BETRAYAL OF THE CITY (By Francis IMbuga)
Betrayal in the city, is the play written by Francis Imbuga (1947 – 2012).
He was a Kenyan playwright and literature scholar. He did B.A. in
Literature in the University of Nairobi and later got a Ph.D. from the
University of Lowa in USA. Imbuga taught literature at Kenyatta
University. His play, Betrayal in the City is a masterpiece in the study of
literature in schools in Kenya.
of Faho (1972), The Married Bachelor (1973), Betrayal in the City (1976), Games
of Silence (1977), The Successor (1979), Man of Kafira (1984), Aminata (1988),
The Burning of the Rags (1989), Shrine of Tears (1992), Miracle of Remera
(2004), The Green Cross Of Kafira (2013).
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| Francis Imbuga |
national entry to the second world Black and African Festival of Art and
Culture in Lagos, Nigeria in 1977. It is a play within a play we have the play
where Jusper is the main character and it is this main character who composed a
play to entertain the visitor which makes creatively ending of the first play.
Due to this we can say. IMbuga’s play is very unique as he composes two plays
in one .It is the second play which gives the title of the main play which is
“Betrayal in the City”.
the City is a tragic comedy
play as it has elements of both plays (tragedy and comedy). It is a tragedy as
it appeals to sadness where we see many people suffer in jail and some of the
killing in the play, eg Adika, Chagga, Mulili, Kabito. It is a comedy because
there are some areas that appeals laughter. For instance in page 36 where
Jusper says” shit! God what crap Is your toilet repaired”, Also in page 47 he
says”…you need a little grey and perhaps a blue here and there” again in Page
49. Tumbo tell Jusper” Jusper tell your cousin that life is not a straight line”
Jusper tells his cousin………” Jusper tell your cousin that we are here for a
season”. Also Mulili language (poor grammar) “so I wakes up. I go to my cousin
to explanation him “Page 54”I objection Mr. Chairman! Children should
must………”page 55” That one, he be a green grass in snake page 59”.
play examine problems that encounter most of African Independent countries. As
we seen from the play francis Mbuga shows how African leaders treat the
citizens. We see in Kafira no one is not allowed to shout against evils. We see
people like Adika and Kabito who were killed in cold blood. Moses and Jere were
jailed because they stand for the truth.
inherited government system in Africa Francis cuts a clear distinction between
leaders and mass. The play opens by showing the
life of Nina and Doga who mourn for their lost child,who was killed on an
organized demonstration, which was focused on Africa dictatorship and
corruption.
Plot is built up by the author by adding more character who represent different
situations on different circumstances. For instance we see Mulili an illeterate
soldier who was employed and given high post because the president (Boss )is
his cousin. On the same scene we see Jere who is faithfull soldier and he adores
African style of life. Him and Mulili fall into fight since they take different
causes of reasoning, Here Mullli representing the ruling class and it is common
habits of bulldozing the society.
Again country is proven rotten and how harmful speaking the truth.
We see how those dare to open their mouths and reveal of truth face
difficulties,sometimes are being imprisoned if not sillenced. For example
Jusper, Jere and Mosses also the late Adika.
Title of
the play “Betrayal in the city” is straight forward to what we see in
the play as the general concept is to show the relationship between the system
and the citizens after independence. Leader go against the agreement and the
expectation that people had during the struggle for independence.People are
still suffering from exploitation,Poverty,injustice and many other evils. So
leaders have failed to fulfill what they promised.
Sayings (Proverbs and Idiom)
a cat” Doga tell Nina.
killed Adika Page 3
tells Nina that the ceremony will be conducted no matter what they say page 3
the committee that we better know about the potatoes then we shall talk about
the responsibilities of the committee
name in blood to mean that Kabito has said bad thing against him(Boss).
that means if you are determined number is not a factor.
IDIOMS
” Hot mouth” Page 19 to be tocative. Askari worn Moses
-“In cold blood”Means he died inocently page 24. Moses explains to
why he is jailed just by attending the funeral of his student Adika who was
killed in cold blood.
