Characters

The short story “They Sold My Sister” by Leteipa Ole Sunkuli features several characters: Naliki (the narrator), Tumuka and Nyamalo (the narrator’s siblings), the narrator’s parents, Ole Sirayo (Nyamalo’s husband) and his parents, and Ole Timau (the man who wants to marry Naliki). However, most of them are more relevant for the social setting, illustrating attitudes towards traditional arranged marriages in the Maasai tribe. The most important character is the narrator, Naliki. Additionally, we will also briefly characterise Nyamalo, the narrator’s sister.

Naliki

Naliki is the narrator of the story and the main character. Her characterisation is conveyed by presenting her perspective on the events, and her actions.

According to her outer characterisation, she is 12 years old at the time of the narration, but most of the events presented in the story took place when she was 10 years old. She has a brother and a sister and belongs to the Maasai tribe.

Inner characterisation

Naliki’s inner characterisation conveys the portrait of a young girl who rejects the arranged marriage system in her tribe. This is why she believes that her parents sold her sister. Her attitude is very critical of her parents and their disregard for her sister’s wishes: “My father's hands quaked as he took the money. My mother smiled. I rubbed my wet eyes. They sold my sister.” (ll. 17-19)

Furthermore, she dislikes her sister’s in-laws, calling them “ugly” (l. 2). Naliki pities her sister’s situation and she feels like Nyamalo has been betrayed by her parents: “She did not know that at home she had been sold to a man she had seen only once, but never talked with.” (ll. 23-25); “My mother also shed a tear. I don't know why mother shed a tear when she had accepted a blanket, drunk beer and smiled when father was given money.” (ll. 60-62)

Naliki comes across as particularly critical of her mother with whom she has a conflicting relationship because her mother is often strict with her: “One day, much later, my mother beat me up thoroughly when I used the word ‘sold’, to refer to my sister's marriage.”(ll. 20-21); “ ‘Nothing!’ She slapped me. I did not cry.” (l. 170)

Naliki is close to her sister and brother. When her sister gets married she has to join Nyamalo during the procession and at her new family’s home. Naliki’s attitude suggests that she suffers because of what happens to her sister and wants to defend her. When Nyamalo’s husband wants to have sexual relations with his wife, Naliki screams together with her sister an...