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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 by Godwin Siundu, 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

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Please sir can I get a soft copy of the notes

Thanks sir. Very good notes

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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.

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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

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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

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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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Plot Summary - Guide to the Inheritance Play by David Mulwa

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Summary: Leadership Inheritance

Scene one: kutula's commemoration ceremony, scene two: lacuna's business deals with the imperialists, scene three: resistance and rebellion, scene one: judah zen melo's death, scene two: martial law and lacuna's predicaments, scene one: plans to overthrow lacuna's government, scene two: lacuna's loss of power.

• The prologue opens in Governor Thorne Macay's mansion, which is  described as lavish and one that rents the air of power and authority.
• The Governor is seemingly angry at the natives' ineptitude and  incompetence and feels disempowered by the abolition of the whip as  the natives have now downed their tools.
• The Governor's attendant has kept Bishop Menninger, (brain of the  empire) Princess Sangoi, and King Kutula, who have come to see the  governor, waiting for an hour because the latter is on a tea-break, and  when asked why he keeps the guests for that long replies,. your orders  is: " Do not disturb his excellent tea-time and meditetioning hour..." (p.3 -4) .
• The natives have rioted against the white settlers, destroyed their  property, molested the women and children and have breached the  agreement and trust made earlier  “…a situation that could lead to a  long bloody  war... ! " (p.8).
• Bishop Menninger has documented advice for the Governor. He points  out in the document that natives would never change from their  confused simple nature and that they would never be like the  sophisticated and civilized whites but would only remain as copycats.
• He also points out to the governor that the imperialists would have to  continue to rule and lay basic rules for the natives since left on their  own; they would offer nothing of significance.
• King Kutula 's entry to the governor's mansion is ushered in by an  attendant who regards him with awe and reverence.
• He addresses the king as  "The son of the king…from the stars and the  heaven,"   (p.6)
• Governor Thorne Macay has never understood the 'infernal allegiance’  that natives have their leaders but Menninger is born from their  inability to reason and think. He sees them as common animals way  below the whites whom he terms as democratic and civilized.
• Governor thorne has summoned the king to register his  disappointment about king Kutula’s silence on the escalating violence  in his kingdom resulting from the nationwide upraising by the natives  against the white  leaders.
• King Kutula dismisses Thorne’s concerns by quoting an African  proverb to mock the Governor. He says  “ The chameleon told the hare:  make your step I make mine; it is good company… friend.” (pg 8)
• Thorne is offended and threatens to imprison the king for life before  Menninger reminds him that he is talking to the king. He asks Thorne  to ask direct questions and avoid the long winged proverbs and  proverbial drivels when the king begins to bombard the governor with  many more proverbs and sayings.
• Thorne is then shocked when Kutula admits his knowledge of the  countrywide uprising and his support of the violence against the  governor’s people despite their good will to bring civilization to the  natives. He says,  “… I cannot shut the voices of my father…”  (pg 10)
• The governor is shocked by the sudden change of attitude when Kutula  bluntly tells him that  “we do not want you here!”  (pg 10)
• Kutula regrets why his fathers assented to the imperialist drafted  agreement that had allowed the colonialist to subject his people to  devastating effects of their oppressive rules and excessive zeal.
• Kutula threatens the governor that his people will continue to die if he  won’t let the natives build and run their home. He, however, has no  objection to the white man teaching the natives his was but with  moderation.
• Sangoi joins the leader and expresses her willingness to go abroad and  pursue the white man's education.
• Governor Thorne's fear over King Kutula's efforts to groom his adopted  daughter is that she will be an empowered matriarch and a lioness to  contend with in the future.
• Menninger is quick to console Thorne that Sangoi's education would  only confuse her. The Bishop's plan is to unleash Sangoi against her  simple folk upon the completion of her education for their benefit.
• What does Thorne mean by the statement,  "Africa supports, nay    maintains, the empire" (pg.4) ?
• "Make her a slave...again...Revisit history, Menninger...  revisit..." (pg.5) . What is your understanding of this  statement?
• In what ways do the natives exhibit  'infernal allegiance'  to  their leaders?
• Identify the proverbs in the prologue and their relevance.
• Menninger admits to use of  "excessive zeal."  How have the  natives reacted to it?
• "The king is dangerous. Like the Queen bee..."  Demonstrate  the truth of this statement.
• Comment on the conflict that arises in the prologue.
• What does Thorne mean when he says  "Turmoil in Africa  means a great loss to the empire"  (pg. 4)?
• Outline the reasons King Kutula gives for wanting the  imperialists to leave Kutula.
• Point out at instances in the prologue that reveal  Thorne Macay's attitude towards the natives.
• What is the prologue all about?