-“Bend so low “Page 26.Means to be humble and Mosese is not ready for
that ,Moses believes that because he is not guilt he can never bend low as by
doing so is to sale his dignity.
-“Black and white”means to be transparent in Page 47 Jusper says in
Kafira things are not in black and white instead you need a little grey and
perhaps a blue here and there.”
-“Tears in eyes” to cry page 63.This is when Mulili was explaining
about the death of Kabito and says “Boss is with tears in his eyes.”
-“Cut short”Means to stop someone from saying something “Don’t
cut me short,You do the listening I talk”.Askari tells Jere.
Similes
– “You work like the meteorological department “This means that No
public questions into method used and no assurance page 17
– “We have no choice like caged animals,we move but inside the cage .Says
Tumbo in Page 62.This means that though they are in the committee they’ve no
choice they are to do as the instruction of the boss”.
Hyperbole
– For instance Regina says”there is no brand of beer that Jusper hasn’t
tested”Page 41.This is exaggeration of fact because it not true that
Jusper has tested all brand of beer.The idea here is that Jusper drinks too
much.
Symbolism
injustice/torture
Foreshadowing
– When Jusper picks up two sticks and hold them as if they were two
pistols…….squad,attention!Aim…..one,two….in page 66.This was a
prediction of what will happen later,he kills Mulili at the end in the same
way.
– Doga’s curse foreshadow the death of Mulili…..”….May you die the way
Adika died!”page 10.
– Paradox eg:Jere tells Askari “I know .innocence can be an offense
“page 29.
– Has it ever occurred to you that the outside of this cell may well be
the inside of another Page 16.
Soliloquy
Is a speech in a play in which a character who is alone on the stage,Speaks
his/her thoughts it is like monologue
e.g. Observe Jusper speech on page 5-6
also Mosese’s speech on page 30-31
Onomatopoeia
e.g- Tu-tu-tu-tu !this is the sound of the gun given by Jusper in page6.This means
that in Kafira state killing is something common
Generally Language used in the play is standard and understood except the
ungrammatical structure used by Mulili which is made intentionally to show
incompetence of some of the leaders.Mulili is the adviser of the boss while his
English shows that he is uneducated person .This lead to the failure of the
government due to involving people who are not qualified.
not sway away regarding issues for truth
Soldier, Jere’s colleagues then a farmer bods distance cousin
Betrayer
Flamboyant
Not very educated
Self centered
Ego
Mulili’s colleague, comes from a difference culture
Kind heated
Trust worthy
Short- tempered
Religious
Naive
Head of state of Kafira, wasn’t liked by the students mostly
Arrogant
Naive
Dictator
Womanizer
He is Regina brother and was frames with drugs and got arrested.
intellectual ni the sense that he has the ability to reason and understand.
This is a fact because he is a lecturer at the university.
He is silent in the sense that he
rarely speaks or makes noise. This is evident in prison whereby there was
silent up until Askari decides to ask him (page 18) and he repels saying “it
prudent to be silent”.
philosopher / thinker regarding to the way he speaks e.g. Page 28 where he
talks of memories, the post and the future.
Caring in the sense that he was
concerned about his sister Regina, he was not ready to let her face the
Boss knowing what man he was and what might happen to her.
Patriotic due to the fact
that he plays part in the play which was based on advocating for change
and stopping the worse that could probably happen in Kafira.
concerned about someone or something, Nina cared much about his son, and mostly
evident towards Jusper as the only son left.
who is greatly concerned with religion Nina proves to be religious when she
decides to put the day in God’s hands and saying a prayer (page 8).
very concerned with tradition Nina and Doga her husband were to have a ceremony
for their dead son Adika (shaving ceremony)
Courageous – showing that you are
not afraid when you do something that might be dangerous or difficult. Nina has
his trait in the sense that the way she was able to confront Mulili and
Jere who wanted to stop the ceremony was with courage and without fear
regarding what who said and their response (page 9).
feeling of guilty or compassion
shown by Nina in (page 12) whereby she feels guilty having to send her son to
address something which she didn’t know therefore ever thought would bring
trouble but rather it does.
father
of what is saying.
