Book Analysis: Unanswered Cries by Osman Conteh
Title: Unanswered Cries
Originally published: 2002
Author: Osman Conteh
Original language: English
Setting: Freetown, Capital of Sierra Leone
Publishers: Macmillan Publishers
The Novel is based on the subject of female circumcision. Set in Sierra Leone, the book centers around Olabisi, a 14-year old girl, who faces circumcision. While her father is Creole and opposes the practice, her mother, who is from the Temne tribe, is all for it.
CHARACTERS SUMMARY
1. Olabisi: The
main character (14 aged)
2. Makalaya: Olabisi`s
mother
3. Ade jones: Olabisi`s father
4. Oyah: Competent lawyer.
5. Eddy: Formally Olabisi`s boyfriend
6. Dauda: Village
man who marred
Makalaya
7. Yah passeh: The head of traditional who circumcised girls.
8. Salay and rugiatu the daughter of Yah Passeh
who also circumcised
9. Amadu: He is the hunter
10. Lansana kanu: The judge
11. Salaam sasaya: Makalaya`s lawyer
12. Dr. Asiatu kerom
13. Umu: the daughter of Dr. Asiatu
Kerema.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ONE (Olabisi at Home)
Olabisi is sitting washing the dishes when she hears the sounds of drums and singing. She asks her mother for permission to go and watch what’s happening but her mother refuses. Later on after a long conversation her mother agrees and Olabisi takes a camera with her to take some photos/pictures. Makalay (Olabisi’s Mother) stresses that Alabisi should be circumcised as well in order to earn a respect and become a responsible mother. She wanders how a girl can be circumcised while she doesn’t have a penis. Her mother gives her a sound slap believing that she has started sleeping with boys. She calls her a gborka.
CHAPTER TWO (Olabisi Fights Salay and Rugiatu)
Olabisi, Salay and Rugiatu (Ya Posseh’s daughters) are on the way from the stream to fetch water. She curiously asks Rugiatu whether she is a gborka. She is surprised to see Rugiatu becoming angry and the two fights vigorously and Salay joins in to help her sister.
In the process Rugiatu and Salay fall down and Olabisi starts to tear their pants to see what they have between their legs that were circumcised. Suddenly Salay hits Olabisi with a rock and she falls down unconscious. She later quarrels with her mother on the same issue. Then Ya Posseh arrives with a crowd of armed women demanding Olabisi to be taken to bondo camp to undergo female circumcision for what she did. Ya Posseh threaten to do something bad to Makalay who is pregnant. Olabisi overhears it and prepares to run away. Her Step father –Dauda and Makalay chase her but she manages to push a bucket towards Dauda that sends him down.
CHAPTER THREE (Olabisi in the forest)
Olabisi enters a thick forest and goes through it hoping to find a nearby village. She comes to a fenced hut and begins going around looking for the entrance. As she runs her footstep echoes and she thinks that an invisible creature or Ya Posseh is chasing her. Before she finds the entrance she hears the voices of women and climbs up the tree to hide but she falls down. She climbs up again and watches inside the fence. She realizes that it is a bondo camp.
The women are accompanied by a young girl who is going to be circumcised. She tries to run away but she is overpowered. She gives a loud cry but it goes unanswered. Seeing this, Olabisi decides to climb down only to find herself surrounded by Ya Posseh and her two daughters welcoming her to the bondo camp.
CHAPTER FOUR (Makalay looks for Olabisi)
Makalay dreams of Ya Posseh coming to punish her for disobeying the gods. She decides to search for Olabisi no matter the cost. Dauda comes back complaining for what Olabisi did to him. Makalay leaves the house and disappears into the bush looking for Olabisi. She meets Pa Amadu (a hunter) and promises to give him a goat if he finds Olabisi.
