Looking for a Rain God – by Bassie Head

Read Time:8 Minute, 43 Second

Setting (the place)

The story is in rural Botswana, Africa, where the people basically farm off the vast bush land. The year is 1958..

Characters

1. Mokgobja – Mokgobja is a hardworking farmer of 70 years old. He believes in tradition. He is the head of the family and a decision-maker.

2. Ramadi – Ramadi is Mokgobja’s dutiful son. He is also a farmer, and supporter of his family.

3. Tiro and Nesta -Tiro is Ramadi’s wife and Nesta is Tiro’s sister. They are hardworking women and good home-makers.

4. Neo and Boseyong – They are two daughter of Ramadi and Tiro. They are innocent and cheerful.

Summary

Bassie Head (6 July 1937 17 April 1986) is a South African writer. She wrote novels, short fiction and autobiographical works that are filled with spiritual questioning and reflection. ” Looking for a Rain God” is taken from “A Collection of Treasury and Other Botswana Village Tales”. It is based on a shocking local newspaper report that presents the painful power of ancient tribal rituals and their conflict with contemporary symbols of bahaviour in African life.

Looking for a Rain God” is about an African family’s desperate struggle against a drought that results tragic outcome. An African village was troubled by a 7-year drought. The villagers, who were mainly farmers, suffered from starvation as they were dependent on the rain to grow their crop. A number of men just went out of their homes and hung themselves to death from trees. The rain finally came in early November. But it wasn’t downpour (heavy rainfall). It was thin and misty rain. Many families rush out to the lands to resume farming.

Mokgobja and his family also piled everything onto donkey cart and went to land, Ramadi and two women cleared the land of thorn bush and hedged (make fence) their vast ploughing area with the same thorn bush to protect the crops from the goats they had brought for milk. Ramadi inspanned (attach oxen in yoke) two oxen to plough the earth. The land was ready for the crops. They were the first to clear and plough their land. But their hopes are crashed when the rain only lasts for 2 weeks. It was impossible to plant the corn, maize, pumpkin and watermelon seeds in the dry earth. The whole family just sat the whole day in the shadow of huts being very sad. Only the children, Neo and Boseyong were quite happy in their little-girl world. Mokgobja remembered an ancient rain-making ceremony which involved the ritual sacrifice of young children to satisfy Rain God. Mokgobja and his son Ramadi, sacrificed Ramadi’s two young daughters. Unfortunately, the rain did not come. There was the devouring heat of the sun by day.

Eventually, Mokgobja and his family packed their blankets and pots and returned to the village, filled with despair and fear. Soon the villagers noted the absence of two little girls and became suspicious about the missing of the children. The family said that two little girls died at the lands and were buried there. But the people noted their terror -stricken faces. The villagers were amazed that how the two deaths could occur at the same time. Soon the police came and the family told them the same story of death and burial at the lands. So, the police asked to see the graves. Tiro, the two children’s mother, broke down and told everything. Finally, Mokgobja and his son were sentenced to death.

Questions

1. Why is it significant that the events in this brief story actually occurred over a period of seven years? What are the progressive effects of the drought over this period.

Ans: “Looking for a Rain God” is a story written by Bassic Head. She wants to show the problems aroused by the ancient tribal rituals. The writer has shown the event of sacrifice of two girls. There is very close relationship between the event and drought. Progressive effects of drought help the readers to predict the tragic event that happened later. As the morning shows the day, the drought shows the tragic event to be happened in the future. The writer starts her story showing the effects of drought on the people. An African village is troubled by a 7-year drought. The villagers, who are mainly farmers, suffer from starvation as they are dependent on the rain to grow their crop. A number of men just went out of their homes and hung themselves to death from trees. The rain finally comes in early November. But their hopes are crashed when the rain only lasts for 2 weeks. Mokgobja and his son Ramadi, sacrificed Ramadi’s two young daughters to satisfy Rain God. Unfortunately, the rain did not come. These all events lead the story towards tragic.

In this way, the writer begins her story with the effects of drought. to link the drought with an event of sacrifice of two girls. Starvation, and suicide of people hanging on the trees are the progressive effects of the drought over this period.