Movement One

• Kutula, thirty years later, is an independent Republic under the  leadership of Lacuna Kasoo yet the standards of living are poor.
• Tamina Zen Melo is emaciated and older than her age with no  proper housing and food.
• Bengo, a political activist who has just arrived from jail in the  capital, is treated to a cold welcome by Tamina who still holds to  age-old bitterness.
• Tamina explains to Bengo that the water they used to get from  the nearby springs and brooks has been diverted by Councilor  Chipande to Bukelenge Mountains fifteen kilometers away to  make a dam despite Reverend Sangoi 's protests. In fact, an  inauguration for the dam is done and receives much praise.
• The natives have been denied licenses to grow coffee and their  lands taken by Chipande after the Whiteman left making them  slaves in their own farms. Tamina says "My coffee farm in  Bukelenge Mountains? All gone. Now I must pick coffee for  Chipande on the farm that he had me sell to him for peanuts. "(p. 24).
• Tamina is bitter with Bengo because of his indulgence in  opposition politics that led to the near death of her husband,  Judah Zen Melo, who was Lacuna's spokesperson and party man,  after his refusal to kill his brother who was "Lacuna's thorn in his  political side."(p.23).
• This earns Judah unemployment and he is exiled. Tamina lost  everything including the good life she once lived.
• Bengo, who is popular and would have won the elections with a  landslide, is taken to jail to pave way for Chipande, Lacuna 's  crony.
• Lulu arrives home from school earlier than usual to collect the  two thousand shilling fees balance for the construction of a  perimeter fence and the computer laboratory despite paying one  thousand the previous day.
• Tamina complains of her lack of basics like food and water and  wonders about the essence of education. Lulu is bitter and  somewhat insolent and disrespectful to her mother.
• Lulu is frustrated by her mother's helplessness and poverty and  threatens her, "l will use my beauty then! I must complete school  and be somebody... in any way… (pg31 ) Unlike her mother Lulu  wants to be free from poverty and oppression.
• Judah arrives from the town of Patola and is warmly welcomed by  his wife. He says jobs were not forthcoming and the pay was low.  Besides, you needed your own tribesman to get a job.
• He sacrifices his morals for employment because, "... religion  doesn't sit well on an empty stomach..." (p.36). He therefore  begins drinking and bribes Mithambo with beer to get a job as a  Machine Operator. He works for long hours and competition is  stiff. Meanwhile, their sons are also in towns looking for jobs.
• Before Judah can rest, he leaves to "say hello to the crowd and  escort the sunset"(pg.38) but leaves Tamina eight hundred  shillings besides the assortment of groceries that he has brought  home.
• Lulu is back and apologetic for disrespecting her mother. She  learns of her father's return with excitement.
• Sangoi has been appointed a minister in the Ministry of  Reclamation and Remedies by Lacuna against her will. She  accepts the post for fear that Lacuna might assassinate her now  that during his coronation, people preferred Sangoi for Lacuna to  be their leader after King Kutula's death.
• The government plans to evacuate people from the valley and  Sangoi hopes that Lacuna would change his mind over the  evacuation before Kutula's much publicized commemoration  ceremony.
• Tamina is against Lulu's attendance of the king Kutula  commemoration ceremony, despite her key role as a lead dancer  in the school's dance troupe invited by Lacuna himself.
• It is only through Sangoi's intervention that Tamina permits Lulu  to attend what she calls "a pagan ritual"  (pg.43) on condition that  she would run back home after the festival. Sangoi promises to  watch over Lulu and even pay her school fees balance.
• Melo returns home drunk. He says he rules his family with love  and not machines and police guards like Lacuna. Judah  celebrates his family and refers to Tamina as "... beauty queen...  so beautiful..." and Lulu as "Girl, you're a black queen and... ori ...hic ...ginal!" (Pg.48 ) and challenges Lulu to work hard and  achieve her dreams of becoming a doctor and then he goes to  bed.
• Lulu is totally uninspired by her parents' marriage. She says, "If  this is what it means to be a parent, I won't follow their footsteps  to be crowned queen of rags". (pg.51 ).
• Outline the counter-productivity of Chipande's dam project.
• Why is Tamina still bitter with Bengo?
• In what ways is Bengo  "...a thorn in Lacuna's political side"?
• State the challenges that parents like Tamina with school-going  children must undergo.
• How does Judah Zen Melo's absence contribute to Tamina's  challenges?
• "I don't want this life! I don't! I don't!" (Pg.31 ) . What exactly does Lulu  mean by this statement?
• Describe how Zen Melo gets his job as a machine operator.
• What character of Lulu demonstrates her understanding of her goals in  life?
• Give three illustrations of incidences of disillusionment in this episode.

