Matigari

by Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong'o

  ‘He’s one of those with natural wisdom.’

  ‘Hurray! Up with Ngaruro wa Kiriro!' ‘You know when Ngaruro wa Kiriro addressed the meeting yesterday? Everybody’s heart was beating as if they were ready to take up arms there and then. His words were so encouraging that even if one had sat on fire one would not have noticed it: Cast your fears away, for we are not alone! Our patriots are still living. That is what he said to them. He also told them how Matigari had appeared to him, and how he had spoken in parables and proverbs, saying: The products of our labour should go back to us who produce the wealth of this country. He said that imperialists and their overseers should pack their bags, because the owners of the country are back. Ngaruro wa Kiriro asked them: Who arc the owners of the country? And the crowd answered in one voice: We are! We, the workers and peasants! That is when they started burning the effigies of Robert Williams and John Boy! Then came the police and the soldiers. The people were trapped between the police on the one side and the factory walls on the other. The factory was converted into a prison.’

  ‘What else did Ngaruro wa Kiriro say about Matigari ma Njiruungi? What message did he bring from Matigari ma Njiruungi?’

  ‘What greater message do you want? He said that the products of toil should go to those who toil.’

  ‘What Matigari said is nothing but the real truth and justice. How can the tiller go on working for the benefit of those — who — reap — where — they — never — sowed? Yesterday it was the whites. Today they have been joined by some blacks.’

  Matigari walked into the restaurant and sat down. He ordered a cup of tea.

  ‘My friends! Tell me where in this country one can find truth and justice.’

  People raised their heads. Who was this who interrupted the sweet talc about Matigari?

  ‘Who are you, Mr Seeker of Truth and Justice?’

  ‘That is who I am,’ Matigari answered.

  ‘We were just talking about something that might interest you. Let me give you a bit of advice. If you want to hear truth and justice, or just plain truth, go and look for the prophet who has come to our land.’

  ‘Who is he? Where can I find him?’

  ‘He is called Matigari ma Njiruungi. Ngaruro wa Kiriro knows him. Ngaruro was actually with him yesterday.’

  6

  He went to the crossroads. Women returning from the river would put down their cans, pots and barrels so as to exchange stories about Matigari,

  ‘He is actually a tiny, ordinary-looking man.’ ‘Is he old?’

  ‘In appearance, yes.’

  ‘So he is one of those with a small build?’

  ‘Just wail till you hear the whole story! You see, the entire population from the market-place had gathered around the spot. Just to watch the police set a dog on a woman,’

  ‘How long is this police oppression going to go on for? In the past, before the whites brought imperialism here, did we ever have police and soldiers? Never! Were there any prisons? No! Was there as much crime as there is today? No! We used to rule ourselves, didn’t we?’

  ‘Let us first hear the story in full.’

  ‘The girl was screaming with fright. But people just stood as if their very backbones were made of fear. Or as if their veins and arteries had fear flowing in them instead of blood.’

  ‘Fear. Too much fear breeds misery in the land.’

  ‘Those were the same words that Matigari told them.’

  ‘The same tiny man? So he has something to say for himself?’ ‘Did you say tiny? The man is a giant. He could easily touch the sky!’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Yes! A giant who could almost touch the sky above.’

  ‘Tell us more!’

  ‘What can I tell you that you haven’t already heard? When he stood up, the grey of his hair and the wrinkles on his face seemed to disappear. His shadow stretched and stretched on the ground. “Don’t touch her. This is a woman of the land!” he told the police. “Don’t you as much as lay a finger on her.”’ ‘Oh, bless our patriots! Wasn’t he afraid?’

  ‘Why should he fear? Freedom fighters are alien to the word “fear”. Can you imagine!’ He repeated his warnings: ‘Whoever dares touch that woman will know who we really are, we, Matigari Ma Njiruungi!’

