Blossoms of the Savannah
Introduction
Summary of the book
Themes
Corruption
Oloisudori exhibits the theme of corruption very clearly. He gives out government contracts to his victims and later uses them to blackmail them, his activities are widely known, yet there is nothing that the government has done to stop him because his level of corruption is normal. It is seen by the reader when Ole Kaleo partners with Oloisudori and opts that it is the only way to become successful.
Gender
Gender inequality pervades almost in all aspects of the daughters of Ole kaelo’s life. In the Nasila community and many other corners of the world, women are treated as subordinate to their counterparts. They have no choice to pick whom to marry; they are expected to stay home and be homemakers. Nasila men are expected to be polygamous while women monogamous
As careful readers, we should note that gender inequality is not unique in Nasila only but all parts of the world. In the U.S.A, nearly one in five women report being survivors of sexual assault during their lifetime.
Coming of age
Blossoms of the savannah explore nature being an adolescent in the Nasila community. Ole Kaelo and his wife Mama Milanoi are pressured to circumcise their two daughters to become full women of Nasila. Like other rites in the world like Judaism, coming of age is marked by a bar or bat of Mitzvah, or in the modern catholic church the confirmation, Maa women undergo circumcision.
Courage
For all the tragic moments that the girls undergo, they demonstrate great courage. We see the resilience and courage in the running from their families and their aggressors. They escape a rape attempt and stand strong against bad culture and expectations that they feel are not right.
Most importantly, they do not stand alone in demonstrating the act. Minik, the sheep ranch owner, houses over five hundred girls who are runaways from arranged early marriages and forceful initiation. Nabaru, the medicine woman who looked after Resian back to health, journeys with Resian via dangerous terrains and even risks her own life to escape Olarinkoi.
Family Ties
In most parts of the novel, it is seen that in one way or another about the negotiation of family relationships, the family is the foundation of the Maa people and community. It is simply to say that a person is seen first as a brother, daughter, father, and then when as he or she is seen as an individual. Thus, each character’s identity is inseparable from their role in the family unit; it makes Resian, and Taiyo’s choice leave all the more dramatic. In moving from Nasila, they leave behind all their family ties and bonds, apart from the bond between them.
Duty
Just like teachers have to impart knowledge to their students, all the characters have duties and obligations in the text. Jane has to support her husband’s choices, to look after all the other characters in the family and members of the Maa community despite in blood ties. Ole Kaleo must provide for his family. When he gets retrenched, he opts to move his family back to Nasila. He is also expected to prepare the girls for marriage
Taiyo and Resian have a role as daughters to follow their father’s instructions without questioning and to dote on the Ilmolelian clan men.We should also note that the family’s theme since one person’s duty is dictated by one’s role within the family unit.
Theme of love
It is with great love that the sisters make it against the bad deeds. Also, because of love, we see how Joseph Parmuat risks his own life to save Taiyo from Oloisudori.
Conclusion
From the text, it is clear that gender inequality, corruption by different individuals, and division of the duty, but with love, the girls can survive it all.