Movement Two

• The scene is set at Kutula Peoples' Park. The stage is set for  the celebration of a National Commemoration Day and all the  leaders, delegates, bosom friends of Kutula Republic and other  citizens are gathered at the park.
• Miss Gerima, the teacher is helping the dancers with the final  touches of rehearsals before the ritual begins.
• Lacuna steps forward to the royal grave to perform the  commemoration ritual.
• A pitcher with water is handed to Lulu who washes Lacuna's  hands. Lacuna then pours water at the foot of the grave and  then Lulu puts the crown on his head, gives him the mandate to  lead and declares the day to be a national rest day.
• Melissa comments that the crown does not fit Lacuna's head  and Sangoi is quick to say it's time Lacuna put the crown aside  as he doesn't fit the mandate.
• After the ceremony, Lacuna invites Sangoi and the school  children to a banquet in his palace. He is to discuss with  Sangoi matters of evacuation of the people, to pave way for the  irrigation project, although he is aware that she is against the  proposal.
• Lacuna then leads his guests in the banquet and is to later  share a meal with Lulu at his private chambers as required by  the custom.
• Describe the rituals performed during the commemoration  chronologically.
• What does Lacuna mean by "customs must bow to national  emergencies" (pg. 57)?
• Identify the irony of the quote in number 2 above.
• Comment on Sangoi's saying, "When the dead murmur in a conscience,  the guilty hear in it the terror of thunder, our forefather said it" (pg. 56).
• How do you think the national rest that Lacuna declares impacts on  the economy?
• Why do you think Sangoi, the elders and the two white men fail to  respond to Malipoa?
• Explain the symbolism in Lacuna's crown that does not fit and is lopsided on his head.
• Who is Gerima and what is her role in the commemoration ceremony?
• Describe Melissa's role in the episode.
• The setting shifts to the leader's palace formally, Governor
• Macay's residence which has now been extensively modernized. It  is here that Lacuna, Goldstein and Robert's meeting takes place.
• Chipande welcomes Goldstein and Robert to the palace. They are  catching up on the just ended commemoration ceremony before  Lacuna arrives.
• Chipande rudely handles the attendant. He brags about how he  treats them in summary statements in the name of democracy  and development while faulting King Kutula for having treated  everyone equally.
• Robert sarcastically points at how Africans love celebrations at  the expense of serious issues like time management and  economy. Chipande comes in defense saying. "the drums of  prayer and thanksgiving are intended to bring the dead and the  living to communion." (pg.59).
• Robert's contempt for Africans is evident when he says the whites  are superior and that "it's choking me . doing business with  immoral ragamumns..." (pg.60) . He adds that African leaders  borrow monies abroad in the name of the natives only to enrich  themselves- the money has availed nothing to the people.
• With reference to the extravagant and unnecessary banquet, he  notes that most drinks and meals served are imported. The  coffee is grown by the locals but then exported to London for  processing  then sold back to them. Robert wonders, "How can we  do business with people like these?" (pg.61 ).
• Goldstein's perspective of business is to lend, make profit and  enslave the natives by  "... putting the noose
• T he Whiteman and poisoned his own father to death. "He loved  me, but I killed him." (Pg. 69) . However, he goes ahead to justify  the murder, "... my father loved me but I loved my people  more...that's why he had to die." (Pg.69).
• Goldstein recounts what they have done for Lacuna and the  natives financed his inauguration.... Look, around thirty  universities with ultra-modern equipment computer. ...mining  Company
• Robert and Lacuna fall out because the former is quick to criticize  Lacuna's leadership.
• Planet World Financiers Limited had extended a loan of thirty  billion to salvage Kutula's economy. Lacuna gets arrogant when  Goldstein demands an account of how the money was spent  because he has no any record of expenditure. He threatens to  leave the office and to freeze Lacuna's accounts abroad.
• Lacuna tones down and admits to have embezzled the funds; he  bought himself a sleek aircraft and has banked thirty percent of  the money  in foreign accounts. He also discloses that he shares  the money with other leaders for their personal benefits.
• Lacuna cannot account for the rest of the money. Yet he claims to  be giving the natives free medical services, education, food, etc.
• Goldstein is now seated on the throne and takes advantage of an  intimidated Lacuna's ignorance, mismanagement of funds and  poor governance to set him into bigger loans.
• Lacuna now wants another bigger loan to boost the
• Economy and reclaim his popularity among the people yet has no  way of paying the loan back since the "...exports, silver, running at  a loss..." (pg.75) and fanning has dismal returns.