(pg 4).he practises the shaving ceremony for Adika.
Bible and tells him that may God open his eyes to the suffering of his people.
his wife Nina
Looks down upon women whereby he tends to crash most of his wife thoughts and
also (pg 3) he speaks of women they think the beds upon which they wide for the
night.
and Jusper she gave Jusper advice despite his stubbornness and wanted to help Mosese
get out of prison through seeing the Boss to help Mosese get out of prison
through seeing the Boss.
when Tumbo brought the idea of having Jusper win play write competition
immediately so as to get extra cash.
go see Boss.
address matters without fear and also had the courage to face Boss for the sake
of his brother Mosese.
give advice to Jusper regardless his stubbornness.
entertainment committee corrupt – his corrupt due to his unfair or dishonesty
of conducting the play write competition.
heart because he brought drinks for Regina and Jusper and also connected Regina
with boss.
afraid of Boss, has no courage
Misuses play write by making short cuts also in page 42
asking for a three hour break as the meeting begins.
know the size of the potato (money) that he will be getting from the committee
he insists on been played per hour.
Mosese by framing him with drugs on page 52 he speaks of what a tragedy it
would be to him if mosese is pardoned after the visit of the head of state.
– Self centered
Does not like the fact prisoners are been
treated nicely, now that they are going to act a play.
– Coward
afraid of the boss and knows what is due to happen.
11.
Kabito
the visiting committee.
– Considerate
Whatever decisions brought forward, Kabito
tends to consider the possible impact of them (page 55) the school children.
– Coward – He is afraid of the boss (pg.52)
– Corrupt he practiced corruption by giving people cash and being nice so as to
get a tender which he didn’t get.
– Greedy – he is interested to know the amount of money he will be getting as
payment in the committee before it even begins.
– Educated – this is due to the way he gave ideas which proved at some point that
the was intellectual.
1. Jusper Wendo
– Patriotic because he advocated for change
being one of the students in Kafira university he also played port in the
protest that ended up with the death of Adika (one who loves his
country).
– Brave and courageous due to the fact that the was not afraid to speak truth
regarding matters of Kafira and he did not sway away from that.
– Stubborn, this is seen through the conversation between him and his mother
(page 6) and also with Regina his girlfriend who seems to be advising him and
convincing him to change (scene 3) page 32 (determined not to change)
– Creative because he could come up with a play for the visiting of the
head of state
– Philosophical – He is a philosophy student at Kafira University. In page 33 he
claim it himself that he is a philosophy student and also it can be
proved by the way he speaks.
– Vocal in a sense that he expresses his
ideas loudly (evident in normal conversations with others)
2. Mulili
He is an ex
– soldier who is now a farmer. He is Jere colleague and Boss distance causing
– Betrayer because he betrayed Jere, his colleague who trusted him (evident in pg
14 were Jere reminds him that he had not told on him regarding a man called
Mustafa who escaped.
–
Flamboyant – one who misreads others
Not very educated this is evident on the
way he speaks e.g. 11 what have happen? And many more in his conversations.
– Ego – the act of thinking that you are right and if gets you way
you seal with him or her. Mulili has e.g., this is evident on the way he dealt
with Kabito who seemed to get on his way. He ended up three
– Self centered – to think about you and not about other people.
Mulili though much of himself, regarding his action of betrayal having ego.
3. Jere
colleague comes from different culture
– Trust worthy – one that you can trust. Jere is trust worthy because he could
keep a secret (about Mustafa) and never told, unlike mulili.
– Religions – to be connected with religion (having strong belief) Jere shows
that he is religious, as he claims to read the bible (the New Testament) and
taught religious knowledge for three years before he went to the army.
