: Miss Gerima, teacher/choreographer 11. Mama Melissa; Leader and Kasoo’s wife 12. Councillor Chipande: Kasoo’s political advisor 13. Councillor Malipoa: Kasoo’s traditional Advisor 14. Daniel Goldstein and Robert Rollerstone: international financiers 15. Elders (1,2,3) and The Woman: Opinion leaders of Bukelenge Valley 16. Attendant (I,II)- Palace staff 17. Woman leader I and II, Young Male leader, Elderly leader, young woman leader, 18. Palace staff 19. Prologue

The prologue is set in the colonial Governor Thorne Macay’s office. Lavishly furnished with animal skins, photos and a mural, the office espouses wealth and power of the governor. Nevertheless, the governor does not seem happy because of the ongoing unrest within the colony. The Bishop Menninger pays him

a visit and offer advice on how to further contain the people of Kutula. Besides the Bishop, King Kutula- native leader- visits and arrogantly states his terms: that his people are tired of Thorne Macay’s Natives

inhabiting their land. The King believes that it’s time his people were given their freedom. However, Macay and Menninger have other plans; to oust the king from office and bring in the greedy

king’s son Lacuna Kasoo. Meanwhile, the bishop promises to take in the king’s adoptive daughter- Princess Sangoi as a student.

Observations from the prologue

The colonial government’s reluctance to concede defeat is seen as the governor and the bishop plan to

remove King Kutula from office. It is observed that, the colonialists would prefer to work with self- centred Lacuna Kasoo than a King who cares for his people. The mural on the wall depicts the situation

of the people on the ground while the office’s opulence, the lifestyles of those in power. Despite the suffering of the people of Kutula, the governor is more interested in what the land can produce than what he really offers.

Meanwhile, as seen in King Kutula, the people prefer education more than they do religion. Questions from the prologue  Explain on the effectiveness of the proverbs used in the prologue  Identify two styles used in the prologue.  Why do you think King Kutula is unafraid of governor Macay?

The scene is in Tamina’s old grass thatched house. It should be noted that what we see here is abject poverty. From how the house is sparsely furnished, to the dressing of its inhabitant, and the wrinkles that make Tamina appear older than she is, we can tell that they live in deplorable conditions. It is noteworthy that the actions here happen thirty years after independence. In the prologue, we are told of how the colonialists were planning to torment the people of Kutula. Nevertheless, from the scene we can see that their plans never materialized or did they?

In this act, Tamina, the host, receives unusual guests. First to arrive is his brother-in-law Romanus Bengo fresh from prison. From her mannerism and tone, Tamina does not welcome Bengo’s presence. She is ill at ease and blames Bengo for her current indignation. Before Bengo was arrested, Tamina and her husband Judah Zen Melo were prosperous civil servants with decent jobs and a government house. 

But when Bengo, their relative joined the opposition, and spoke against the government of Lacuna Kasoo, they were fired from their jobs. Apparently, the leader Kasoo had asked Judah to silence the rebellious brother Bengo but Judah refused to betray his own blood brother (pg23.)

Tamina longs to return to the past, days when they were living as sycophants. Life was beautiful and prosperous as opposed to how they are currently living. She can be looked at as selfish and self-centered because Bengo is fighting against the oppression in Kutula.

Her daughter, Lulu, is also against living in fear of the leader. Nevertheless, she wants to succeed in education and become a doctor. In order to do this she needs money. Therefore, she begs her mother to talk to those in power including Lacuna Kasoo. According to Lulu, Kasoo had extended an olive branch to the people and they were free to see him and talk to him about their problems. To the mother, this was only empty rhetoric. Lulu, however, promises to finish her school no matter the cost.

Lulu is as a rebellious spirit as her uncle Bengo. She is already aware of her rights and demands what is right. She is also against her mother’s religion of submission and a god who does not come down to help. She wants to go at it alone; something that earns her punitive retribution from her mother. Tamina also receives another guest in the name of her husband Judah Zen Melo. It has been years ever since Judah left home to look for work to sustain his family. After the fall out, Judah cannot get any gainful employment in Kutula so he scrapes for any available opportunity to make ends meet. When he comes back, he is a drunk good-for-nothing man who has given up on life and afraid to stop moving. He has been working in the mines and seems to have been conditioned to work as hard and as long so as not to lose his job to younger energetic individuals. When he comes home, he is ready to die.

Observations from the scene Bad governance, rampant corruption and intimidation make those who are in power become wealthy and untouchable. However, the majority suffer from depravity and long for a day when they too will get to the limelight. Tamina understands how bad Lacuna’s government is. However, instead of becoming part of the solution, she would rather be part of the problem. She would rather be part of Lacuna than join Romanus Bengo in the opposition. Lulu, on the other hand sees the need for change. She hates her mother’s docile approach to life and wants action.

Themes from the scene

Systemic Poverty There seem to be despondency among the people of Kutula. The few who are rich pay meager salaries that cannot sustain the local people. Tamina is left alone by her husband to fend for her children. Life becomes very unbearable for Tamina especially sustaining the education of her daughter Lulu. Apart from the scarcity of food, there is also scarcity of water. Lulu has to walk for long hours to fetch water for her family. According to Tamina, all the water (pg19) had been directed to one large dam thus depriving the people their lifeblood. Loyalty The leader demands total loyalty from his subjects. When Romanus becomes an activist and condemns the current leadership, Lacuna feels threatened. In order to keep his position, he asks Judah Zen Melo to prove his loyalty. The simple task Judah is to carry is to eliminate his brother Romanus Bengo. Judah declines.

Judah is, therefore, fired from his employment and left for the dead. After his recovery, he tries to no avail to appease the leader. However, Judah’s efforts do not bear any fruits. Those who are loyal to the leader like Chipande continue to enjoy the fruits of independence.

Religion This act plays out as a critic to Christianity. Lulu observes that many teachings in the church preach about hope especially to the poor and the needy. However, as much as they continue praying, nothing tangible comes off. She says that the Reverend taught them that with God everything is possible yet, He continues to let them suffer in despondency. As we can see, Lulu is ready to give up, take matters in her own hands and succeed by her own terms. (pg31) Questions from the Scene  What is the central role of religion in this scene?  Do you think Tamina’s anger toward Bengo is justified?  Discuss the relationship between Lulu and her mother.

