The Trial Of Dedan Kimathi Analysis

Struggle of the Blacks
The Trial depicts the heroic struggle of the African people for Independence. Kimathi was a brave and fearless Mau Mau leader who received western education. He was a guiding light and motivating force to the African masses during the time of Mau Mau revolution. The Trial of Dedan Kimathi was written in three movements that symbolically merges past, present and future. The play opens and ends with the trail of dedan kimathi and ends at his death. The first movement of the play begins with the collective song of peasants and their different views against imperialism – “ We shall win back our land, We shall fight for our freedom. We must redeem our education”. Thus we can clearly see the atmosphere of the play begins with the anger and resentment against the oppressors.

The boy is seen to be hanging around hotels and bakeries looking for tips from the tourists. The boy says “ I have to fight with dogs and cats in rubbish bins , for food and I also remember this bakery which was owned by an Indian who periodically threw a stale bread and we all ran for that one piece” . Then we seen the picture of a girl who left her school because his master has to do wicked things with him. Then she tells about the white who used to harass him thus a clear picture of Africans can be derived out of it. In the first movement we also see the faith of the people in Kimathi because he was hero , a legend for them they say “ he used to talk to God, he could easily change himself into a bird and move