  ‘Good God! Who would ever have thought that fear would one day disappear from our land? That a day would come when people would no longer walk with their heads bent in fear? That a day would come when people need not whisper when discussing their lives?’

  ‘Yes, let’s hope for that day! Yesterday we caught a glimpse of it. The dogs and the policeman just dropped their tails between their legs and took off.’

  ‘But didn’t they have guns?’

  ‘Even if you were the one who had a gun, you would have slunk away in a similar fashion. His voice alone was like thunder and his eyes like fire! Smoke was gushing out of his nose, mouth and ears!’

  ‘Such wonders! I wish I had been there to see him and shake his hand, or sing him a song like the one the people of Trampville composed!

  Show me the way to a man

  Whose name is Matigari ma Njiruungi,

  Who stamps his feet to the rhythm of bells.

  And the bullets jingle.

  And the bullets jingle.’

  ‘You mean sing while holding him close to your breasts,’ one of them said slyly.

  They laughed.

  Just then Matigari stopped on the other side of the road and greeted them:

  ‘Our people! Where can one find truth and justice in this country?’

  ‘What? What is he asking now? Let me be off.’

  'Me too.’

  ‘And me.’

  ‘I’ll go now . . .’

  They all picked up their water barrels and went away.

  7

  He wandered across the farmlands .. .

  ‘Is it true that John Boy Junior was so scared that he wet himself?’

  ‘He did worse than that!’

  ‘Really? A rich tyrant like him to actually piss and shit on himself?'

  ‘You would do the same if you found yourself caught in the same situation he was. Walking about showing off with other people’s property! Yes, suppose the owner turns up and asks you: What are you doing with my things? Wouldn’t you piss and shit?’

  ‘Is it true that Robert Williams was also there?' ‘Yes. A servant and his boss are inseparable. Matigari spotted them immediately. They were both on horseback. Clopity-clop, clopity-clop, clopity-clop. As they approached the gates, their horses stopped abruptly. They tried to spur them on, but they just reared, neighing in fright.'

  ‘Like the horse that once saw the angel of the Lord standing on the road?5

  ‘That wasn’t a horse; it was an ass!’

  ‘Arguments later - let’s first listen to the story!’

  ‘Then they saw him standing in the middle of the road, with his hand on his hip. In his other hand, he held a flaming sword.’ ‘Did you hear that! A flaming sword!’

  ‘Then he said to them: You breed of parasites! Give back the keys to these houses and these lands which you took away from the people!’

  ‘Say that again! What did he actually say? That the whole clan of white and black parasites must do what?’

  ‘Give the stolen wealth back to the owners!’

  ‘That is good. Serves the imperialists and their servants right! They have really milked us dry. Yesterday it was the imperialist settlers and their servants. Today it is the same. On the plantations, in the factories, it is stilt the same duo. The imperialist and his servant. When will we, the family of those who toil, come into our own?’

  ‘That is what Matigari ma Njiruungi was saying: Imperialist foreigners and their servants out! This country has its owners.’ ‘He really told them the truth.-

  ‘Absolutely.’

  ‘Oh, yes. The real hidden truth.’

  ‘Yes, I have always said it: Where will these sell-outs go when the freedom fighters return,
roaring like lions to the tune, “Patriots here! Sell-outs against the wall!”?’

  ‘It is really true, that things will not remain the way they are today. For how can the present conditions continue when foreigners, be they from Europe or America, can always get places on which to pitch their tents? Tents in which to hide their military gadgets? Tents in which to store the wealth stolen from us? And when their black overseers are busy taming the entire population with honeyed tongues or silencing them with police boots!’

  ‘You too have spoken another of Matigari’s truths. Because even after they had arrested him, he just said to them: Don’t rejoice just because you have thrown me in this hell. You will see me again after only three days.’

  ‘Tell us more . . . Why can’t this Matigari ma Njiruungi come here to the farmlands? If he came, I would tell him: Keep it up . .

  They saw a man standing by a tea-bush,

  ‘Tell me, my people! Where can one find truth and justice in this country?’