Scene One The scene shifts to Kutula People’s Park where the commemoration of King Kutula is to take place. The current leader gives an inaudible speech to the audience while Lulu and her school musical team rehearse on the activities that will occur after the ceremony. Lulu has been chosen to be the star of the show (pg53-54.) Among the dignitaries attending this ceremony are Councillor Chipande, Goldstein and Rollerstone (check the list of characters.) After the events at the People’s Park, Lacuna invites the dignitaries and Lulu for a luncheon at the palace.

Observation from the Act Lacuna Kasoo uses this event to look for a fresh girl for his entertainment in the guise of celebrating his father’s legacy. The leader tries as much to hide his true intentions in the fact that he is following tradition and the wish of the gods when his real motive is self-satisfaction.

Scene Two Events in this scene occur inside Lacuna Kasoo’s palace. Councillor Chipande guides Goldstein and young Robert, into the palace. From their discussions, Robert and Goldstein are international financiers and investors. They have loaned Lacuna Kasoo a lot of money for development projects in Kutula. However, the money ended up in foreign accounts and feeding the insatiable greed of Lacuna and his henchmen like Chipande and Malipoa.

Robert is described by Goldstein as a young ambitious man who has come to do business in Kutula and ensure that Kasoo pays up Kutula’s outstanding loans. Lacuna does not seem to get along with young Robert. One of the reasons as to why the two do not get along is because Robert danced with the chosen one (Lulu) desecrating Kutula’s tradition. Lulu had been chosen as a young virgin who would entertain Lacuna Kasoo in the Political Perpetuation Chamber to appease the ancestors but instead she chose to dance with Robert.

Meanwhile, the two financiers are angry with the economic condition of Kutula. As things stand, it seems that Lacuna has squandered the country’s resources thus reducing productivity. This has led to the country not honouring its loan obligations.

In this regard, Goldstein proposes austerity measures including but not limited to reducing the workforce and doubling on production especially of the silver mines. However, the country does not have resources to meet these new demands yet the financiers are unwilling to extend more money towards the economic growth of the state. Having been humiliated, Lacuna tries to detain the foreigners. Chipande advises him against such drastic decision given the field day foreign media will have. He relents and lets them go.

Scene three Lacuna meets with elders to discuss the possibility of evacuation to create land for foreiegn investments as dictated by the donors. The elders oppose Lacuna’s move and refuse to convince the the people to move.

Among the elders in the palace is Sangoi who has now been promoted to position of a councillor. Lacuna blames her for turning the elders against his authority. But Sangoi reminds him that the people are entitled to their own decisions and that no one asked Lacuna to request foreign aid. She says that Kutula could have done well without the foreign aid.

Meanwhile, Lacuna calls Malipoa to report on the impending issue of appeasing the ancestors. According to Malipoa, the event is supposed to be performed again after four weeks during the new moon night. Meanwhile, Lulu is supposed to be detained in the royal palace awaiting the day. In this case her fate is sealed without question.

In the meantime, there is growing unrest in Kutula. Demonstrations against mass movement of people from Bukelenge valley are underway. Lacuna commands commander Meshak to suppress the uprising. Later the commander returns with news that the revolt has been dispersed. Movement 3

Scene One Events occur in Tamina’s house. She is alone awaiting her husband’s return but instead hosts the Reverend Sangoi. Sangoi has bad news. The much awaited for husband Judah Zen Melo is dead. He died while operating an old machine at full speed in the mines when the belt snapped and took him with them.

Tamina is lost for words and wants to walk to the mines but she is calmed by Sangoi and Bengo who comes to check on her sister after learning about Judah. Bengo reminds the Reverend that she needs to make up her mind because after the revolution to oust Lacuna out, they will need a level headed leader. On the other hand, Reverend Sangoi cautions them against spilling any blood as they out to oust Lacuna. She promises to think about the leadership matter and get back to the rebels. Bengo leaves as Sangoi comforts the bereaved Tamina.

Scene two In the palace, Lacuna is impatient of waiting for the day he will appease the dead by spending the night with Lulu. Malipoa cautions him to wait for one more week. In the meantime, Lulu has learnt of her father’s death is exasperated. But she cannot be let out of the clutches of Lacuna and his henchmen. Lacuna is also visited by Robert and Goldstein. This, however, is not a social visit-it is business. Robert blames Lacuna for poor governance and corruption. He tells Lacuna that he is aware of the leader’s foreign accounts. In fact, using his miniature gadget, he transfers all of Lacuna’s loot to the company’s account in order to pay loans extended to Kutula. He says, the donors will use all means necessary to recover the 120 billion loan extended to Kutula. The first step will be freezing Lacuna and his henchmen’s account while the rest will be paid by the citizens. Lacuna is incensed. He commands them to leave. While they are leaving, he calls one of the guards and orders him to detain the foreigners. With growing uncertainty about Lacuna’s future in Office, the leader issues martial law allover Kutula. In addition, he plans decides to marry Lulu and become a de facto leader of Kutula.

Scene one In a simple room in house within the forest, Bengo and leaders of revolution are meeting to deliberate on the oncoming revolution. They are also waiting to hear from Reverend Sangoi. The whole operation depends on whether Sangoi will agree to be the people’s new leader or not. When she comes through, she accepts to lead the people and asks for a bloodless coup.

Sangoi is only ready to lead the people until such time that Kutula is ready for an election then she will retire to her church ministry and her family. Scene two In the palace Lacuna is planning to wed Lulu. He is confident that he will remain in power oblivious of what is happening outside the palace gates. Like a man trapped in a deep pit, Lacuna is caught unawares by the rebels led by Sangoi.

Lacuna together with his close associates is detained while Sangoi assumes power. The two foreigners, Robert and Goldstein are released and escorted to the airport. Sangoi warns them that Kutula will only do business with them according to the terms that they (the people of Kutula) have set. Lulu reunites with her mother after a month of detention in the palace.

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Analyzing KCSE English Literature Set books.

Plot Analysis Of The Play Inheritance By David Mulwa.

Analysis By Omondi Kochieng’

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Kakuta Mulwa was born just when the Second World War was coming to a close in April 1945. A child of a priest father, Mulwa would grow to become one of the most sought after playwrights in Kenya. He is an academic, a theatre director and an actor. As an academic, he is a Theatre Arts Lecturer at Kenyatta University School of Visual and Performing Arts. (Wikipedia)

As a playwright, Mulwa has penned several plays among them Inheritance (2004), Clean Hands (2000), and Redemption (1989). He has also penned several novels like Master and Servant (1979), We Come in Peace (2011) and Bahati’s Love Nest (2017).