CHAPTER FIVE (Back at the Bondo camp)
Olabisi is still with Ya Posseh and her two daughters who welcome her to the bondo camps. To free herself, Olabisi fights the three of them and manages to overpower them. She then runs away but unfortunately comes to the river. On trying to cross the river she sees a crocodile coming her way and runs back only to find herself in the hands of Amadu- the hunter.
CHAPTER SIX (Olabisi arrives in Freetown)
Ade Jones is in the house with Oyah (his new fiancée). She wonders how she got on Ade’s bed while she had just slept on the sitting room couch. They quarrel over the matter of Ade Jones relationship with Yamide. But Jones insists she’s only an ordinary friend. Oyah determines to leave the house but is stopped at the doorway by Jones’ question”will you marry me?... this year. December’
Suddenly a sound of someone running is heard and Olabisi enters. She narrates what happened and was about to happen to her. She then goes to the bathroom to take a shower with Oyah supervising her. While in the bathroom they hear a violent knock at the door. Makalay comes in demanding to take Olabisi to the bondo camp.
After a long debate with Ade Jones Makalay says Olabisi is not a legitimate daughter of Ade but Abdulraman. He grips her throat and forces her to confess the lie until she renounces her statement. Then Ade says he’s going to take the matter to court.
CHAPTER SEVEN (Olabisi’s case is taken to court)
Both Olabisi and her father feel nervous about appearing in the court. His father helps her to rehearsal the words used in court as taught to her by Oyah. Words like ; ‘objection’, ‘sustained’, ‘overruled’ etc. on the first day of hearing the case bondo women appear in the streets of Freetown in hundreds and thousands singing songs of protest. They carry a banner with words:
“FEMALE CIRCUMCISION! A MOTHER’S DECISION!”
Olabisi, Oyah, Makalay, Salaam Sesay (Makalay’s lawyer) judge Lansana Kanu and other spectators are all in the court. Olabisi becomes the first witness to be called, Oyah cross-examines her, she narrates what happened, and then Mr. Sesay follows.
Olabisi admits her relationship with Edward Cole that they made love at age fourteen. Ade is called as the next witness he asks the court to differ with Mrs Makalay Kamala. Then Mr Sesay asks him a few questions and Ade stands for his decision that Olabisi should not be circumcised. The judge adjoins the court. Eddy appears to comfort Olabisi but she tells him to stay away from her. She kicks him in the shin. Then she runs off.
CHAPTER EIGHT (Obabis takes pregnant tests).
Olabisi is ashamed and asks for forgiveness from his father. Oyah comes in and suggests that Olabisi should see a gynaecologist-(a doctor who treats women). Ade is shocked but Oyah insists that Olabisi must take pregnancy test. On hearing this, her stomach becomes upset and she starts vomiting violently.
On Monday, the case continues. This time Dr. Asiatu Koroma is called as a witness and explains the medical reasons why Olibis should not undergo FGM. She even says her own daughter is soon to die of HIV AIDS acquired during FGM.
CHAPTER NINE (The judgment)
Finally Ya Posseh the Digba sowey is called as a witness on Makalay’s side. She also gives the history of bondo tradition from the days of the ancestors. They nicknamed it mama Africa. She then gives the benefits to girls of going through the bondo ritual. She says it teaches women to be committed in their marriage, preparing women for their role as parents, the bondo initiates are taught the skills needed to successfully manage the household etc. Oyah then steps in to question Ya Posseh. She asks Ya Posseh to justify her claims since there are millions of good mothers who handle all the women responsibilities and they never went through bondo ritual and the fact that some girls die in the process.
Nevertheless, Ya posseh defends her position by saying that death can attack someone at any moment, so it does to bondo women.
The last witness to be called was Makalay. She gives reasons why Olabisi should be circumcised, including helping her to control her sexual desires, be taught how to be a real woman and being beautifully dressed.
Oyah wonders how a college educated woman support such a tradition based on medical ignorance and superstition. She also challenges Makalay on how FGM helped her because she was once a girlfriend to Ade then to Dauda and was already circumcised.