• To date, Kutula has a loan advancement of ninety eight billion  exclusive of interest and Lacuna and his ministers owe Robert  and Goldstein a hundred and twenty two billion which should be  paid within a month. However, the debt will be paid by Lacuna's  subjects.
• Lacuna is given conditions upon the new loan extended to him by  Goldstein.
• He is to ensure money is paid for jobs done and not offices  and positions and to avoid nepotism.
• He is also to remove controls on prices especially for the foreign  exchange.
• He should increase the production of silver and coffee for export.  Lacuna is also to cut down on employment and ensure longer  hours for workers.
• Concerning agriculture, he is to evacuate the occupants of the  valley to pave way for the irrigation project.
• State instances of sarcasm and discuss their significance.
• How effectively does the writer portray greed in this scene?
• Contrast the characters of Robert and Goldstein as portrayed in  the scene.
• Explain the motives of both Goldstein and Lacuna that lead to  King Kutula's assassination.
• "And we let you run it. Didn't interfere" (pg. 70) , Explain this  statement as made by Goldstein.
• Outline the conditions that Goldstein and Robert imposed on  Lacuna .
• Demonstrate in what way business between the West and Kutula  has "no human face". (pg. 82).
• "The mother befriended the weaver bird" (pg. 82) . What did  Lacuna's father mean by this statement?
• In your opinion, how does the Whiteman stand to benefit from the  conditions he imposes before advancing a loan to Lacuna?
• The scene is still in the palace. Sangoi and respected leaders  from Bukelenge Basin have come to see Lacuna over the  evacuation of people from the valley to Samuka.
• Lacuna wants the elders to convince the occupants of the  government's intention to relocate them and use the fertile basins  to reclaim agriculture as the Bukelenge valley is earmarked for  development
• Sangoi and the elders have put it plainly to Lacuna that the  evacuation will not be possible.
• Lacuna is annoyed by their disobedience and blames Sangoi for  poisoning the opinion leaders against the irrigation project. He  says, "... this silent rebellion... anything to do with you?" (Pg.85) .  Lacuna's contempt for his subjects is evident when he says the  mass is illiterate and they cannot think of international business.
• Lacuna threatens to eliminate Sangoi as he tells Chipande that  that is the only way for him to remain on the throne. He senses  strong opposition from Sangoi bearing Sangoi's popularity  amongst the people which he does not take for granted.
• Lulu is expected to spend a night with Lacuna in the Royal  chamber as the Annual Custom demands. All the preparations  have been done by Chipande. Apparently Lulu and Lacuna fail to  show up.
• Lacuna fears that his leadership will fail because Robert might  have defiled Lulu's purity before uniting Lacuna with the powerful  dead and the unborn of the world."She stands in the gap and  must usher in tomorrow's sun. She is the bridge." (pg.88).
• Lacuna tries to lure Lulu by his power and a luxuriant lifestyle  against that of Lulu that is poor. He tells her, "... what will your  mother give you? (Pg.93). But Lulu remains firm that she is too  young for him and still in school; besides, she respects Melissa.  She wonders why she has been confined in the palace and wants  to go home.
• The ritual is postponed until after four weeks and Lulu will be  confined in the chambers to be cleansed and taken care of so  that "...not to anger and pain and worry the wise ones within the  deep" (pg.92)
• Meanwhile, there is a peaceful demonstration outside by the  people from Malima Tema against the relocation of people  from the valley. Women, men and children are carrying twigs and  doves, singing, dancing and marching.
• Meshak, the commander of the armed forces, reports that the  demonstration is harmless and there is no need of using guns.
• Lacuna is annoyed to hear that no one has been shot or  imprisoned. He threatens that any leader who will not support the  evacuation will be dismissed forthwith and replaced by people  from the royal clan regardless of their level of education.
• State instances of superstition in Scene 3.
• In what ways does the Bukelenge Basin disappoint leader Lacuna?
• Contrast the reprisal of natives during King Kutula's reign to the  protest by the Bukelenge mountain occupants.
• "But let all be done in wisdom..." (pg. 92) . Show how Lacuna  takes [eave of wisdom in this scene.
• What character trait of Lacuna is revealed when he responds to Sangoi saying, "Their second alternative, begins, Sangoi And no,  go out there and effect obedience upon my people. Two weeks,  Sangoi " (pg. 86-87)
• What is Lacuna's perception of women in light of how he  describes Melissa on (pg. 94)?
• In what ways does Commander Meshack disappoint Lacuna with  regard to tracking the insurgents at Malima-Tema Mountains?
• What is your understanding of the word "cannibal" as used in the  scene?