According to the Star Newspaper, Mulwa started off as a High School teacher in Mukaa and Kangundo High. Both schools are in Machakos. Later he would move to Ohio University where he was a teaching assistant in English before he joined Athens (1971-1980). From Athens, he would return to Kenya and join Kenyatta University where he has been teaching for the past three decades. He is a teacher of Theatre History, drama, directing, acting and play-writing.

David Mulwa has had a significant contribution in Kenya’s performance art scene, from writing to acting, he has graced both the television and the theatre since 1952 when he began acting.

ABOUT THE PLAY

Inheritance is a play that revolves around individuality and the perspective of development as seen by modern day ‘independent’ African states. In the play, particularly the prologue, we get to find that the King of Kutula wanted real independence for his people. However, the British were unwilling to work with such an open-minded individual. They were looking for a leader who will bend to the whims of the imperialists. The perfect candidate was the son of King Kutula known by the name Lacuna Kasoo.

At the time of King Kutula, the colonial governor- a representative of the British Monarchy- was Governor Thorne Macay. The Governor worked closely with Bishop Menninger- a morally deranged priest who used the bible to confuse and subordinate the people of Kutula. As envoy of the imperial Christian God, he would more than use the church to learn the weakness of the people and report to the Governor who would see to it that the people remained backward and foolish on matters of freedom and individual rights.

The Bishop also observed the darkness in people’s hearts. In his interaction with the people of Kutula, the Bishop observed that Lacuna Kasoo was “an ingenious greedy rascal that’s devoid of human feelings.” (page15) In this respect, Lacuna was the perfect candidate to succeed his father King Kutula. The King, Kutula, would meet his untimely death at the hands of his son. Beside Lacuna Kasoo, King Kutula had adopted an intelligent girl Sangoi. The King brought Sangoi to the palace with the intention that the girl would obtain western education in the hopes that she will become one of the pillars of her society. But the bishop had other plans for her, he hoped that ‘the philosophical whelp will lose herself in Western Libraries, looking for devine answers that have eluded even the experts.’(pg15) He was wrong since Sangoi became the leader of the second liberation of her people.

With King Kutula gone and Lacuna Kasoo as president, neocolonial powers led by Daniel Goldstein and young Robert Rollerstone would descend on Kutula- the young state and command the new leader to do their bidding. The country descends into deplorable poverty with corruption and nepotism the order of the day. The new leader Lacuna Kasoo punishes dissidents and rewards loyalists like Councillor Malipoa and Chipande.

In order to keep the people in check, the leader ensures that the entire extended family of dissidents is punished and denied even gainful employment. A good example is what happens to Judah Zen Melo-Romanus Bengo’s brother. Romanus Bengo is a well-known activist in Kutula, his brother Judah Zen Melo, on the other hand, was a ‘Law-abiding’ civil servant who was ready to do anything for Lacuna Kasoo except getting rid of Romanus Bengo. When Judah refused, ‘to pluck this thorn out and pledge,’ (pg23) his loyalty a new to Lacuna Kasoo, he was beaten and thrown out into the cold.

Judah who was once a successful civil servant with large pieces of land becomes a pauper. His family is thrown in turmoil. In order to fend for his family, Judah travels allover Kutula leaving his family behind in the hands of his wife Tamina. Tamina has to feed and provide education for their daughter Lulu. Lulu harbours dreams of becoming a doctor like Reverend Sangoi’s husband. Nevertheless, the family’s economic position stands in her way. Talented and determined to succeed, Lulu falls into the shackles of Lacuna Kasoo as a sacrificial virgin during the commemoration of King Kutula’s death. Luckily for her, she dances with Robert instead of dancing and entertaining the leader Lacuna Kasoo.

In order to appease the gods, Lulu is detained in the palace awaiting for the new moon for the rituals to be performed again. However other events happen putting this event in jeopardy.

Judah and his family blame Bengo for their downfall except for their daughter Lulu who admires Bengo’s efforts to fight for the downtrodden. As things are in Kutula, it is better for one to lick the leaders shoe that live hand to mouth like the way Tamina lives. She is even unable to pay for her daughter’s school fees.

When Romanus is released from prison, he learns that his brother had cursed him and he was unwelcome in his brother’s house. His only choice is to join the revolution. Meanwhile, the people are tired with the level of poverty in Kutula and they are turning against the government. In addition, having squandered donor funds and stashed the rest of the loot in foreign banks, Lacuna is unable to service loans. As he tries to silence dissidents on one hand, he is also struggling to appease Robert Rollerstone and Daniel Goldstein- the international financiers. With no apparent exit, Lacuna corners the two financiers and detains them in his palace. Meanwhile, Romanus has gathered enough support from the people. The large numbers of protesters overpower Lacuna’s security and take over the palace. Lacuna and his close associates are detained, Robert and Daniel are given safe passage to the airport and Lacuna’s adopted sister Princess/Reverend Sangoi takes over leadership.

Thorne Macay: Governor of Kutula and representative of the King

Bishop Menninger: Servant to Thorne Macay

King Kutula XV: traditional ruler of Kutula

Princess Sangoi: King Kutula’s adopted daughter (later Reverend Sangoi)

Romanus Bengo: An Activist

Tamina Zen Melo Romanus’ sister-in-law

Lulu Zen Melo: Tamina’s daughter, a student

Judah Zen Melo: Tamina’s Husband and Brother to Bengo

Lacuna Kasoo: Present leader of Kutula Republic

Teacher: Miss Gerima, teacher/choreographer

Mama Melissa; Leader and Kasoo’s wife

Councillor Chipande: Kasoo’s political advisor

Councillor Malipoa: Kasoo’s traditional Advisor

Daniel Goldstein and Robert Rollerstone: international financiers

Elders (1,2,3) and The Woman: Opinion leaders of Bukelenge Valley

Attendant (I,II)- Palace staff

Woman leader I and II, Young Male leader, Elderly leader, young woman leader,

Palace staff

The prologue is set in the colonial Governor Thorne Macay’s office. Lavishly furnished with animal skins, photos and a mural, the office espouses wealth and power of the governor. Nevertheless, the governor does not seem happy because of the ongoing unrest within the colony. The Bishop Menninger pays him a visit and offer advice on how to further contain the people of Kutula. Besides the Bishop, King Kutula-native leader- visits and arrogantly states his terms: that his people are tired of Thorne Macay’s Natives inhabiting their land.  The King believes that it’s time his people were given their freedom. However, Macay and Menninger have other plans; to oust the king from office and bring in the greedy king’s son Lacuna Kasoo. Meanwhile, the bishop promises to take in the king’s adoptive daughter-Princess Sangoi as a student.

