Rapidlearners: WAEC QUESTIONS ON UNEXPECTED JOY AT DAWN: THE BURIAL OF MASSA

THE BURIAL OF MASSA IN THE NOVEL

The novel has its relation to the theme of adverse effects of failed leadership. The mismanagement of the affairs of government does not only lead to xenophobia but also causes severe economic hardship for the citizens. The character of Massa is identify as Nij Tackie’s wife. She is about 25years, but is already looking like a grandmother. She is terminally ill, but Nij knows no relative of hers. Nii is unable to take her to a proper hospital and on the way to a spiritualist, Massa dies. With Massa dead, and things being difficult, Nii decides to leave for Nigeria in search of his people. Simultaneously, Nii’s sister, Mama Orojo, embarks on a journey to Ghana in search of Nii. Mama arrives in Ghana after Nii has left for Nigeria. Arriving in Ghana, Mama is introduced to Joe, the Daga boss, by a policeman. Joe and Mama do business and fall in love. Mama stumbles on the fact of Massa’s death during her enquiries about her brother, Nii, at Expense Bank.

Mama does not know that Nii has married; neither does she know her sister-in-law. Her sense of decency and fairness urges her to find the body of her brother’s late wife and bury it. She travels (with Joe) to the Koforidua Government Hospital mortuary for the corpse. She carries the corpse to Sampa for burial. Thus, Massa receives a fitting burial from her unknown sister-in-law.

THE EFFECT OF EXPULSION OF ‘ALIENS’ FROM NIGERIA ON NII IN THE NOVEL:

In relation to theme in the novel, events and the actions of the characters are founded on the theme of social dysfunction. Nii is not spared the consequences of these as he arrives in Nigeria at the height of an expulsion order. Nii Tackie’s character is identify as the protagonist. He is a Nigerian born in Ghana. He has Yoruba tribal marks but bears a Ghana name and does not speak Yoruba. His sister lives in Nigeria; their parents are dead. He is an Assistant Manager of a bank in Accra.

There is a military regime in Ghana. Assets and bank accounts have been frozen and the cost of living is high; life is unbearable. Nii's wife is very ill and dies on their way to a healing centre. Nii dumps the body of his dead wife at the mortuary at Koforidua and sets out for Nigeria. Nii joins other travellers like him. He sees Aaron, an entrepreneur denied assistance by Nii’s bank is in the bandwagon. The travellers are harassed by the security forces. Nii is cheated by a cominercia!l motorcyclist. Nii's arrival in Nigeria coincides with an expulsion order. The deadline for aliens to leave is fast approaching. Nii is not recognized as a Nigerian. The fact that he has a sister at Ijase and the tribal marks on his face avail him nothing. No one listens to him and he has to be careful to avoid being arrested by the Immigration official. His new-found love dies and is buried hurriedly and secretly. The deportation order puts Nii at great risk and delays his reunion with his sister.

NII’S ENCOUNTER WITH I-PUT-IT-TO-ME IN THE NOVEL.

The theme of survival under circumstances of constraint is a major one in the novel: The curfew, imposed by soldiers at the helms of affairs, restricts nocturnal movement; yet one needs to get home at the close of the day. When the curfew catches up with both Nii and I-Put-it-to-me, they both use their heads. Nii is the protagonist; his wife, Massa has been bedridden for some time now; he takes care of the sick woman without help. I-Put-it-to-me, also known as Tally O, is a crafty man; a member of a team of illegal miners, the Daga group; one other member is Joe, the man who marries Nii’s sister mama Orojo; he swiles Mama; he dies in the mines. It is curfew time and soldiers and vigilante are abroad. Nii has been visiting Linda, the secretary in his office who, wants an affair with him. Nii leaves Linda and slips through the security of curfew, pretending to be a lunatic, to get home. Nii notices a man sitting on the stump of a tree in front of his door; he passes by and enters the house. He relates his experiences to Massa. The man is I-Put-it-to-me; he is biding his time to beat the curfew. A soldier, ‘an army lance corporal’, enters Nii’s room with I-Put-it-to-me, who is being held for breaking curfew’. I-Put it-to-me insists that he is only looking after his sick sister. Nii is asked to confirm whether ‘you wanted to take your wife to the hospital but for the curfew’. Nii is confused; I-Put-it-to-me takes advantage and lies successfully to safety. Both Nii and I-Put-it-to-me avoid arrest for breaking curfew by ingenuity. Their meeting is ironical; it is this same I-Put-it-to-me who sells a fake gold ring to Nii’s sister on her flight to Ghana. Even though Nii knows nothing at all about the stranger, I-Put-it-to-me knows the details of Nii’s life. Nii and I-Put-it-to-me never meet again as the latter promises.

MAMA OROJO’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HER CHURCH MEMBERS IN AMEN KRISTI:

Mama’s cordial relationship with members of the church belies the theme of dysfunction in governance. The activities of Mama’s church are not interfered with by national politics and she is faithful to her church. Mama Orojo is Sister to Nii. She lives in Nigeria and comes to Ghana searching for her brother, Nii. She is a member of the Amen Kristi Church; occupies a key position in the church. The Amen Kristi is a religious sect at ljase. Mama’s relationship with the church is cordial. She is very close to the pastor, elders and members. That is why she goes to the chairman of the church together with the other elders in the hope that they will be happy when they hear her decision to marry. Mama’ show of empathy on hearing the chairman’s report of the armed robber case in Ijase brings out the best in her. She decries the challenges of the armed robbers. Her reaction of shaking her head reveals her feeling of bewilderment. Mama’s show of approval (nodding) of the chairman after he renders the church’s record of expenditure indicates the special bonding between her and the church. Mama’s act of generosity on which the pastor always relies particularly the financing of the church building which highlights the love between the church and her. Even though there arises opposition to her intended spouse, she does not react negatively though she resists firmly.