  ‘Who is this asking such difficult questions?’

  ‘Who are you?’

  ‘Just a seeker of truth and justice,’ Matigari answered.

  ‘Go back the way you’ve come and look for a man called Matigari ma Njiruungi. He is the one who now beats the rhythm to the tune, “truth and again truth”. If you find him, ask him this: Since justice is mightier than force, where does its force come from?’

  8

  He went to the law courts. Those awaiting trial were all talking about Matigari.

  ‘Why can’t he come here, loosen these fetters and set me free?’

  ‘Are you sure that that is what really happened?’

  ‘Didn’t you read the papers?’

  ‘These newspaper people never sleep, do they? How did they get to know something that happened only last night?’

  ‘The newspapers say it wasn’t all that late. There was only one policeman on duty, as most of the others had gone to the factory to beat and guard the striking workers. The only other policeman was in the camp, cooking ugali. According to the paper, he swears that he actually locked up the prisoners in one cell, switched off the lights, pocketed the keys and went to his desk. But when he later returned to check the cell, he found it bare. The lock was still intact. It had not been broken at all, or tampered with in any way. Our policeman just fell on the floor, pleading with God in heaven. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am a sinner before thee! I beg you to tell me if it is thy hand which Has set them free, as you once did long ago in the case of Paul and the Capernaum prison!’

  'But this newspaper has omitted a lot of details. People are saying that there was thunder and lightning for about one hour! Everyone thought that it was going to rain, but not even a drop of rain fell. Then, all at once, the thunder and the lightning stopped,’

  ‘So perhaps it was the thunder that loosened the door?’

  ‘But how do you explain the fact that the lock was still intact? And that there was not a single crack in the door? And that all the walls were in place?’

  ‘This is truly amazing. And yet sceptics still don’t believe in miracles! What more proof do they need?’

  ‘You know, some people read about all the miracles done by Moses and they think that all those are just biblical myths.’ ‘Of course miracles happen. The other day I saw a man taking a pigeon out of his hat and a five-shilling note from the nose of a three-year-old — ’

  ‘Stop these pigeon lies! The only thing I’d like to know is, who is Matigari?’

  ‘Don’t you know that the Bible says he shall come back again?’

  ‘Do you mean to say he’s the One prophesied about? The Son of Man?’'

  ‘Why not? Let’s count. Where is the oldest church in the world? In Ethiopia, Africa. When he was a baby, where did he flee to? Egypt, Africa. What has happened before can happen again. If he appeared before me now, I would hold his hand, kneel down before him and tell him: Lord, let us who were left behind now lead the way. I would then sit on his right-hand side and tell him: Look at these white and black parasites. Look! See the Boys and the Williamses coming to you. Please send them away and have them thrown into the everlasting fire you made for the likes of imperialists and their overseers. For you were hungry, but they gave you no food; you were thirsty, and they gave you no water; you were naked, but they clothed you not. You were sick, but they never visited you. And when you were in gaol, they did not visit you. Lord, don’t listen to their prayers! Do you hear their hypocritical questions? They have the audacity to ask: Lord, when saw we thee hungry and thirsty and naked and sick and in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Tell them the truth, Lord. Show them your justice! Answer them: Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these in this court room, ye did it not to me. Send them away, Lord. Hey, you sinners over there! Didn’t you hear what the Lord said to you? Go away, you scum of the earth who are even prepared to sell the sovereignty of your country! Go away!’

  Matigari just arrived, only to find a man speaking and pointing a finger in his direction, ‘Go away!’

  He interrupted their conversation with his greetings:

  ‘Tell me, my people! Where in this country can one find truth and justice?’

  ‘What did you say?’

  ‘I am looking for truth and justice in this country!’

  ‘You realty brought yourself to these courts in search of truth and justice?’

  ‘But is this not where the judges and lawyers are to be found?’ Matigari asked.

  ‘Shall I answer your question with the real truth?’