Observations from the prologue

The colonial government’s reluctance to concede defeat is seen as the governor and the bishop plan to remove King Kutula from office. It is observed that, the colonialists would prefer to work with self-centred Lacuna Kasoo than a King who cares for his people. The mural on the wall depicts the situation of the people on the ground while the office’s opulence, the lifestyles of those in power. Despite the suffering of the people of Kutula, the governor is more interested in what the land can produce than what he really offers.

Meanwhile, as seen in King Kutula, the people prefer education more than they do religion.

Questions from the prologue

• Explain on the effectiveness of the proverbs used in the prologue
• Identify two styles used in the prologue.
• Why do you think King Kutula is unafraid of governor Macay?

The scene is in Tamina’s old grass thatched house. It should be noted that what we see here is abject poverty. From how the house is sparsely furnished, to the dressing of its inhabitant, and the wrinkles that make Tamina appear older than she is, we can tell that they live in deplorable conditions.

It is noteworthy that the actions here happen thirty years after independence. In the prologue, we are told of how the colonialists were planning to torment the people of Kutula. Nevertheless, from the scene we can see that their plans never materialized or did they?

In this act, Tamina, the host, receives unusual guests. First to arrive is his brother-in-law Romanus Bengo fresh from prison. From her mannerism and tone, Tamina does not welcome Bengo’s presence. She is ill at ease and blames Bengo for her current indignation. Before Bengo was arrested, Tamina and her husband Judah Zen Melo were prosperous civil servants with decent jobs and a government house. But when Bengo, their relative joined the opposition, and spoke against the government of Lacuna Kasoo, they were fired from their jobs. Apparently, the leader Kasoo had asked Judah to silence the rebellious brother Bengo but Judah refused to betray his own blood brother (pg23.)

Tamina longs to return to the past, days when they were living as sycophants. Life was beautiful and prosperous as opposed to how they are currently living. She can be looked at as selfish and self-centered because Bengo is fighting against the oppression in Kutula.

Her daughter, Lulu, is also against living in fear of the leader. Nevertheless, she wants to succeed in education and become a doctor. In order to do this she needs money. Therefore, she begs her mother to talk to those in power including Lacuna Kasoo. According to Lulu, Kasoo had extended an olive branch to the people and they were free to see him and talk to him about their problems. To the mother, this was only empty rhetoric. Lulu, however, promises to finish her school no matter the cost.

Lulu is as a rebellious spirit as her uncle Bengo. She is already aware of her rights and demands what is right. She is also against her mother’s religion of submission and a god who does not come down to help. She wants to go at it alone; something that earns her punitive retribution from her mother.

Tamina also receives another guest in the name of her husband Judah Zen Melo. It has been years ever since Judah left home to look for work to sustain his family. After the fall out, Judah cannot get any gainful employment in Kutula so he scrapes for any available opportunity to make ends meet. When he comes back, he is a drunk good-for-nothing man who has given up on life and afraid to stop moving. He has been working in the mines and seems to have been conditioned to work as hard and as long so as not to lose his job to younger energetic individuals.

When he comes home, he is ready to die.

Observations from the scene

Bad governance, rampant corruption and intimidation make those who are in power become wealthy and untouchable. However, the majority suffer from depravity and long for a day when they too will get to the limelight.

Tamina understands how bad Lacuna’s government is. However, instead of becoming part of the solution, she would rather be part of the problem. She would rather be part of Lacuna than join Romanus Bengo in the opposition.

Lulu, on the other hand sees the need for change. She hates her mother’s docile approach to life and wants action.

Themes from the scene

• Systemic Poverty

There seem to be despondency among the people of Kutula. The few who are rich pay meager salaries that cannot sustain the local people. Tamina is left alone by her husband to fend for her children. Life becomes very unbearable for Tamina especially sustaining the education of her daughter Lulu.

Apart from the scarcity of food, there is also scarcity of water. Lulu has to walk for long hours to fetch water for her family.  According to Tamina, all the water (pg19) had been directed to one large dam thus depriving the people their lifeblood.

The leader demands total loyalty from his subjects. When Romanus becomes an activist and condemns the current leadership, Lacuna feels threatened. In order to keep his position, he asks Judah Zen Melo to prove his loyalty. The simple task Judah is to carry is to eliminate his brother Romanus Bengo. Judah declines.

Judah is, therefore, fired from his employment and left for the dead. After his recovery, he tries to no avail to appease the leader. However, Judah’s efforts do not bear any fruits. Those who are loyal to the leader like Chipande continue to enjoy the fruits of independence.

This act plays out as a critic to Christianity. Lulu observes that many teachings in the church preach about hope especially to the poor and the needy. However, as much as they continue praying, nothing tangible comes off. She says that the Reverend taught them that with God everything is possible yet, He continues to let them suffer in despondency. As we can see, Lulu is ready to give up, take matters in her own hands and succeed by her own terms. (pg31)

Questions from the Scene

• What is the central role of religion in this scene?
• Do you think Tamina’s anger toward Bengo is justified?
• Discuss the relationship between Lulu and her mother.

The scene shifts to Kutula People’s Park where the commemoration of King Kutula is to take place. The current leader gives an inaudible speech to the audience while Lulu and her school musical team rehearse on the activities that will occur after the ceremony. Lulu has been chosen to be the star of the show (pg53-54.) Among the dignitaries attending this ceremony are Councillor Chipande, Goldstein and Rollerstone (check the list of characters.) After the events at the People’s Park, Lacuna invites the dignitaries and Lulu for a luncheon at the palace.

Observation from the Act

Lacuna Kasoo uses this event to look for a fresh girl for his entertainment in the guise of celebrating his father’s legacy. The leader tries as much to hide his true intentions in the fact that he is following tradition and the wish of the gods when his real motive is self-satisfaction.

