Anti-Colonialism and National Liberation MovementsReading Quesitons
If Matigari is not simply a character in this story, who and/or what does he represent? Why do you think people who speak of him as a hero don’t recognize him? Thiong’o seems to believe that there are two kinds of ‘truth and justice’— what are these and how can they be distinguished?

the children woke up the next day, they found Mfirifiki
l ‘ ing in his Mercedes-Benz. They woke him up and crowded
I 7“ him.
M “When did you come back?’
m3] ‘ “A: night.’
I . I] “Tell us. Tell us about the man . . . Tell us about Matigari
Njirfifingi.’
{A . The story of how Matigari had saved Gfithera from the
fill ‘.. police dog had already reached them. They had heard how the
r MN? police had shaken with fear in front of Matigari. The children
1’ filt guilty. It was the same police who for many years had
l ”i ll harassed them. Why did we attack such a good man? they
J; ,3 asked themselves. Where can we find Murifiki so that he can
a. ‘ tell us about that man? That is why they were now pleased to
I l 3. ‘ i see Mfiruiki.
[1.3; y .‘I‘ 3: Muriuki added salt to his story. Their thoughts grew wings:
I. ‘_ Is it true that he was arrested? Is it true that the prison doors
ll ll. ‘ . opened mysteriously? Do you think they will announce it on the
I}! i”; radio?
{1pm}, Ill One of the boys ran to fetch the radio he had found in the
t; . l’ l” garbage yard. The children had agreed that the radio would be
“I“ ll” .’ : communal property, so they could all listen to the news of the
‘3‘; / 1 country and the world. They had paid compensation to the boy
l / who had found it. They took the radio everywhere they went,
We“ Now they gathered around to hear anything, any news,
3 f‘ f: about Matigari ma Njirfiungi.