Movement Three

• The scene is set in Tamina Zen Melo's hut. It is in the evening and  Tamina has just entered with a bundle of firewood.
• Judah has written a letter to inform her that he will be coming  home that day the second of September. In the letter, Judah  wants to know the whereabouts of his children.
• This reminds Tamina how Lulu, their daughter has been confined  in the palace with a promise of a new home and land in the  mountains which she detests. She says ,"...and he had the  prudence to salt my raw wound I spat on his face and he and his  friends fled from my cooking spoon." (pg.98).
• Sangoi visits Tamina's hut shortly. The issue of evacuation is a  grave one but all, including Tamina, will rally behind her. She  reports that she has not seen Lulu in the palace and that Judah  was visited in the mines concerning Lulu's marriage to Lacuna.
• Though hiding, Sangoi bears the bad news of Zen Melo's death.  Tamina says, "...my husband is dead, that's what you came to tell  me but you didn't have the courage. Is it true?" (Pg.100) . Judah  dies at the mines when the machine he operates snaps and  crushes him. Tamina is inconsolably desperate and breaks into  mourning.
• Bengo stops by Tamina's house and finds her beside herself with  grief and wants to assign some women to take care of her. The  Mother's Union in her church will look into her needs.
• Tamina is disillusioned and disappointed by Lacuna's leadership.  He has taken her husband, sons, Lulu her daughter and her valley.  She has nothing and no one to help her. Sangoi consoles Tamina.
• How does the discussion between Sangoi and Tamina at the  start of the scene prepare Sangoi to break the news of Judah's  death?
• Describe the events that lead to Judah Melo's death.
• Discuss the theme of hopelessness and disillusionment in the  scene,
• "The mole digs God's earth merely to live in... grass grows in the  soil he threw aside." Discuss the significance of this saying in the  scene.
• Which disease is Sangoi referring to by saying, "...this strange  disease from across the seas. The disease."
• Identify and explain an instance of biblical allusion from the scene.
• It is in the palace. Lacuna has a heated argument with Malipoa over  when he will have Lulu as a wife. Malipoa says another week will be  needed because Lulu is still mourning her father's death.
• Lacuna is disappointed by Lulu's consistent resistance to his  advances. He has poured libations to her late father's spirit; he has  channeled a lot of finances to her comfort in the palace and has  offered Tamina vast lands and labourers to till the land but she has  spurned his advances.
• Apparently, tea, coffee, silver show no promise, the  machines are broken down, and the industries are in  shambles besides assassinations of workers.
• The occupants of the valley still are due for evacuation
• Not a shilling of the one twenty billion borrowed is used  beyond the palace.
• Lacuna says the poor production is as a result of rotten machines  and the death of Judah who was the machine operator. However,  Robert tells him that they know Judah was murdered and not the old  machine's error as was reported.
• Goldstein holds the gadget screen to Lacuna to read, "Mene Mene  Tekel' (pg.109) , meaning he has been weighed and found wanting  and God has numbered his kingdom.
• When Lacuna bluntly states that he will pay the loan when he wants,  all his money in the private accounts abroad is transferred to pay the  debt. Robert says, "We must recover our debt." (pg.112).
• Lacuna has been disabled completely but orders the arrest of Robert  and Goldstein. He also declares a curfew from dawn to dusk.
• Lacuna orders Chipande to cancel the evacuation plans, suspend all  the workers ' salaries, and interdict all public officials including  councilors, ministers, directors and principals. Lacuna himself is to  be the commander in chief in place of Meshak.
• Lacuna has extended a hundred percent tax on the profits made by  all corporations, banks, parastatals and businesses and the money  to be collected into the national kitty under his custody.
• Chipande warns him of more riots now that the situation is volatile  because of the plans to forcefully evacuate the people from the  valley.
• Lacuna wants to be joined to Lulu in a holy matrimony before sunset.  Malipoa has gone to fetch her and before he comes back, Lulu  enters to meet Lacuna without permission from either the attendant  or Lacuna himself,
• Lacuna accuses Lulu of an affair with Robert. Lulu objects to the  accusation but then apologizes. She wants to go  home for the second interment of her late father and fears for her  name being tarnished as "a palace gold digger" (pg.119) besides, her  mother has disowned her.
• Lulu wants to pursue her academics and become a doctor. She  rejects Lacuna's advances of love and allure of pleasures. Lacuna is  infuriated and slaps Lulu.
• In annoyance, Lulu reminds Lacuna how he has kept her in the  palace against her will, killed her father, impoverished them and  made them slaves. Besides, he is ten times her father's age and will  never get married to him.
• Lulu is forcefully led out by Chipande and the guard and confined to  her quarters under Lacuna's command pending a forceful marriage.
• "All the wise ones have ordered, I have fulfilled." Outline all the  orders and how Lacuna has fulfilled them.
• "They must play the game-totally, if both parties are to benefit"  (pg. 107) . What does Robert mean by this?
• Why do you think Judah Melo is murdered in the mines?
• State the foreign banks that Lacuna has saved his money in.
• Cite instances of irony and sarcasm in the scene.
• "Did these hands embrace a foreigner?" (pg.118). What would be  the traditional implication of Lulu embracing a foreigner on the night  of the commemoration?
• Outline the weakness of Lacuna's leadership as portrayed in the  scene.
• Contrast the character of Lacuna as a leader and as a carnal man  with reference to the advances he makes on Lulu.