Events in this scene occur inside Lacuna Kasoo’s palace. Councillor Chipande guides Goldstein and young Robert, into the palace. From their discussions, Robert and Goldstein are international financiers and investors. They have loaned Lacuna Kasoo a lot of money for development projects in Kutula. However, the money ended up in foreign accounts and feeding the insatiable greed of Lacuna and his henchmen like Chipande and Malipoa.

Robert is described by Goldstein as a young ambitious man who has come to do business in Kutula and ensure that Kasoo pays up Kutula’s outstanding loans. Lacuna does not seem to get along with young Robert. One of the reasons as to why the two do not get along is because Robert danced with the chosen one (Lulu) desecrating Kutula’s tradition. Lulu had been chosen as a young virgin who would entertain Lacuna Kasoo in the Political Perpetuation Chamber to appease the ancestors but instead she chose to dance with Robert.

Meanwhile, the two financiers are angry with the economic condition of Kutula. As things stand, it seems that Lacuna has squandered the country’s resources thus reducing productivity. This has led to the country not honouring its loan obligations.

In this regard, Goldstein proposes austerity measures including but not limited to reducing the workforce and doubling on production especially of the silver mines. However, the country does not have resources to meet these new demands yet the financiers are unwilling to extend more money towards the economic growth of the state.

Having been humiliated, Lacuna tries to detain the foreigners. Chipande advises him against such drastic decision given the field day foreign media will have. He relents and lets them go.

Scene three

Lacuna meets with elders to discuss the possibility of evacuation to create land for foreiegn investments as dictated by the donors. The elders oppose Lacuna’s move and refuse to convince the the people to move.

Among the elders in the palace is Sangoi who has now been promoted to position of a councillor. Lacuna blames her for turning the elders against his authority. But Sangoi reminds him that the people are entitled to their own decisions and that no one asked Lacuna to request foreign aid. She says that Kutula could have done well without the foreign aid.

Meanwhile, Lacuna calls Malipoa to report on the impending issue of appeasing the ancestors. According to Malipoa, the event is supposed to be performed again after four weeks during the new moon night. Meanwhile, Lulu is supposed to be detained in the royal palace awaiting the day. In this case her fate is sealed without question.

In the meantime, there is growing unrest in Kutula. Demonstrations against mass movement of people from Bukelenge valley are underway. Lacuna commands commander Meshak to suppress the uprising. Later the commander returns with news that the revolt has been dispersed.

Events occur in Tamina’s house. She is alone awaiting her husband’s return but instead hosts the Reverend Sangoi. Sangoi has bad news. The much awaited for husband Judah Zen Melo is dead. He died while operating an old machine at full speed in the mines when the belt snapped and took him with them.

Tamina is lost for words and wants to walk to the mines but she is calmed by Sangoi and Bengo who comes to check on her sister after learning about Judah. Bengo reminds the Reverend that she needs to make up her mind because after the revolution to oust Lacuna out, they will need a level headed leader.

On the other hand, Reverend Sangoi cautions them against spilling any blood as they out to oust Lacuna. She promises to think about the leadership matter and get back to the rebels. Bengo leaves as Sangoi comforts the bereaved Tamina.

In the palace, Lacuna is impatient of waiting for the day he will appease the dead by spending the night with Lulu. Malipoa cautions him to wait for one more week. In the meantime, Lulu has learnt of her father’s death is exasperated. But she cannot be let out of the clutches of Lacuna and his henchmen.

Lacuna is also visited by Robert and Goldstein. This, however, is not a social visit-it is business. Robert blames Lacuna for poor governance and corruption. He tells Lacuna that he is aware of the leader’s foreign accounts. In fact, using his miniature gadget, he transfers all of Lacuna’s loot to the company’s account in order to pay loans extended to Kutula. He says, the donors will use all means necessary to recover the 120 billion loan extended to Kutula. The first step will be freezing Lacuna and his henchmen’s account while the rest will be paid by the citizens. Lacuna is incensed. He commands them to leave. While they are leaving, he calls one of the guards and orders him to detain the foreigners.

With growing uncertainty about Lacuna’s future in Office, the leader issues martial law allover Kutula. In addition, he plans decides to marry Lulu and become a de facto leader of Kutula.

In a simple room in house within the forest, Bengo and leaders of revolution are meeting to deliberate on the oncoming revolution. They are also waiting to hear from Reverend Sangoi. The whole operation depends on whether Sangoi will agree to be the people’s new leader or not. When she comes through, she accepts to lead the people and asks for a bloodless coup.

Sangoi is only ready to lead the people until such time that Kutula is ready for an election then she will retire to her church ministry and her family.

In the palace Lacuna is planning to wed Lulu. He is confident that he will remain in power oblivious of what is happening outside the palace gates. Like a man trapped in a deep pit, Lacuna is caught unawares by the rebels led by Sangoi.

Lacuna together with his close associates is detained while Sangoi assumes power. The two foreigners, Robert and Goldstein are released and escorted to the airport. Sangoi warns them that Kutula will only do business with them according to the terms that they (the people of Kutula) have set.

Lulu reunites with her mother after a month of detention in the palace.

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KCSE SET BOOKS ESSAY QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

Enjoy free KCSE revision materials on imaginative compositions, essay questions and answers and comprehensive analysis (episodic approach) of the set books including Fathers of Nations by Paul B. Vitta, The Samaritan by John Lara, A Silent Song, An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro and Parliament of Owls by Adipo Sidang'. This blog is useful to Kenyan students preparing for KCSE; and their teachers.

Monday 27 April 2020

Inheritance study notes: a guide for kcse candidates., inheritance notes david mulwa, a comprehensive guide to inheritance by david mulwa, for  video content  please click the  youtube  button below   inheritance  is a play by david mulwa set in the fictional kutula republic. the main issues tackled in the play include: ·                      misuse of power ·                      oppression ·                      exploitation ·                      imperialism ·                      corruption ·                      poverty 1.                   lacuna kasoo misuses his power to enrich himself while oppressing the docile citizens of kutula republic. 2.                   together with his cronies like chipande and malipoa, he mismanages loans he procures from foreign financiers. 3.                   he borrows in his people’s name but banks the money in his individual account., characters in inheritance by david mulwa, 1.                   thorne macay 2.                   bishop menninger 3.                   king kutula xv 4.                   reverend sangoi 5.                   romanus bengo 6.                   tamina zen melo 7.                   lulu zen melo 8.                   judah zen melo 9.                   councillor chipande 10.              councillor malipoa 11.              daniel goldstein 12.              robert rollerstone 13.              a host of other supporting characters.