Oyah How old were you when you were mutilated” Makalay “ I was not mutilated. I was circumcised” Oyah “how old were you ?
Makalaya “ten”
Oyah “ when youn become the girl friend of Mr. Adejones, you were already circumcised?
Makalaya “well …. You must remember that was inexperienced at that time . I was a teenager”
Oyah: “ you were circumcised at the age of fourteen and became pregnant at the age of sixteen out of wedlock, like thousands of other circumcised teenager before you.
Circumcised did not help you, did it? Makalaya: “it was a mistake (Adejones)
Oyah: “ what about Dauda Kamara? You abandoned you child Olabisi to Ade jones, so that you could move into Dauda house and live with him did you not?
Makalaya: “he is my husband”
Oyah: ‘at that time he was your boy friend, was he not? Makalaya: He promised to mary me and he did”
Oyah “sex yers after you took up living with him. Circumcision did not help you nto wait until you got married, did it?
Makalaya: “we were engaged
When the questioning session was over, Judge Lansana Kanu concluded that Olabisi Jones shall not be forced against her will or the will of the father to undergo FGM. Olabisi was happy for the decision. Three months later Ade and Oyah were married.
THE TITLE OF THE BOOK
The title of the book refers to the cries or problems of the characters in the story which did not get solutions hence nobody cares. Look at the following evidence:-
i. Makalaya`s cry: Makalay is Olabisi`s mother and she is a traditionalist. She was worned by Yah Posseh, the leader of Bondo women, to bring Olabisi for circumcision otherwise something bad would happen to her. Because of that she convinced Olabisi to be circumcised but Olabisi refused. Olabisi then ran away from home but still Malakaya followed her to town and took the case to court. But her mission failed as Olabisi won the case and her cry wasn`t answered.
ii. The young girl cries: Young girl in the novel is not mentioned by her name but she represents all other girls who become victims of the poor practice of circumcising girls. She falls in the hand of the greedy Bondo women and cries for help not to be circumcised but they held her so tightly and circumcised ger against her consent. Therefore her cries went unanswered.
“Suddenly the bondo women started pounding their drums and the whole camp broke into a song. The shrieks of the girl were drowned. Her cries went unanswered. Her clothes and pants were torn off her body. She fought like a wild cat, kicking and punching and shrieking and scratching. Without any success.”
iii. The cry of the Bando women: This is a group of women who uphold the traditional belief of women circumcision. They wanted Olabisi to be circumcised and went to to extent of filling a case in court. But Olabisi won the case. Hence making their cry unanswered for Olabisi was never circumcised.
iv. Eddy`s cry: Eddy is Olabisi`s boyfriend. He betrays her after revealing that they had sex several times with Olabisi, a secret which Olabisi hid from her mother, father and the court. This annoy Olabisi so much and after she won the case Olabisi walked out of the court with so much joy and denounced their relationship with Eddy even though Eddy tried to persuade her to forgive him.
v. Cry of the whole traditional society: in wanting all their girls to be circumcised including Olabis but their cries are not answered. They claim it up to the court demanding that their cause is right and defend their position but eventually the court judge gives a decision against them. This is to say their cries were not answered.
CHARACTERISATION
1. Olabisi
She’s Ade Jones and Makalay’s daughter. She almost becomes a victim of traditional practices by being forced by her own mother to undergo female genital mutilation. She is engaged in premarital love affairs with Edward Cole. She is a revolutionist who wants to see FGM stopped since it is mostly done against the girls’ will. She is aware of the dangers of FGM and thus protests being circumcised according to bondo tradition. Her experience of living in town make her believe that only boys undergo circumcision so she wanders what in the woman is being circumcised in the process. She advocates for change in the society by tabling a dialogue whether or not FGM is important for girls today.