Movement Four

• It is at dawn in a house in the densely forested mountains. Bengo is  chairing a meeting of a group of leaders from the village both young  and old, which plans to overthrow Lacuna's government. Sangoi  comes in later.
• There is a conflict between the young male leader and the elderly  leader over the previous approach to issues where the elderly  leaders have been slow in the cause of their actions over serious  matters in the name of caution leading to the current predicament of  the people of Kutula.
• The group has to review their approach now that a curfew has been  declared to ensure the success of the demo. They have the support  of every tribe including some of Lacuna's loyalists.
• Bengo says that the mission should be accomplished without pain,  hate or bloodshed. He insists on unity to win and if not at least died  saying, " no" to tyranny; particularly the tyranny of our history and  international  neo- slavery." (pg.125).
• Sangoi is the favourite of everybody and the suggested leader after  Lacuna is overthrown. However, she accepts the leadership with a  condition to withdraw the armed section of the movement. This  receives a lot of objection from the leaders who feel they should be  armed because Lacuna has an armed army, too.
• Sangoi will embark on her church roles and a political leader sought  afterwards.
• How does the enemy catch Bengo and his family off-guard in the  entire play?
• "We have persisted because we know and are convinced that our  cause is just," Give reasons to justify this statement.
• Why do you think the people have so much confidence in Sangoi?
• What is the purpose of the meeting?
• Explain the conflict that arises between the young and the old.
• "Can you imagine the bitterness throughout the land?" Comment  on this statement with regard to the episode.
• Outline  the details of the plan on how to attack the palace.
• What does the young leader mean when he says, "Our leopards  move among Lacuna's forces" (pg. 124)?
• Outline the steps that the new leadership will take to rebuild the  state?
• Explain what Sangoi means by saying "They squandered it  and we have felt its yoke on our necks."
• It is in the morning and an agitated Lacuna and a cowering Chipande  are in the palace and out of control. Lacuna has fired everybody  including Malipoa.
• People have mobilized themselves and the demonstration is on.  Lacuna orders for the mobilization of the troops to attack the rabble  of dissidents and orders for the detention of Robert and Goldstein.
• Lacuna is obsessed with having Lulu as his second bride. He  instructs Chipande amidst the confusion to prepare to be the best  man during the ceremony.
• Lacuna is adamant until he hears the sounds of gunshots. Attendant  II shows him the march has drawn close to the palace from all  directions. The city is under attack, the barracks have fallen and the  palace has been besieged.
• The protestors surround the palace chanting, "Down with Lacuna!  Corrupting our children! Stealing from the poor! Starving the poor!" .  ..."We shall not be moved "Down with tyrants!" "Down with curfews  in free land!" (pg. 132).
• Meanwhile Bengo, Sangoi and Tamina come closer to Lacuna as  Bengo addresses the crowd about the need for justice and restrains  people from using violence against Lacuna.
• Reverend Sangoi addresses the crowd amid cheers and chants of  revenge to perpetrators of evil from the crowd. She confirms the  need to deal with the evils of the past before forging forward with  the reconstruction and healing of the land.
• Sangoi is quick to point out that the evil ones have reduced the  people to beggars in their own homeland, the youth into criminals  and drug addicts, disintegration of families ,"... Tamina, Zen Melo and  others . ...since disaster struck her home, she has lost her mind.. '' (pg.135).
• Lacuna is ordered to join Robert and Goldstein. The crowd refers to  them as leeches that bleed the country dry. Lacuna is guilty of  tyranny and sinking the country into debts.
• Sangoi commands Lacuna, Malipoa and Chipande to be jailed.
• Lacuna blames his advisors but Chipande says Lacuna always gave  orders.
• Even after Sangoi is educated abroad and married by a white, she  does not spare Goldstein and Robert. The two foreigners are  deported back to their country.
• She informs Robert in response to his demand for their debt that the  money was borrowed in the name of the natives but squandered by  Lacuna and his cronies.
• Lulu moves to the front where she embraces her mother Tamina.  Sangoi questions Lacuna over Lulu 's confinement and Tamina out  of rage slaps Lacuna for confining her daughter for many days.
• "I can see further without glasses than he with his spiritual  binoculars." Show the irony of Lacuna's statement in light of the  events later in the scene.
• What is Sangoi's role in liberating her people?
• "I AM POPULAR! Not so?" Comment on the irony of this  statement.
• Outline the evils that the natives have suffered due to Lacuna's  leadership.
• What is Bengo's role during the demonstrations?
• "Hang the leeches! Bleeding our country dry!" Explain the above  statements.
• Identify and explain the use of language in this episode.
• What is Sangoi's attitude towards Lacuna, Robert and Goldstein?