Themes in Inheritance by David Mulwa 1.                   Misuse of power ·                      Lacuna constructs a dam which causes the citizens of Kutula Republic misery. All streams lead to the dam making the valley dry. The dam is 15 kilometers away from Tamina’s village. Some citizens have to walk for the whole day in order to access the rare resource.  (P 18-20)    ·                      Lacuna is hands off as a leader. He only gives orders  (P 71).  His ministers run their own ministries without his supervision.  “They keep their share of the money”  (P 73) ·                      Lacuna appoints his tribesmen to run his government. They are lax and inefficient. The outcome of this is irredeemable mismanagement of resources;  15% decline in output, rotten machines and turbines that need to be replaced.  Judah Zen Melo has to befriend Mithambo, Kasoo’s tribesman, in order to get a promotion at Kasoo’s mines where he works as a gate keeper.  (P 34) ·                      Lacuna uses 10 billion meant to buy new machines and service the mines to buy him a swanky plane in order to soar above  “these petty people and their complaints gossip and hate.”  He regards the 84 million citizens as subjects not equals.  (P 71-72) ·                      Lacuna, in cahoots with his ministers, pockets 30 % of the balance of the 30 billion shilling loan.   He banks it in his individual account abroad.  (P 74)

2.                   Oppression Those who sing a different tune from Lacuna face the full force of his wrath. ·                       Lacuna conspires to kill Romanus Bengo. Lacuna claims that he has a thorn in his political side which he wants plucked out. He wants Judah Zen Melo to prove his loyalty by killing his own brother, Romanus Bengo (who is a dissident and an activist against Lacuna’s leadership). ·                       Lacuna offers Judah Zen Melo good things for him and his family should he kill Romanus Bengo, his brother. Judah declines and says he cannot betray his brother and the mother who bore them. He becomes an enemy of the state. Lacuna’s thugs beat him up badly leaving him for dead. He is also dismissed from his government job. ·                      After dismissing Zen Melo, Lacuna relieves him of his cars and government house. ·                      Lacuna arrests Romanus Bengo (for opposing his brand of leadership) and throws him behind bars for a long time.  (P 19, 27) ·                      Lulu, a 19 year old school girl, declines Lacuna Kasoo’s advances. He detains her and keeps her at his palace against her will. He flirts with her and even kisses her despite her protests.  (P 92-94) " You were born to soar above the eagles and perch nowhete but in our humble palace"   (P 93) " ... making me young again but beggar - a worshipper at the door of your heart."  (P 93) ·                      Lacuna refuses Lulu the liberty to attend her father’s 2 nd  interment, which is mandatory, in conformity with customary laws.  (P 119) ·                      Lacuna has detained Lulu for a over a month and she is distraught  (P 120).  She cries a lot as a result.  ·                      Lacuna plans to marry Lulu who is just a 19 year old school girl. Lulu is mortified since she perceives Lacuna as an elder/father and a leader. She has plans of completing school and becoming a doctor. He tries to woo and seduce her with all sorts of niceties but she turns down his offer.    (P117, 119) ·                      Lacuna murders Judah Zen Melo. Robert says , “It was murder for poor Judah, not the age of the machine.”  (P 108)  He deceives the world that Judah was killed by an old machine, while struggling to work faster and quadruple production.    Lulu says:  “You killed my father?”  (P 120)

3.                   Exploitation ·                   Chipande, Lacuna’s henchman (political advisor) and an MP, forces Tamina to sell her piece of land to him for peanuts (very little money). Since her husband is kicked out of her government job, she is forced to pick coffee at Chipande’s farm in order to raise money to take care of Lulu.  (P 24)                       ·                      Tamina works from dusk to dawn at no extra coin. She can barely afford her daughter Lulu’s school fees.  (P 27) ·                      After the white man leaves, Chipande grabs all the land on Bukelenge Mountains. He buys land from Tamina for peanuts claiming he cannot compete with a peasant. He also goes to the Leader and blocks others from obtaining a licence to grow coffee  (P 29)  ·                      When the financiers demand that Lacuna pays the interest on the monies advanced to him so far, he says he shall make the subjects pay for their leader and for the seat of power his father paid for with his blood.  (P 83)

4.                   Corruption ·          Lacuna borrows money in his people’s name and banks it in his individual offshore accounts.  (P 61) ·          The money was meant to bolster the economy and better the lives of the people. Kasoo squanders this money.  “Apart from lining your pockets and those of your immediate supporters, you have wasted loans advanced to you for development”.   (P 64, 77)

5.                   Imperialism/colonization ·          Kutula colony is under the imperial rule of white colonialists like Governor Macay and his advisor Bishop Menninger. They come in politely but sooner than later take over operations of the colony, something that angers King Kutula XV. When he decides to kick out the imperialists, they hatch a flawless plan to have him killed with the help of his own son, Lacuna Kasoo. Lacuna is made the new king. The imperialists know that they can manipulate him like a marionette.  (P 15-16) (P 68-69) ·          Menninger plans to brainwash and addle Princess Sangoi through western education and religion. “ She will return here the very mother and goddess of confusion”  (P 15) ·          When Lacuna throws a lavish banquet, he spends a colossal amount of money. He imports beer and wine from Robert’s subsidiary company and expensive food from abroad. Coffee is grown in Kutula but processed and imported from London at exorbitant prices. Eventually, the imperialists reap maximum benefits while the citizens of Kutula continue to suffer and wallow in poverty.  (P 61) ·          In order to continue having a firm grip on Kutula’s affairs, the imperialists advance Lacuna more money despite squandering the billions he received initially. However they impose some strict conditions to be met for the funds to be released.  (P 81) ·          Goldstein wants Lacuna to privatize public sectors in order to create wealth. Also, to expand the economy to embrace more foreign investment.  (P 77) ·          The conditions are  exploitative  to the natives who have to work hard for little reward.  (P 77-78)

  ·          Reduction of wages

·          Removal of price controls

·          Go easy on foreign exchange

·          Quadruple production of silver and gold

·          Reduction of employment

·          Longer working hours

·          Lacuna is forced to dance to the financier’s tune (Please Robert)

