56 pages 1 hour read

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

Devil on the Cross

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1980

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Chapters 7-9

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 7 Summary

Following Mwĩreri wa Mũkiraaĩ’s speech, the cave breaks out into chaos. The American delegate was first to speak in response, saying that he objects to what Mwĩreri wa Mũkiraaĩ said, and that they came in good faith to establish relationships with the thieves and robbers of Kenya. At the end of his rebuttal, the delegate declares that the foreigners will all leave now due to Mwĩreri wa Mũkiraaĩ, taking their money and gifts with them.

The master of ceremonies takes the stage, begging the foreigners not to leave and telling them that nobody else supports Mwĩreri wa Mũkiraaĩ’s views. He then offers himself and the other guests to be enslaved by the foreigners, so that they’ll stay and continue the competition.

As this occurs, Gatuĩria holds Warĩĩnga’s hand, feeling nervous about what just happened, as well as Wangarĩ and Mũturi returning with the police and the workers respectively. He also worries about the reaction of the people in the cave, as they nearly came to violence before just because Mwĩreri wa Mũkiraaĩ disagreed with their methods. Gatuĩria looks around and begins to perceive monsters in the faces of those in attendance.