1. Makalay
This is Olabisi’s mother, an educated woman and a school teacher. Despite her education she supports FGM which she was supposed to condemn with all her might. She represents those people whose education has only helped them to solve their financial problems and never the change in attitude. She forces Olabisi to be circumcised because she fears the bondo spirits. She is initially Ade’s girlfriend then she gets married to Dauda. She believes that FGM helps to reduce sexual appetite to girls and makes them committed to their husbands, but fails to explain why FGM failed to make her committed to Ade but she moved again to Dauda. She is a very strict mother as she treats Olabisi rudely to make her behave well. She doesn’t want changes in the society so not worth being emulated.
3. Ya Posseh
She is Salay and Rugiatu’s mother and girls’ circumciser. She is believed to have powers even to speak with the spirits. She is among the women who perpetuate FGM in the name of ancestral tradition. Like Makalay she also believes that FGM has a way of making girls real women and creating a sense of commitment to their husbands. She does not want changes in the society and thus not worth being emulated.
4. Dr. Asiatu Koroma
She is a medical doctor by profession. She uses her education and position in a positive way educating the people the effects of FGM. She helps the court in reaching the decision of setting Olabisi free from the traditional practices. She is aware of the possible complications that can arise as a result of going through FGM both immediate and long term. She advocates change in the society.
5. Oyah
She is professionally a lawyer and Ade Jones wife. She uses her education positively by defending the rights of women. She stands as an advocate in Olabisi’s case and helps her to come out a winner and Makalay with her Lawyers become losers. She is aware of Ade Jones unfaithfulness in relationship and asks for more commitment unless otherwise they should stop the relationship. She represents women who are revolutionists and in need of change in the society.
6. Ade Jones
This is Olabisi’s father married to Oyah. He also wants changes and doesn’t want her daughter to be circumcised against her will. He is a womanizer as we are told he has five girlfriends apart from Oyah. He also had Makalay with whom they bore Olabis. He has true love for Olabisi and wants her to be happy by protecting her from traditional influence.
7. Salaam Sesay
He is professionally a lawyer. He also represents people who would do anything in the name of money. Although he is educated and certainly knows the harmful effects of FGM, nevertheless, he supports FGM to get money from his clients. He is among the people who are a stumbling block in the way leading to development because to him what is important is money not humanity or dignity even when he knows the effects.
8. Judge Kanu
He is professionally a lawyer who uses his position to grant justice where it is due. He conducts Olabisi’s case and makes a wise decision that Olabisi should not be forced to undergo FGM against her will or the will of the father. He is among the people who fight for the oppressed. He is also after changes.
SETTING
The novel is set in Sierra leone. Although scanning through the themes one can realize that the setting in a more general sense represents African communities where FGM is common.
Moreover, to drive the message home the author has employed (rural) village and urban (town) setting.
The village setting includes the following sub-settings
Home: Olabis always quarrels with her mom at home based on their disagreement on the issue of FGM
Bondo camps: we are also introduced to the practices at the bondo camp and what is going on there.
Forest: we also see a large forest where hunting is taking place. Hunting is typical feature of rural setting.
Additionally, drawing water from the stream sums up the village setting. Urban setting in Freetown is also portrayed with the following sub settings.
Home the urban home is different from the rural one. For example we are told that Olabis went to take a shower in the bathroom. ‘Exactly, Olabis turned on the shower’ pg 45. This is common in town
Court room. We are also introduced to courtroom setting and how the case proceedings take place. Most courts are in town.
Streets in Freetown. Bondo women are seen all over in streets of Freetown.
THEMATIC ANALYSIS
1. FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM)
The whole novel seems to be centred on the debate whether or not female genital mutilation is worth passing over. The novelist uses the main character Olabisi Jones who despite having half knowledge about FGM still determines that she will never undergo FGM. On the other extreme he uses Makalay, educated school teacher as a mock to people whose education has helped them only to solve their financial problems and not to change their mindsets. Despite the fact that Makalay is educated, she supports FGM in fear of the spirits and bondo gods.