·            Goldstein arm twists Lacuna into nationalizing the valley and to allow them to occupy it. They plan to irrigate it and grow food to feed the whole of Africa. Their ulterior motive is to use the valley for their own avarices (selfish gains) ·                        Lulu is exasperated because of the neocolonialist tendencies bedeviling operations in her country. The school rules are made in England by “the shameless thieves” who colonized her docile ancestors.   She opines that the obsequious obedience to the white man is needless. ·                        Lulu notes that the leaders have to look over their shoulders  “lest some white man is peering at them through his short sighted glasses”   (P 45-46)  

Major events in Inheritance 

Meeting among thorne macay, king kutula and bishop menninger  (pg 6-14) the return of bengo  (pg 17-24) the altercation between tamina and lulu  (pg 25-31) judah returns  (pg. 32-39) rev. sangoi’s visit  (pg 40-44) the argument between tamina and lulu  (pg 45-46) the drunken tales of judah zen melo  (pg 47-51) the commemoration of king kutula’s remembrance day  (pg 52-57) robert rollerstone & daniel goldstein  (the financiers)  confer with lacuna kasoo concerning the accountability on spending foreign loans  (pg63-83) lacuna meets sangoi and bukelenge’s opinion leaders concerning the evacuation at samuka plains  (pg 84-85) lacuna’s discussion with chipande about the  annual ritual  (pg 87-89) the insurrection  (pg 90) lacuna flirts with lulu  (pg 92-94) sangoi reveals the news about judah’s death to tamina  (pg 99-101) heated argument between malipoa and lacuna kasoo  (pg 104-105) the financiers freeze lacunas accounts.  (pg 107-112) declaration of martial law  (pg 114-115) disagreement between lacuna and lulu  (pg 118-121) the meeting in the woods  (pg 122-128) lacuna is overthrown  (pg 131-137), do you need some  study questions on inheritance  by david mulwa , 49 comments:.

thank you wakati for good job well done

Thanks for the feedback.

Please sir can I get a soft copy of the notes

Thanks sir. Very good notes

Thank you for the feedback.

Hallo,kindly share the Pearl and ADolls house

Hallo. The articles are available on this blog.

please may you send me the notes

which notes would you request?

How do we get the pdf please

Thank you so much and may God bless you

Nice work Sir.

Thanks so much.

Thanks alote, we appreciate, God bless you.

You're welcome

Kindly could you please send an inheritance guide. Am a candidate next year . Need help . Thank you 🙏🏾

Are there PDF for download

Helpful notes sir. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for your comment.

Good job sir. Keep it up

Good work sir. Is there a soft copy of the same

Thank you Paul.

Thank you Jared.

How can I download the notes

Keep on keeping on.

I will. Thanks.

Can I get a copy of this?

Thank you Mr. Wekati

You are welcome

Thank you for the feedback

can I get a copy of this kindly

Can l get note on of Inheritance please

Kindly help with plot analysis notes please

Nice notes good job

Can I get answers on possible kcse questions in the play inheritance

The questions are available on the blog. Thanks.

It's good but some themes e.g moral decadence are missing

Wow it's really helful

Theme of activism

Tell Wekati something

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Inheritance by David Mulwa Setbook Guide and Summary Analysis

This is a summary and a guide of the secondary school set-book Inheritance by David Kakuta Mulwa .

Inheritance Author Background info

David KakutaMulwa was born on 9th April 1945 in the plains of Mukaa in Makueni County. His writing was influenced by his father, Pastor John Mulwa, and his teachers from primary school to the university.

David Mulwa went to Machakos Boys High School, then to Alliance High School for his A- levels. He joined the University of Nairobi where he studied Literature instructed by Taban Lo Liyong’ and Okot P ‘Bitek. He proceeded to the University of California in Los Angeles under a scholarship where he studied Masters in Arts.

Mulwa has also written other books including ‘Redemption’ (1989), ‘Master and Servant’ (1979), ‘We Come in Peace’, ‘Glass Houses among others books.

David is currently a writer, lecturer, actor and the director of Kenya Performing Arts in Nairobi.

The Setting of the setbook Inheritance by David Mulwa

The story is set in colonial Africa in the Kutula colony under the British rule. The colonial masters live lavishly at the expense of the poor natives who serve as their slaves.

The traditional ruler of the natives is King Kutula XV. The king is bent on overthrowing the British leadership by all means. He leads his people in a national uprising against the white settlers and out rightly tells the white governor that “… y our people will continue to die. Everyone of them … Governor Macay and no one’ll help you … I have spoken . ” (Pg 13).

After the exit of the British, Kutula becomes a republic under the leadership of Lacuna Kasoo after the death of his (Lacuna’s) father, King Kutula XV.

Lacuna Kasoo’s leadership turns out to be worse than the leadership of the colonial masters. It is marred with greed, corruption, incompetence and assassinations. His dictatorial regime triggers a peaceful civil revolution that successfully overthrows his leadership.

The Title (Inheritance)

The play ‘Inheritance’ revolves around a conflict between the African natives and the white settlers over the inheritance of land, its resources and leadership.

The British invasion in African is motivated by the desire to tap resources from Africa through their colonial rule under the guise of bringing civilization in form of education, infrastructure, and hospital to the “primitive” Africans. Once settled, the colonial masters gradually grabbed vast areas of land from the natives for agriculture, mining and settlement thereby displacing and enslaving the natives. The British Empire depended on Africa for survival, hence the desire to rule and control Africa with their resources.

The natives, through their King Kutula, realize the urgent need to inherit what the white settlers have robbed them. “ We want to build and run our home in our own way . This land is our mother. We want our children to live and share equally what she gives us … all that you take from her . ” (p. 12). A countrywide uprising begins and the White man’s rule ends.

King Kutula XV inherits the leadership from the British masters.

