Matigari ma Njiruungi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 First edition | |
| Author | Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o |
|---|---|
| Language | Kikuyu |
| Publisher | Heinemann – African Writers Series |
Publication date | 1986 |
| Publication place | Kenya |
| Media type | Print Paperback |
| Preceded by | Mother, Sing For Me |
| Followed by | Njamba Nene and the Cruel Chief |
Matigari ma Njiruungi is a 1986 novel by author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o.[1] It directly translates to Remains of Bullets in Kikuyu language.
The story begins with Matigari burying his weapons under a fig tree. After killing his oppressor, Howard Williams, he vows to resolve conflicts peacefully from now on. Before returning home, however, he wants to find his people.
He seems to have been away for a longer time, as he marvels at the changes he sees: people are now driving their own cars, and the city has grown considerably. He decides to start looking for his people at a factory. However, he is appalled when he discovers that some children pay an entrance fee to rummage through the garbage at a dump. One boy fights another for a shoelace, so he intervenes and chases the bully away. The other boy, Muriuki, then leads him to a scrap yard, explaining that the children here use old cars for shelter. When Matigari tries to get to them, they throw stones at him until he becomes unconscious.
A factory worker named Ngaruro comes to Matigari's aid, bringing him to a cooler place where he can recover from his injuries. On the way, Matigari tells Ngaruro the story how he killed Mr. Williams for oppressing and exploiting the people: He wanted to kill Mr. Williams when he was on the telephone, when his servant, Mr. Boy, came in and jumped on his back. Seeing that he would not stand a chance against two people, Matigari escaped with Mr. Williams chasing him. Eventually, however, Matigari was able to kill Williams in the mountains. Hearing the name Williams, Ngaruro mentions that the factory owner goes by the same name and that the name of his deputy is Boy. Matigari thinks this is a coincidence.
Matigari and Ngaruro finally reach a bar, where Matigari is supposed to rest. However, Ngaruro cannot stay with him, as he has to go back to the factory early to be on time for a strike. Matigari orders food and drink but does not eat anything. Instead, he is harassed by a prostitute called Guthera, who is hiding from two policemen. When she sees them heading toward the bar, she tries to escape. However, the policemen catch her and set their dog on her. Matigari intervenes without any fear, telling the policemen to stop threatening innocent people. His courage frightens the two cops, who eventually let go of Guthera.
Back at the bar, Guthera explains that she hates the police for killing her father, who was arrested because he was a patriot fighting for independence. As a way of thanking Matigari for saving her life, she decides to stay with him and help him get home. The group eventually reaches an enormous mansion which Matigari claims is his. They are stopped by two men, who turn out to be the sons of Mr. Williams and Mr. Boy. Robert Williams is a powerful man, who has sold the house to John Boy Junior. They demand to see a title deed from Matigari, proving his ownership of the house. Matigari refuses to cooperate and is arrested when he tries to open the gate.
He finds himself in a dark cell with other inmates, who were arrested for crimes they committed out of desperation, or for "spreading communism." Matigari shares his food with them, which reminds the drunk inmate of the last supper. When he tells them how he got arrested, the inmates are amazed to see this freedom fighter in person, as they have already heard the story of him confronting the police.
Having exchanged their stories, the inmates are released under mysterious circumstances, which leads to Matigari becoming a legend who is compared to an angel and even God himself for being able to escape prison.
People all over the country have been adding more fantastic details to his stories, glorifying him as a saint. When he now roams the country on his quest to find truth and justice, he is constantly sent away because the people do not recognize him. He visits ordinary people until an old woman tells him to go to the students, as they are also searching the truth. As it turns out, however, the student and the teacher are too afraid to help Matigari out. He then decides to go to the church to ask the priest for advice.
The priest, being a puppet of the government, is no help either. Instead, he suggests Matigari attend a meeting later that day and talk to the Minister for Truth and Justice himself. At the meeting, which is observed by representatives from a number of Western countries, the prisoners who escaped with Matigari earlier are presented to the public and convicted by judges and a jury of dignitaries loyal to the government. The only man who is not convicted turns out to be an informer.
The Minister also announces that Mr. William's company has graciously given shares to the great leader and himself, claiming that now the people own part of the company, as the government is their party.
Matigari confronts the Minister for Truth and Justice directly, calling his government unlawful and accusing him of being part of the oppressing force, which exploits their people. The Minister presents Matigari as a madman, before sending him and Ngaruro, who stood up for the workers' rights, to a mental asylum. The people at the assembly, however, start singing songs about revolution, which are quickly banned by the Minister.
After the meeting, the government keeps imposing stricter laws to oppress the people in an effort to eradicate the revolutionary thoughts of the people. At the mental hospital, Matigari decides to dig up his weapons and fight the oppressors with violence, as he has realized that words and reasoning alone do not affect them.
Again, with the help of Guthera and Muriuki, he manages to escape from the mental asylum. He plans to get his weapons and attack Mr. Williams' house to take what is his. On the way to the tree where his guns are buried, the group manages to steal a Mercedes from a couple having sex in the car, which they later find out belongs to the wife of the Minister of Truth and Justice. The news on the radio informs them of Ngaruro's death.
Matigari is not able to get to the tree, however, after the informer has discovered him. Chased by the police, he drives the Mercedes through the front door into Mr. Williams' house. On the way, he sees masses of people waiting for a miracle to happen, as the word of his return has spread. The house eventually explodes, but Matigari is able to escape.
Guthera, Muriuki, and Matigari then try to run away from the police, who are relentlessly chasing them. Just before reaching a river, which Matigari says will lead to their safety, he and Guthera are gunned down. Their bodies fall into the river and are never found, leading to new myths and legends about Matigari having survived. Muriuki, the only one having survived the struggle, eventually reaches the fig tree, digs up Matigari's guns and starts to sing the song of victory.