2. Why is starvation predicted for the coming years?

Ans: The story is in rural Botswana, Africa, where the people basically farm off the vast bush land. The year is 1958. An African village is troubled by a 7-year drought. The villagers, who are mainly farmers, suffer from starvation as they are dependent on the rain to grow their crop. A number of men just go out of their homes and hung themselves to death from trees. The rain finally comes in early November. But it isn’t downpour (heavy rainfall). It is thin and misty rain. Many families rush out to the lands to resume farming. Mokgobja and his family also rush out to the lands to resume farming. But the rain only lasts for 2 weeks. It is impossible to plant the corn, maize, pumpkin and watermelon seeds in the dry earth. The whole family just sits the whole day in the shadow of huts being very sad. So starvation is predicted for the coming years.

3. To what extent does “Looking for a Rain God” give insight into situations that are so extreme that the normal conceptions of what is right or wrong give way to the question of survival ?

Ans: In order to survive, people can follow the religion, worship to god but it is wrong to make human sacrifice. They can follow their ritual but while following the ritual, they should not violate the law. Neo and Boseyong do nothing wrong throughout the story. In reality, there is no justification for their death. All they are doing is playing with their dolls. It is other people’s desperation that results in both Neo and Boseyong being killed to please the rain god. Mokgobja fuelled by the beliefs of his childhood feels as though he is doing the honourable thing to please the rain god. It is as though Mokgobja believes that everything will be alright once the rain begins to fall. Yet, it is also interesting when the rain refuses to fall but Mokgobja does not blame the rain god. In fact, he appears to accept that there will no rain with or without a sacrifice. It is as though the sacrifice of Neo and Boseyong has been pointless. Though some readers will find it hard to sympathize with Mokgobja. It might be important to remember that he acted as he thought was best under the circumstances. Truly, it is wrong to sacrifice a child (or anybody else) to a God that may or may not exist but so engrained in Mokgobja’s mind was the goodness of the rain god that he believed that his actions were for the greater good. It is only when he returns to the village and people start to become suspicious that the truth comes out and Mokgobja faces law. A family has been torn apart and Mokgobja will lose his life for the crimes that he committed.

4. To what extent does this story give insight into the lives of people who live in colonized nations where Western values are superimposed on tribal customs and beliefs?

Ans: In the story, colonized man, Mokgobja and his tribes are imposed and superimposed western values, custom and tradition. In Mokgobja’s eyes, he is simply using Neo and Boseyong for the greater god. So, his family may survive from the drought and crops might grow. Such practices may make obligation to ask some readers to question on the value of life in the village. It also doesn’t help Mokgobja. When he returns to the village, other villagers are suspicious of him because they do not see Neo and Boseyong.

As to whether Mokogobja is driven by shame or guilt is not easy to say. However, he is to face justice for his actions. This could be significant as Head may be highlighting how incompatible colonial law is with traditional ways. Though it is also interesting that Mokgobja does not plead his case. It is as though the reality of what he has done has set in and he knows that his actions have been inappropriate. Not only has Mokgobja been beaten by the land but he has also been beaten by his mind. Whereas the women who initiated the killing of Neo and Boseyong do not appear to have faced any form of punishment.

5. Do you think the ritual sacrifice is similar to putting faith in charlatans, sorcerers, and witch doctors?

Ans: In some of the causes, the ritual sacrifice is similar to putting faith in charlatans, sorcerers and witch doctors because in the name of making God happy, they encourage innocent people to follow the ritual sacrifice. All of them are similar because they are based on superstition. On the other hand, all charlatans, sorcerers and witch doctor may not enforce the ritual murder to make the god happy. They just may say that they are the representative of gods. so if they follow their instruction, they may get rid of the problem. In the story too, they have given herbs to rob the land so that the rain might fall. In fact, ritual sacrifice is illegal. Human should have strong bond and ties each other. In ritual sacrifice, they love to kill family members for their benefit. In the story too, elder family members in the name of surviving on the earth, they murder their innocent baby girls.