– Short tempered – to be easily annoyed
Jere prises to be short tempered (page 15)
considering his conservation with Mulili after having a misunderstanding he
reaches a point of aiming a pistol at him
– Naive – to be easily convinced
Jere is naive in the sense that he was
easily coned by Mulili on the matter of Mustafa
– Patriotic is one who loves his country and Jere being one of them proves it by.
– Kind –Hearted because of his intentions of do good Jere (page 13) feels the
need to allow the ceremony to go on
4. Boss
state of Kafira and wasn’t like so much mostly by the students of the
university
– Boss was
naive because he was easily convinced by Mulili through false information that
led to the death of Kabito.
– Also he was a dictator, one who
rules with force, He wanted everything his way caring less what others think,
that why people did not like him.
– Arrogant that is one who thinks he
is better or more important than others (pg 60) after
finding out that had gone against him, he deals with
him.
–
Womanizer is also a trait for Bods whereby despite of being married to Mercedes
he also wanted Regina.
5. Mosese
Lecturer at Kafira University (philosophy)
He is Regina brother and was frames with drugs and got arrested.
Mosese is intellectual ni the
sense that he has the ability to reason and understand. This is a fact because
he is a lecturer at the university.
He is silent in the sense that he rarely
speaks or makes noise. This is evident in prison whereby there was silent up
until Askari decides to ask him (page 18) and he repels saying “it prudent to
be silent”.
Moses is a philosopher / thinker
regarding to the way he speaks e.g. Page 28 where he talks of memories,
the post and the future.
Caring in the sense that he was
concerned about his sister Regina, he was not ready to let her face the
Boss knowing what man he was and what might happen to her.
Patriotic due to the fact that he plays
part in the play which was based on advocating for change and stopping the
worse that could probably happen in Kafira.
6. Nina
Doga’s wife and Jusper and Adika’s mother
Caring – being concerned about someone
or something, Nina cared much about his son, and mostly evident towards Jusper
as the only son left.
Religious – one who is greatly concerned
with religion Nina proves to be religious when she decides to put the day in
God’s hands and saying a prayer (page 8).
Traditionalist – very concerned
with tradition Nina and Doga her husband were to have a ceremony for their dead
son Adika (shaving ceremony)
Courageous – showing that you are not
afraid when you do something that might be dangerous or difficult. Nina has his
trait in the sense that the way she was able to confront Mulili and Jere
who wanted to stop the ceremony was with courage and without fear regarding
what who said and their response (page 9).
Remorseful – a feeling of guilty
or compassion
shown by Nina in (page 12) whereby she feels guilty having to send her son to
address something which she didn’t know therefore ever thought would bring
trouble but rather it does.
7. Doga
father
– Courageous
also in the way he addressed issues without fear of the consequences of what is
saying.
Traditionalist in the sense that he is
so attached to it and seems to know much (pg 4).he practises the shaving ceremony
for Adika.
Religions, his also concerned with
religion (page 12) he offers Jere a pocket Bible and tells him that may God
open his eyes to the suffering of his people.
Vocal as in he expresses his ideas
loudly, the way he speaks with Jusper, his wife Nina
Egocentric also describes Doga in
the sense that he thinks he is always right.
Looks down upon women whereby he
tends to crash most of his wife thoughts and also (pg 3) he speaks of women
they think the beds upon which they wide for the night.
8. Regina
Mosese sister and Jusper’s
girlfriend
– Caring
and Jusper she gave Jusper advice despite his stubbornness and wanted to help
Mosese get out of prison through seeing the Boss to help Mosese get out of
prison through seeing the Boss.
– Truthful
when Tumbo brought the idea of having Jusper win play write competition
immediately so as to get extra cash.
– Naive
go see Boss.
– Courageous
address matters without fear and also had the courage to face Boss for the sake
of his brother Mosese.
– Wise
She is wise because she could
give advice to Jusper regardless his stubbornness.
9. Tumbo
entertainment committee corrupt – his corrupt due to his unfair or dishonesty
of conducting the play write competition.
– Kind – Tumbo has a good
heart because he brought drinks for Regina and Jusper and also connected Regina
with boss.