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Altered Inheritance: CRISPR and the Ethics of Human Genome Editing

The New Bioethics

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Marisa Almeida Araújo

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Catherine Mills

While CRISPR/Cas9 has become a lightning rod for fears about humanity’s increasing capacity to engineer biological life, the mainstream of Anglo-American bioethics struggles to discern much wrong with genome editing of human beings in vitro. In this paper, we analyze the notion of biopolitics and consider what contribution it may make to debates on genome editing. We disambiguate the different senses of these two key terms: ‘biopolitics’, and ‘life’, and try to show how particular authors in the biopolitics literature draw on and emphasize different versions of these concepts. In the final section of the paper, we venture some suggestions as to the contribution that a number of these approaches might make to moving beyond a focus on risk and individual liberty in order to address the urgent bioethical questions surrounding the use of CRISPR/Cas9 to edit the human genome.

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In this paper, I will present the empirical version of the slippery slope argument (SSA) in the field of genome editing. According to the SSA, if we adopt germline manipulation of embryos we will eventually end up performing or allowing something morally reprehensible, such as a new coercive eugenics. I will investigate the actual possibility of sliding towards eugenics: thus, I will examine enhancement and eugenics both in the classical and liberal versions, through the lens of SSA. In the first part, I will discuss the classical eugenics from a historical perspective and conclude that classical eugenics is morally deplorable; but by currently accepting genome editing I argue that it is not possible to 'slip' into classical eugenics. Then, I will analyze liberal eugenics: I will consider Habermas' and Sandel's objections to liberal eugenics and genetic human enhancement. Subsequently, I will reply to these arguments affirming that, although it is not possible to refuse any form of genetic enhancement, liberal eugenics would not consider the principles of justice, non-maleficence, and non-instrumentalization; hence, it should be considered not morally acceptable. In addition, I will support the thesis according to which the possibility of relapsing into liberal eugenics is more likely than relapsing into classical eugenics. Then, I will present a strategy that, while avoiding falling into the undesirable scenarios related to SSA, still accepts some application of germline genome editing of embryos and gametes. In such a way, I will show that even if we accept the plausibility of a certain slip into an undesirable scenario, SSA does not offer conclusive reasons to forbid any use of germline genome editing technique in both therapeutic and enhancement fields.