King Kutula’s leadership is later inherited by his son, Lacuna Kasoo.  Lacuna is manipulated and deceived by the imperialists to kill his own  father. …… ( Buy for more details )

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Inheritance

by David Mulwa

Action starts at the pre-colonial Africa in the Kutula Colony. King Kotula XV is a benevolent traditional ruler who forsakes technological sophistication in favour of social cohesion and meaningful development for all his fellow citizens. However, the Queen's representatives - Thorne Macay and Bishop Henninger - do not like King Kutula's leadership style especially because the British empire does not stand to gain in this arrangement Soon they hatch plans for the murder of the king in the hands of the heartless and power-thirsty son. Lacuna Kasoo. Kotula Colony Is later transformed into a republic with the leader, Lakuna Kasoo, and his cronies salivating to enrich themselves at the expense of national development. They grab whatever comes their way: land, money, power and life. They kill at will and are seen as irreparable moral reprobates. Lakuna Kasoo gets more and more dictatorial and isolated and he is finally deposed in a bloodless civil revolution. There is change and hope as Princess Sangoi, the new popular leader, summarises the new spirit of rebirth: 

let it never be said that our new world was built on the madness of the old.' 

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Inheritance

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Language and Style (Stylistic Devices) - Guide to the Inheritance Play by David Mulwa

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Use of Proverbs

Biblical allusion.

•  It is employed in the prologue. Governor Thorne regards the  natives' customs as primitive. Menninger sees them as lacking  originality and common reason yet they can hardly comprehend  the wisdom in the 'long winded proverbs' of the natives. They also  depend on the natives' republic to sustain their empire.
• It is ironical that the British claim to have brought civilization to  the natives through schools yet their main motive is to rob the  same natives of their valuables. They fear King Kutula and regard  him as  "an ingenious rascal"  ( p. 15 ). and a dangerous man.  " This  king is dangerous like the queen bee, he sanctions the sting and  the toiling workers indiscriminately descend upon our people"
• It is ironical that much as the natives expected better lives after independence, the worst is happening to them in form of neocolonialism. Lacuna is more greedy, corrupt and dictatorial than his predecessors. (movement one)
• It is also ironical how Lacuna claims that Kutula is a sovereign state yet he has brought its economy to its knees; it is heavily in debt. Goldstein tells him "...A sovereign state without authority and money is lower than a slave... "(p. 74)
• It is ironical that Lacuna regards Kutula as a sovereign state yet it is broke and begging for aid. His misrule has made the state sink lower than the status of a slave.
• It is ironical that Goldstein thought that educating Sangoi in the west would make her divide the people further by indoctrinating them to support the whites but she turns out to be the lioness he feared she would become
• In a flashback , Tamina reveals to the reader reasons behind Bengo's imprisonment and Judah's exile. It turns out that Kutula requires Judah to kill his brother, Bengo for being a thorn in  Lacuna's political side. When Judah Zen Melo disobeys, he is almost killed as his mangled body is found damped outside their house and Dr. Jonathan saves him. Later Bengo is imprisoned.
• The death of King Kutula XV is told through a flashback . Lacuna reveals the day he poisons his father and describes the manner in which he administers the poison. His guilt is evident but he covers it through the justification of his evil act. He says, "He bought it with his life so that we can inherit a comfortable life. " (p. 69)
• Tamina refers to Lacuna and his cronies as an octopus that implies the strong power and the ability to stretch out, to reach and control anyone and anything they wish to get.
• "And our leopards move among Lacuna's forces, pretending loyalty." (pg.124).  The word "leopards" is used metaphorically by the young male leader to mean "prowling spies."
• Lacuna's  address to the grave of his father is a case of apostrophe  in the play. He addresses his late father to bring out the immediacy of the festival.
• Goldstein comments about the native's obsession with celebrations "...You people celebrate everything even when the sun shrivels..." (pg 59)
• Robert sarcastically says, "Oh! I'd love to see...the dead and the living sharing!" (p. 59)
• Goldstein flatters Lacuna's leadership with sarcasm when he compares his regime to that of his late father, King Kutula. He takes advantage of his greed and uses him to achieve his agenda as the queen's representative. "...It was time to bring Kutula back to dignity and high civilization...our people found a man ...your Excellency...a man of action...you. " (p. 68)
• Robert and Goldstein address Lacuna sarcastically " ... Twas nice doing business with you, old pal... " (p. 112) after they trasnfer his savings from his many foreign accounts
• The author satirizes Lacuna when he blames his late father for having left him a disastrous leadership for inheritance. He blames  Kutula 's averse nature to economic development and his strange obsession with multiplication of mosques and churches which leaves the economy in shambles yet he (Lacuna) has not sustained, and in some cases, not started any of the economic projects for which he has been advanced billions of shillings as loans for funding.
• Robert and Goldstein satirize Lacuna's miseries. They seem particularly excited at catching him unawares.  They muse at his  shock on their knowledge of his financial standing
• The author satirizes Lacuna by casting him as an ignorant and arrogant leader. Lacuna threatens Goldstein when he insists that new players will be involved in business. Lacuna tells him "...A python never strikes except in hunger..."(pg. 108) . When Goldstein and Robert corner him and clear his foreign accounts in foreign countries; Lacuna panics and begins to plead for pardon and a second chance. Nonetheless, they transfer the money from his account and his balance reads zero.
• Lacuna demands that Goldstein and Robert give him guns and ammunition to force his people out of the mountains if they resist, in order to fulfill the conditions pegged on the loan. This is satirical and quite laughable.
• The author satirizes the leaders. All is lost for the tough talking Robert and Goldstein as they set out to destabilize the citizens. Lacuna bows and is no longer powerful. He is in the hands of the very people he oppressed. Chipande and Malipoa join their leader in custody.
• Lacuna questions Robert,  "How is a father to be if visitors come to advise the children about their toys?" (pg. 81 ).
• This implies  Lacuna 's discontentment with the interference in Kutula 's foreign matters by the Whiteman.
• Robert and Goldstein use a proverb to mock Lacuna "... Goldstein, what was that a crude proverb you are fond of using about these people?" (p. 110) "... A tethered hen has no power?"
• Tamina is excited about a possible bright future with her family but ironically death is imminent. Zen Melo is killed in a premeditated murder at the mines by the faulty machines. He has served faithfully with the hope to contribute to the quadrupling of production and to provide fortunes to change the life of his family for the better. Tamima looks forward to better times
• The leaders are to avoid causing harm to anyone and this is symbolized by the carrying of doves ".. to signal our peace and resolve?" (Pg. 127)
• The "five  foolish virgins"(pg.124) is a biblical allusion used to liken  the leaders during the meeting at dawn to the foolish virgins after Sangoi enters and the leaders glide to the corner ready to take off.

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