21. Write a letter to a character in
your book.
Dear Nhamo,
I understand that the situation you are in is a rather tricky one. If you do marry that old man, you will be beat to death by either himself, or his wives out of jealousy. If you do not, there is a chance that the villagers will find you and you will be even more miserable than ever.
However, I understand that Grandmother commanded you to carry out a dangerous journey up the river towards Zimbabwe. As you must already know, this river is infested with crocodiles and hippos and the current gets stronger the closer you get to Zimbabwe... but the good news is Grandmother has given you permission to steal your local fisherman's boat. With that, the journey should be a breeze before you cross the border to Zimbabwe. When you get to the border, paddle against the current. It will be tiring, but it will be worth it when you get to Zimbabwe. If you reach Zimbabwe in the evening, you will be delighted to see electric lights. You have never seen electricity before, but you will recognise it when you see it. The lights resemble the bioluminescence of fireflies, only much brighter.
Stay safe and stay away from the river banks... that's where the leopards go to drink.
Samantha
Well done, it was a great piece of writing! I feel like if I wanted to understand the letter completely I would have to read the book, which seems like a great one to read. One question, how come Nhamo needs to go to Zimbabwe? And how come only Grandmother is allowing her to go?
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Tarinee
Nhamo is blamed by the rest of the villagers for practically everything, and when they went to see a muvuki (a person who talks to the living spirits of Africa), the muvuki stated that the reason for the village's bad luck was due to the fact that Nhamo's father was a murderer (Nhamo has never met her father). The muvuki says that the only solution to this problem is to marry Nhamo with her father's brother; an abusive, older man with several wives (who will most likely beat Nhamo to death out of jealousy). However, after consulting with her ill Grandmother, Nhamo discovers that there is another option in which she may have a chance to survive. Nhamo must travel up the river towards Zimbabwe where she can find a group of nuns, whom her Grandmother suspects knew Nhamo's mother.
DeleteGrandmother was the one who persuaded Aunt Chipo (Nhamo's Aunt) to keep Nhamo after her mother was mauled to death and dragged into the forest by a leopard. Grandmother has been Nhamo's only trustworthy family member in her entire life, and is the only person in the village who believes that Nhamo has potential to be someone greater.
I hope that explained it! Thank you for the comment.
Samantha