The Mau Mau

Who Were the Mau Mau?

• The Mau Mau was a freedom movement in Kenya that fought against British rule.
• It began in 1947 by targeting "loyalists"—Africans who supported or worked for the British.
• By 1952, the resistance had grown so strong that the British governor declared a State of Emergency and brought in more troops.

The State of Emergency

• Thousands of Kenyans were arrested and sent to detention camps.
• Many villages were placed under military control, forcing people off their land.
• In Chapter 1 of A Grain of Wheat, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o describes how villages woke up to find themselves surrounded by British soldiers, guns, and tanks (Chapter 1).

British Response to the Mau Mau

• The British blamed local political leaders for encouraging rebellion.
• Many leaders, including Jomo Kenyatta, were arrested and sent to hard labour camps for years.

Historical Context in A Grain of Wheat

• Chapter 2 explores the origins of the Mau Mau, linking it to the arrival of British colonisers and missionaries.
• A key quote: "Its origins can, so the people say, be traced to the day the whiteman came to the country, clutching the book of God in both hands." (Chapter 2)

Significance in the Novel

• The Mau Mau movement symbolises Kenya's fight for freedom and the struggles of its people under British rule.
• The novel examines how colonialism and rebellion shaped individual lives.