The Rain Came

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“The Rain Came” by a renowned African writer Grace Ogot, is a story developed on the background of cultural reality of the people called ‘Luo” in Kenya. She has tried to picture out the traditional culture of African people prior the European civilization influenced it. The story enlightens us how traditional people blindly believed in baseless and rootless practices without any judgment of rationality of their activities. Their faith in myths and reverence towards their ancestors who are no more on the earth is greater than their lives. They are ready to sacrifice their beloved ones and to be sacrificed but can not go against the faiths they have been adopting for long. Similarly, the story is attempting to reveal and show the cruel and selfish stain smeared in human heart to grin even in others’ trouble if it benefits them. As story develops we see the Luo people undergoing very heart rendering situation caused by drought for long. Due to no rainfall, death has begun to strike its cruel blows from the animals and birds in the Luo society. And it is crystal clear that the evil eyes of death falls upon their children and ultimately upon themselves. It is Labong’o, the chief of them, upon whom they fully believe to rescue them and give new lives. The chief too, respects it to be his sole duty to find solution at any cost. A very panic and malicious resolution is found after he consults the prophecy i.e. his only daughter, Oganda from his fifth wife among twenty children of his five wives should be sacrificed to the lake monster at the sacred lake. With heavy heart and in tears he conveys his people the way of getting rid of the problem even watching his wife fainted in front of him. But the people, having informed the solution ... ... middle of paper ... ...d. “Of course it was an honour, a great honour, for a woman’s daughter to be chosen to die for the country.” (P 339). They celebrate feast, dance and singing. “In the morning a big feast of many different dishes was prepared for Oganda so that she could pick and choose.” People don’t eat after death,” they say. (P 339). These all are cultural belief. Conclusion To sum up, Ogot has successfully demonstrated traditional culture of Luo community. Before the influence of European civilization, African societies were engulfed in impractical, unscientific, irrational and senseless practices. Innocent people especially innocent women and girls had to be the preys of such practices. Oganda is a representative character who has to throw herself into the merciless claws of such ill-practice. In the same way so many Ogandas have to be the victims time and again in the world.

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