Discuss the women characters in Margaret Ogola's The River and the Source

Characters in Women Writers
Margaret Ogola's female characters are very strong. Akoko the main characters go through hardships but come out victorious.
Ogola however makes her male characters die leaving their widows go through struggle
to make ends meet. Wandia is another female character who comes out strong. The River
and the Source is an epoch story. The writer presents five generations of one family the
family of Akoko Obanda. The daughter of a great chief, born, in the 1870s hence there is
no character that runs throughout the novel. The characters develop with each new
generation. But, we should note that the spirit of Akoko a woman of great determination
courage, wisdom, intellect clarity of vision is not only instilled but also inborn in the five
generations. This explains why members of this family are successful in whatever
historical period they live in. Ogola presents women characters who are very permanent
and outshine them. In each generation there is a woman whose strength of character plays
a very important role e.g. Akoko is an outstanding character she is the source referred to
in the title her extraordinary character is evident since when a child and people remark
“she would be a very determined person some day” (p12) Akoko's spirit lives on after her
and her great grandchildren wish to emulate her.
Her great grandson father Tony Sigus say of her: 'to her, life was like a river, flowing
from eternity to eternity' (pg 279).
Through Akoko, Ogola, makes her statement that virtues or societal values prevail will
always be respected in any society i.e. from generation to generation.
Ogola presents a woman of great determination, virtuous, courageous, wise, loving and
loyal to her family, decisive and hardworking.

NB: traditional literature portrays women as givers of life. But, we also see in some
biased literature that they are weak and need supervision. That they are urgust in running
society and that they must be replaced.
e.g. in the Agikuyu myth origin, Mumbi is the mythical mother of the Agikuyu community. Mumbi means moulder or even creator. Hence, giver of life we also see the supremacy of Gikuyu's daughters in the community.
We are told that Gikuyu had no male heirs. His legacy was passed on to his daughters.
However, Gikuyu's daughters become domineering and ruthless they organize capital
punishment for men who committed adultery and even minor offences. Consequently, the
men overthrow the unjust system to put things right again. Consider other tales that credit
or discredit women. Look at how traditional literature portrays men and women e.g. tales
that present vain girls who demand the unthinkable from their suitors and end up being
married by ogres who they mistake to be handsome men usually because of their folly and
the rescue by their younger brothers. While traditional literature presents men and women
in a traditional set up. Performing traditional tasks contemporary literature presents the
characters in a modern set up. Involved in modern activities some writers may even
present characters in both traditional and modern set likewise; consider how these men
and women are portrayed in modern literature. Ogola presents women whose strength and
character almost overshadows men. Akoko is a woman of great determination she never
lets anything kill her spirits. Once she set out to do something, she never wavers; she does
not allow suffering to weight her down Akoko?s courage. Portrays her as a pioneer for
women's position in society and for adjusting to change in general. The pioneering spirit
is evident in the direct way in which she looks at Owuor when he first comes as a suitor.
Ogola brings in the issue of culture. We are made aware that traditionally a woman was
not suppose to loop straight at the world be husband. Akoko was expected to look down
but she is not of raid of her husband and he Owuor Kembo admires her. he finds her
candid (straight forward, witty and intelligent) and he pays an amazing amount of bride
price for her. Another aspect of culture the of polygamy is questioned. Owuor finds so
much strength and joy in his marriage that he did not want to marry more wives. To have
only one wife that time was unusual especially for a chief. Ogola seems to be telling us
that traditions that do not add value to our lives should be discarded. She welcomes
change especially positive change. The author challenges society's authority in marriage
love is equated with courage and free will.

The author extols the virtues of courage and individual freedom which gives satisfaction.
Private desire is fulfilled without public sanction or interference. Owuor refuses to marry
more wives despite society's pressure for him to marry since he finds fulfillment in his
monogamous marriage and his mother and the elders do not understand that his love for
his wife makes him have no interest in other women. Akoko stands before the jodongo of
Sakwa and Fimbo and explains why she left her marital home. Pioneering spirit and

courage also evident in her epic journey to Kisumu to see the sirikal when her brother –in-
law, Otieno, tries to take over the chief's stool and all her wealth. She does not allow

Otieno to intimidate her. She puts her case to the D.O with great courage and wisdom.
Akoko is not afraid for change. She encourages her daughter Nyabera to join the new
religion in Aluor and her grandchildren to get education. She was hardworking and her
herds at Sakwa were so vast that it was necessary to build a special clan for them separate
from everybody else's. She starts from scratch at Aluor and builds up and enviable herd of
cattle. And full granaries even in her old age. To Akoko, work was discipline and poverty
an energy to be fought a virtue she passes to her descendants e.g. Peter Owuor her
grandson had learned from his grandmother that a job once began had to be completed (pg
118).
Compare how Ogola presents the two characters Akoko and her husband Owuor Kembo
Owuor's character is not drawn in so much detail as Akoko?s the author however tells us
enough for us to see how great a man he is. Though he cannot match Akoko?s greatness in
character. Awuor is a mature and wise leader even at a young age of 20 years. This brings
about peace and order among the people he rules. His love, respect and trust for his wife
Akoko makes his wife happy and prosperous. His respect for her hard work encourages
her to work hard and become a prosperous woman. Awuor is a maded father for he loves
his children clearly hence, Akoko and Nyabera were to talk about his greatness to their
children.
Nyabera and her husband Kwach are Akoko?s only surviving child. As a child she has a
charming personality. “A personality that could charm the birds off the trees she is bright
and her clever brother Obura. Was no match for her in story telling and riddling (pg 29)
Nyabera is married to Okumu but within a start of time her three children, her brother
Obura and her husband dies. According to custom she is given a husband –Ogoma Kwach
and she has two sons with him both of who also dies. Kwach is an irresponsible husband

and has to be reprimanded by the elders. Has to be reminded of his duty as a husband.
Kwach's height of irresponsibility as a husband is evident when he leaves Nyabera.
Kwach neglects his duty on sensing the strength of character in Nyabera and her tendency
to bring out riches due to her hard work. Nyabera, like her mother, is a pioneer. She
introduces Christianity to her family and paves the way for change and a better future for
her daughter and grandchildren. She is hardworking and emerges from her great suffering
a stronger and wiser character. This is evident when she comforts her daughter Elizabeth
and encourages her to live on after the death of Akoko and her loyalty to the family is
carried on to her children. Hence, through her Akoko's family lives on.
Elizabeth is the only child of Nyabera who survives and her husband Mark Sigu, Aoro
and Wandia and other men and women in the novel.

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Titany answered the question on November 11, 2021 at 08:48