  ‘Yes. I am looking for no justice other than the justice which has its roots in truth.’

  ‘Let me give you a bit of advice, then. Go get a rope and hang yourself immediately ... For your kind of questions will lead you to the grave . . .’

  He went away, shocked.

  9

  His thoughts weighed down on him. He went to a kiosk across the road and he asked for a cup of black tea. He asked the kiosk keeper, ‘Where can one find truth and justice here?’

  The kiosk keeper looked at him as though he did not understand the question.

  ‘We small traders don’t know or care about such things. If you were asking me where you and I could go and buy a sack of sugar cheaply, so that we could earn a cent or two in profit, I would know how to answer you. As for the rest let me put on the Voice of Truth for you!’

  . . . Space , . . space shuttles . . . United States . . . Soviet Union . . . EEC. , . China . . . Japan , . . nuclear bombs . . , ANC, . . PLO . . . SWAPO . . . Nicaragua ... El Salvador . . . His Excellency Ole Excellence . . , Ole Excellence there . . . Ole Excellence all over . . .

  Those were the news headlines from the Voice of Truth . . . Here is the full news bulletin ... A special announcement. , . The government has announced that the public should be wary of some terrorists who are walking about the country claiming to be Matigari ma Njiruungi. The government has said that all freedom fighters returned from the mountains the day the independence flag was hoisted. We are all freedom fighters. Those spreading such rumours are out to disrupt the peace, like the soldiers who mutinied . . .

  Two university students who appeared in court yesterday on charges of possessing seditious documents were detained without trial after the government entered a non-prosequitur , . .

  Five other students arrested yesterday on charges of illegal demonstration in protest against United States and Western European support of the South African apartheid regime were each given a five-year sentence. They were led away shouting: Victory to the people!

  The students who wanted to form a national union of students have been urged to stop provoking the government. . . There is only one party in the country. Why do the students want another party? His Excellent Ole Excellence said that the students should all be satisfied with one party - the ruling party.

  The minister for Truth and Justice began his tour of rural areas today. He will be visiting the
Anglo-American Leather and Plastic Factory. He will be addressing the directors and the workers. The factory was the scene of a clash between the police and the workers yesterday. The workers who were on strike burnt effigies of the directors. Reports say that if the police had not intervened the workers would have carried out what the police suspected to be deliberate acts of sabotage and arson. Suck actions would have done a lot of harm to the economy.

  Special announcement . . . special announcement . . . Government spokesman has announced that people should not heed the rumours spreading in the country that the Angel Gabriel let some prisoners out of their cell and that one of the prisoners was Jesus Christ. There is no truth whatsoever in these rumours about Jesus or Gabriel returning. The government will not hesitate to clamp down on any religion claiming that Christ has come back. The government will not hesitate to withdraw licences from, matatus1 which allow such rumours to continue. Those are false Christs and false Gabriels. There is no way that Jesus could return without first going to pay a courtesy call on His Excellency Ole Excellence. Members of the public are urged to report anyone claiming to be Jesus or Gabriel to the nearest police station . . .

  10

  The true seeker of truth never loses hope. The true seeker of real justice never tires. A farmer does not stop planting seeds just because of the failure of one crop. Success is born of trying and trying again. Truth must seek justice. Justice must seek the truth. When justice triumphs, truth will reign on earth.

  11

  He travelled on foot. He rode on donkey carts. He got lifts on bicycles. He travelled in matatus, buses and lorries. He travelled by train. He went to all the places where people were likely to gather. And in all the places he asked the one question: How and where can a person girded with a belt of peace find Truth and justice?

  And since their heads were so full of the rumours that had spread over the whole country like wild fire over dry plains, they just stared at him as though they did not understand what it was he was asking. They would turn their attention to the much more exciting tale about Jesus, Gabriel, Matigari ma Njiruungi, about prison doors opening mysteriously, about the escape of the prisoners, such stories . . .