Minor Themes
Apart from the major themes treated above, there are other minor themes that also enrich the plot of the novel. These include festivities, migration, and time.
- Festivities and traditional cele6
Festivities are presented as an important aspect of the social life of the people. The villagers feast on different occasions, including funerals and traditional ceremonies. It is even surprising that the villagers feast at Méchane’s burial as though they were attending a joyful ceremony, with people eating, drinking and dancing. The narrator observes:
“The doors were thrown open. As the people wined and dined, they sang the praises of Méchane…”
This feast attracts many people to the Ahieg and Ngandu, which are ceremonies performed three days after a burial. Through these festivities, the author gives insight into the traditional customs and communal life of the people.
- Migration
Migration is another minor theme explored in the novel. Several characters move from one village to another for different reasons. For instance, Emade and Ahone move to Muabag to cater for Mechane – their sick sister. After Emade returns to Atieg, Ahone later comes to join her for the ceremony to appease the serpent after Ntube’s fall at The Brook- of- serpent. Similarly, Wobe and Mr Okorie come from Tombel to bury their mother and mother-in-law respectively.
The most significant movement is seen in Emade’s journey, as she spends more than three years moving from one village to another in search of a true soothsayer. These movements contribute to the development of the plot and expose the characters to different communities and experiences.
- Time
Time is also handled in a subtle but significant way in the novel. The passage of time allows certain conflicts and situations to change or eventually be resolved. This can be seen when Emade cautions Ahone not to worry about her when the women of Atieg decide to ostracise her. She reminds Ahone that she had previously been in conflict with the men because she lived at the entrance of the village. However, with time, the men eventually stopped troubling her and left her alone.
Through this example, the author suggests that time can bring change and can gradually ease conflicts and tensions within a community.