Successfully, the author has set up a debate for the matter. He shows that education is needed to help those who support the bondo ritual to view it with another perspective. Through judge Kanu he says;
“I can see that there is an obvious need for dialogue between both groups for a better understanding of each other’s position”
Arguably, female genital mutilation is an outdated tradition that undermines the dignity of women and robes them of their privilege to enjoy marital life. It also carries along with it a lot of complications at child birth, excessive bleeding, psychological torture, infections of diseases and even the catastrophe of death. This is to say FGM should be uprooted with both hands.
2. SUPERSTITION AND IGNORANCE
FGM seems to be carried along in this society simply because the society is wrapped in the vicious cycle of superstition and ignorance. Even educated people like Makalay fear to speak against the practice in fear of the bondo spirits.
Eg in page 85 Makalay says “when a circumcised woman reveals to a gborka the secret of the gods, something terrible will happen to her”
Additionally, complications at child birth are attributed to the disobedience of bondo gods than to FGM.
She continues to say “that is one reason why many women suffer complications during childbirth. They talk too much”
Makalay is believed to be very powerful because she can communicate with the spirits.
Moreover, many people especially women seem to cheer up the practice because they are ignorant of the problems it carries along.
3. AWARENESS
Awareness has been revealed in different scenarios. First Olabisi is aware of the harmful effects of undergoing FGM and her rights of decision making thus she protests to go through the process. Dr. Asiatu and Oyah are also aware of the medical complications and potential dangers that come along with FGM thus they help to prevent Olabisi to undergo FGM.
Ade Jones is aware of her child’s right to decide whether or not she should undergo FGM
4. CONFLICTS
a. Family conflict
i. There is a family conflict between Makalay and Olabisi. This results when Olabisi refuses to be circumcised according to bondo tradition. It increases when Ya Posseh threatens that if Makalay doesn’t take Olabisi to bondo camp something bad will happen to her at childbirth since she is pregnant. She decides to look for Olabisi no matter the cost
ii. Between Makalay and Ade Jones. This results when Makalay wants to take Olabisi by force to undergo FGM. They decide to take the matter to court where it is resolved.
iii. Between Oyah and Ade: This results from infidel behavior of Ade Jones who goes with many woman and has not officially married Oyah. It ends when Ade promises to marry her and they eventually get married
b. Social conflict: There is a conflict between Ya Posseh’s family and Makalay’s family which results when Rugiatu and Sayah fight against Olabisi for asking whether Rugiatu is a gborka. Also from the fact that women want Olabisi to be circumcised but she doesn’t.
c. Cultural conflict: Ever since the coming of whites the issue of cultural conflict has become a common phenomenon. There is a conflict between old culture (traditionalism) and modern culture (modernism). While on one hand people like Makalay, ya Posseh and other bondo women uphold outdated culture like FGM, belief in spirits and bondo gods, on the other hand there are people like Olabisi, Oyah, Ade Jones and Dr. Asiatu who embrace modern culture and see no need to carry on with such superstition.
d. Intrapersonal conflict: There is intrapersonal conflict within Olabisi on different matters.
i. One, because she is forced to undergo female genital mutilation. Two, because her relationship with Eddy is revealed and wanders what her father will do to her. She plans to kill herself. Three, she fears if Makalay wins the case what will happen to her.
ii. Makalay also suffers intrapersonal conflict fearing what Ya Posseh will do to her if she fails to take Olabisi to bondo camps. She even dreams about Ya Posseh.
