Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s novel The River Between describes the clash between tradition and change against the backdrop of the British colonization of Kenya in the late 19th century. Many consider the novel to be an analogy for the destruction of traditional African life by European imperialism. Describe some of the ways that Ngugi uses Waiyaki’s story to address the conflicts that arise in societies that are being colonized. How did the African characters react in different ways to the changes brought about by the advent of the white missionaries? Does the novel suggest that a compromise between change and tradition was possible in this period? What was The River Between?

Write a 3-5 page paper (12 point font, double-spaced, regular margins) addressing these questions and issues. I expect the paper to have a clear thesis and argument that is supported by concrete examples from the novel and relates to the historical context we are learning about in lecture and in the textbook. The paper should follow standard essay format (i.e. an introduction with thesis, paragraphs supporting your argument, and a conclusion bringing your argument together). Use MLA citation for the paper.