Oliver Feeney

The revolutionary potential of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique has created a resurgence in enthusiasm and concern in genetic research perhaps not seen since the mapping of the human genome at the turn of the century. Some such concerns and anxieties revolve around crossing lines between somatic and germline interventions as well as treatment and enhancement applications. Underpinning these concerns, there are familiar concepts of safety, unintended consequences and damage to genetic identity and the creation of designer children through pursuing human enhancement and eugenics. In the policy realm, these morally laden distinctions and anxieties are emerging as the basis for making important and applied measures to respond to the fast-evolving scientific developments. This paper argues that the dominant normative framing for such responses is insufficient for this task. This paper illustrates this insufficiency as arising from a continued reliance on misleading genetic essentialist assumptions that generate groundless speculation and over-reactionary normative responses. This phenomenon is explicit with regard to prospective human (germ line) genetic enhancements. While many normative theorists and state-of-the-art reports continue to gesture toward the influence of environmental and social influences on a person and their traits and capacities, this recognition does not extend to the substance of the arguments themselves which tend to revert to the debunked genetic determinist framework. Given the above, this paper argues that there is a pressing need for a more central role for sociological input into particular aspects of this "enhancement myth" in order to give added weight, detail and substance to these environmental influences and influence from social structures.

Perspectives in Biology and Medicine

Marcy Darnovsky , Katie Hasson

The raging controversy about whether heritable genome editing should be permitted is shaped and structured by the prevailing and countervailing narratives in circulation. In recent years, considerable shortcomings have come to characterize this discourse; it is now time to identify and correct a number of serious misunderstandings and distortions that have taken hold. This essay begins by briefly evaluating reactions to the November 2018 announcement that gene-edited babies had been born; it asserts that widespread agreement about the researcher’s recklessness and dire ethical violations concealed deep fault lines among participants in the heritable genome editing debate. It goes on to consider several key omissions and misrepresentations that distort public understanding and undermine genuine debate. It suggests that the conversation must be refocused away from technical, medical, and scientific considerations toward matters of societal meanings, values, context, and consequences. It concludes with criteria for a broadly inclusive and meaningful decision-making process about whether heritable genome editing has any place in the shared and just future to which we aspire.

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riccardo onofri

Genetics: an overview. CRISPR/Cas9. The Asilomar conference, 1975. Genetic enhancement and ethics. Interview to Marco Crescenzi.

Arthur Caplan

When some scientists hear the word " bioethics, " they break out in intellectual hives. They shouldn't. Good bioethics is about enabling science to move forward. Bioethics pushes scientists to acknowledge that they operate not within a vacuum but within a society in which diverse perspectives and values must be engaged. Bioethicists give voice to those divergent perspectives and provide a framework to facilitate informed and inclusive discussions that spur progress, rather than stall it. The field is needed to advance cutting-edge biomedical research in domains in which the benefits to be had are enormous, such as genome editing, but ethical concerns persist. When some scientists hear the word " bioethics, " they break out in intellectual hives. They shouldn't. Bioethics has done far more good than harm in advancing medical research: creating a framework for responsible research with animals, involving vulnerable and marginalized persons in clinical research, and providing a moral foundation for transplant research. Perhaps the same cannot be said for lawyers, regulators, politicians, or theologians, but they do not represent bioethics. Bioethicists think about the ethical aspects of biomedical research and its consequences. The best bioethics work sparks conversations inside research communities and then moves them into the public sphere. Sometimes bioethics research exposes unethical practices in science and medicine, such as historical abuses of human subjects in the Tuskegee syphilis experiments [1]. Other times, bioethicists think prospectively about the ethics of emerging technologies. Workable solutions to past and current ethical concerns often emerge despite disagreements. Good bioethics is about enabling science to move forward rather than raising simpleminded in-principle objections, vilifying researchers, invoking arguments against playing the divinity, or setting arbitrary limits. The field is needed to advance cutting-edge bio-medical research in domains in which the benefits to be had are enormous, such as genome editing, but ethical concerns persist. For example, the discovery of recombinant DNA (rDNA) in the 1970s ignited discussions around the ethics of eugenics and using the technology to intentionally modify the human genome to create designer babies. The fact that these terms require no clarifying definitions means that bioethicists have largely been successful at promoting public discourse about what it would mean to design humans. We haven't achieved consensus over whether we should

Hans-Jörg Ehni

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Jeffrey Botkin

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