The River Between

The land, often referred to as “the hills,” stands as a recurring image and motif throughout the text. It is an integral component of Gikuyu identity, for the people’s authentic connection to the land actualizes them and allows them to become their true selves. Throughout the novel, the looming presence of Christianity in the nearby town of Siriana threatens this relationship to the land. From this perspective, Christianity thus endangers the Gikuyu people’s authentic selves. This sentiment becomes clear in Muthoni’s passionate conviction to be circumcised, for she believes that adhering to this cultural practice will connect her to the land and make her real. The land is also important in a more literal sense, for the villages’ physical locations mirror the intimate yet contentious relationship between their respective peoples, highlighting the complex bond between geography and humanity and hinting at the motif of predestination. Ngugi suggests that geography, or God’s creation, has already written the narrative of Gikuyu, for the people of Kameno and Makuyu only need to listen to the land and heed what they hear. 

The spiritual malaise of the people is also reflected in Ngugi’s pointed