– Coward – Tumbo is
afraid of Boss, has no courage
– Self centered –
Misuses play write by making short cuts also in page 42
10. Nicodemo
committee.
– Lazy
Nicodemo proves to be lazy by asking
for a three hour break as the meeting begins.
– Greedy
know the size of the potato (money) that he will be getting from the committee
he insists on been played per hour.
– Betrayer
Mosese by framing him with drugs on page 52 he speaks of what a tragedy it
would be to him if mosese is pardoned after the visit of the head of state.
– Self centered
Does not like the fact prisoners are been
treated nicely, now that they are going to act a play.
– Coward
afraid of the boss and knows what is due to happen.
11.
Kabito
the visiting committee.
– Considerate
Whatever decisions brought forward, Kabito
tends to consider the possible impact of them (page 55) the school children.
– Coward – He is afraid of the boss (pg.52)
– Corrupt he practiced corruption by giving people cash and being nice so as to
get a tender which he didn’t get.
– Greedy – he is interested to know the amount of money he will be getting as
payment in the committee before it even begins.
– Educated – this is due to the way he gave ideas which proved at some point that
the was intellectual.
THEMES IN BETRAYAL IN THE CITY
Theme
idea in a literary work.
i) Betrayal
– The act of being
disloyal/unfaithful to someone a serious breach of trust
– Nicodemo betrayed Mosese (page 25)
– Nicodemo frames Mosese with drugs
– Mulili betrays Jere by dinning to keep a secret unlike Jere who did not tell
about Mustafa escape.
– Mulili betrayed Kabito who ended up dead.
– Mulili betrayed the boss denning that he is his cousin and that they can kill
him.
– Boss betrayed people of Kafira by putting power into people such as Mulili and
Tumbo.
– The government betrayed the people of Kafira by breaking their trust in
protecting them but yet they end up shooting Adika during the protest.
– Tumbo betrayed the visitor’s entertainment committee and the boss by not practising
a fair play write competition for the money.
– The boss betrayed Mercedes by being a womanizer.
– Jusper betrayed Doga and Nina; he left the grave when he was told to guide it.
ii) Corruption
Misuse of power and
office position for personal use /gain
– Tumbo squandered the money for
the play write.– Mulili let Mustafa escape
using his position.
– To get the milk tender (convinced boss regarding the fact that they
are relative)
– Used his position to do away with people by convincing the boss also
(kabitos death).
– Kabito birded people expecting to get the milk tender but it didn’t work,
Mulili get it instead.
iii) Protest
Is a statement/action that shows disagreement to something
Or, a reaction against unwanted situation.
– University student of Kafira against the government which led to
the death of Adika.
– Nina and Doga against Mulili who wanted the ceremony not to go ahead.
– Kabito against Mulili which led to his death.
– Jusper by killing the sub – chiefs brother.
– Mosese against the system from boss.
– Jere against Mulili.
iv) Conflict
Clash between two
parts which can be ideological.
– Students
of university of Kafira and the government
–
Kabito and Mulili
tender
another
– Nina and boga against Mulili
–
Jere against Mulili
a betrayer
jere aims a pistor at mulili
– Jusper
against sub – chief’s’ brother
Adika
Mercedes
boss after finding out “she become rude”
v) Nepotism
– Giving favour because of a relation either blood, tribe,
schoolmate … mostly they don’t deserve the favour.
– Boss favoured Mulili – they are distant relatives
– Tumbo favoured jusper
Jusper might be able to write a play but he was favoured in
the sense that he did not go through a competition and the fact that Regina was
in relation with him
Mulili favoured Mustafa who escaped
across the border.
vi) Dehumanisation
To
treat a person a person in a way that makes him or her less human (denies
him/her basic rights)
– Student of Kafira university been shoot at as they demonstrate
against the government.
– Doga and Nina are denied there right to mourn for their son and to
conduct the shaving ceremony.
– Kabito was denied the right to live
– Adika was denied the right to live
vii. Patriotism
one’s country
