The Rain and the Night

by Wilton Sankawulo

Kortuma succeeds his father as chief of Fuama, then mobilises forces to attack Golaland, the tradtional enemy of Fuama. The spiritual leader of Fuama, Gayflor, opts to lead the army on this campaign.

Genres: African Literature, Liberia

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Nathaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wilton Sankawulo is another establishment-certified, "folklorist" from West Africa--someone offering a relatively gutless and cliche-dependent, new chief-centered, rural saga that could take place anywhere, were it not for a few culture-specific references.

There is little to separate "The Rain and the Night" from similar novels that seem to be published mostly because they are the first literary texts from small nations which prefer oral tradition. (While I deeply enjoy much of the African Writers Series, I have no idea who published this novel, since my version was photocopied from an uncredited text and poorly bound for sale in Monrovia.)

In "The Rain and the Night" the chiefs, the wives, the enemies, the medicine men, the advisers and the warriors are so purpose-built that they don't really deserve to be called "characters" so much as "representatives." The story is so familiar, the lessons so over-taught, that I'm not sure whether or not it offers an accurate impression of a Liberian village and tribal conflict in the early 20th century. Though it must, at least, clarify the social hierarchy within Bong County, Liberia. Yes, Bong County. Ha.

If my version was accurately transcribed from the original, it is fair to say that the language often deploys bombastic words at inappropriate times in an extremely self-conscious display of learning-in-progress. At least every two pages or so, the awkwardness of the author's phrases are distracting. If you are going to be a folklorist, your sacrificial chickens needn't be "overpowered with lassitude."

[Roland Dweh]

well the book is good judging for what I have heard from friends

[Gergory Cole]

The story was very interesting and I enjoy it.

[JENKINS KAMARA]

about the rain and the night

[Romario Dennis]

Summary of the play

[Darius Blamah]

i want to read and understand the story

[Sylvester S.]

i want to read this book because the is interest and more is story were we learning now.

[Chris Mill]

What was the role played by chief Gbolokai in the rain and the night and the development of the plot

[Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explain why chief kotuma convened a meeting

[Mustapha Kanneh]

Want to read

[Christian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Each action and each character in the book seems to have been created not to tell a story, but to give the author the opportunity to recount in all its minutiae some kind of ceremony or tradition of the people portrayed, as if it were an ethnographic study. The characters are not real or natural, only a means for things to happen and to be told. The plot itself doesn't really exist as such. A lot happens, but nothing that captivates the reader. And the dialogues are just ceremonial formulas repeated ad nauseam.

Cada ação e cada personagem do livro parecem ter sido criados não para contar uma história, mas para dar ao autor a oportunidade de relatar em todas as suas minucias algum tipo de cerimonia ou tradição do povo retratado, como se fosse um estudo etnográfico. As personagens não são reais ou naturais, só um meio para que as coisas aconteçam e possam ser contadas. O enredo em si, tampouco existe como tal. Muita coisa acontece, mas nada que prenda o leitor. E os diálogos são somente fórmulas cerimonias repetidas à exaustão.

[Bryan Stubbles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this book is worth a read. It chronicles the life of a newly-anointed chief and his day-to-day struggles from relationships to declaring war on the Gola.

I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in Liberia or what being a chief is like. It is a welcome departure from the Americo-Liberian focus of much media. It is also a reminder of just how removed/different the lives of the indigenous Liberians were from the Settler society.

One thing holding the book back is the dense prose. While, not on a Balzac level of density, it can be slow-flowing.

[KillDevilHill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Un libro lento e noioso, con una storia poco interessante e totalmente senza idee che punta solo sull'ambientazione. L'impressione generale è che l'autore o sia un inesperto, ama volentereso, cantore del proprio villaggio o che sia un furbo venditore di amteriale esotico per l'occidente. In ogni caso scritutra comprensibile in lingua originale.

[Montgomery Kanneh]

It was great

[Noah Sherif · Rating 1 out of 5]

To read it.