5. POSITION OF WOMEN IN THE SOCIETY
Women have occupied different positions both good and bad.
i. Women have been portrayed as revolutionists: In this case we see Olabisi, Oyah and Dr. Asiatu standing firm to fight for the freedom of women and rights of the child of decision making.
ii. Women have also been portrayed as child bearers and caretakers: Makalay is the mother of Olabisi who is very strict in ensuring that Olabisi observes good family standards like avoiding boys until she gets married. Also Oyah takes good care of Olabisi as her child although she is not her real biological mother.
iii. Women are used as tools for pleasure by men: Ade, is using Makalay for pleasure after impregnating her he goes to Oyah. We are told he has some more five girlfriends. ”you answered truthfully. For you have had five girlfriends, and you are now living with a woman who is not your wife” pg 62. Olabisi is also used by Eddy for the same reason since they are not yet married.
iv. Women also show a picture of ignorant and foolish people: They should have been the ones to oppose FGM but surprisingly enough they are the ones supporting it. They are also ignorant of the dangers brought by FGM but they think only of the benefits ignoring the harmful outcomes.
v. Women are portrayed as cruel people who perpetuate a cruel custom: If we consider how FGM takes place, we wouldn’t imagine a woman standing in court to defend it. Oyah asks Makalay “Mrs Kamara, do you not find it surprising to see a college-educated woman supporting and defending cruelty to a child…”
vi. Women are portrayed as superstitious: The whole process is carried out on the basis of superstitious grounds. The belief in bondo gods and spirits. For example Makalay says “when a circumcised woman reveals to a gborka the secrets of the gods, something terrible will happen to her.” Pg 85
6. CORRUPTION
Although it takes only a small part but that isn’t a reason to ignore discussing it. There have been cases of corruption in the novel. Amadu -The hunter is given a task by Makalay to look for Olabisi in which case he would be give a goat if he succeeded to find her. Unfortunately, she finds her and receives some money from her and helps her escape. This shows how our society fails to reach some intended goals because of individualistic tendencies of few members of the society who use every opportunity coming their way for private gain. Olabisi says:
“I ran back and… and bumped into this man, a hunter. He said if I gave him enough money to buy two goats instead of one, he would show me the way out of the forest instead of taking me back to my mother”
7. INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION
Meaningful education is that which helps to build a person by helping him/her to change
the society by changing the way he/she thinks. When education fails to change a person’s mindset and the way he/she looks at things that education was but a waste of time. In the book both scenarios have been manifested.
Makalay and Salaam Sesay represent a group of educated Africans who for them education is just a means to earn salaries and manage the family budget. She still upholds the harmful traditions despite the fact that she learnt in school how harmful FGM is. On the other hand there are people like Asiatu and Oyah have used their professionalism to bring about changes in the society by condemning what is bad. Without fail they joined hands and fought for Olabisi until they snatched her from the bondo ritual. This is the positive effect of education.
8. HUMILIATION AND OPPRESSION
There are many cases that show humiliation to women in this novel. But generally the act of forcing young girls to be circumcised against their will is itself humiliation. Most girls are taken to bondo camps at the age when they are unable to defend themselves. Olabis narrates how she saw a girl trying to escape for her safety but was overpowered by older women who held her screaming but her cries went unanswered.
Also Olabis is humiliated by her mother for examining her secret parts when she is unconscious and discovers that she has lost her virginity.
The author says “Olabisi flushed with shame. She felt invaded, assaulted, raped! By her own mother. How could you do this to me, Mama?
MESSAGE
There is actually a lot to learn from the novel.
i. Female Genital Mutilation is very dangerous because it places the life of young girls at risk.
ii. Parents should respect children’s right and not simply press their wills on their children even when they affect the children.
iii. Some of our traditions like FGM are outdated so they should be discarded.
iv. Not every educated person is necessarily civilized.
RELEVANCE
The novel is relevant in a number of ways;
i. FGM is still a common practice among most African societies. It is practiced in rural communities by ignorant masses ignoring all the consequences that come along with FGM.
ii. There are educated people who support outdated customs like FGM, Superstition etc as did Makalay.
iii. Most girls are forced by their parents to undergo FGM and when they stand against such practices nobody listens to them. Their cries go unanswered. This is common among the Kuryans of Northern Tanzania.
iv. Corruption, ignorance and believing in superstition are also common phenomena in our country and Africa in general.
v. We also have girls who are now aware of the effects of FGM as a result they are now protesting to undergo
