Looking for a Rain God [Story] by Bessie Head Summary

Summary of Looking for a Rain God

Looking for a Rain God has many themes like people’s struggle against nature, hope in life and human survival instinct. The central character Mokgobja does everything to survive his family. His intention is pure and natural. He has hope that he will fight against natural disasters like drought by hook or crook. He is ready to sacrifice his son’s daughters to make rain. So, the story presents the theme of human survival instinct. In the same way, the story also presents the struggle of rural farmers who still do traditional farming to survive.

Looking for a Rain God [Story] by Bessie Head Summary

- Bessie Head

Main Summary of The Story

The summary of the story 'Looking for a Rain God' is about an African villagers' miserable life without rain and the criminal outcomes of their frustration. An  African village that had all kinds of happiness changed into a desert due to seven years of drought from 1958. Several men hung themselves at the beginning of the seventh year of drought. The majority of the people had lived without crops. Only the charlatans, incanters, and witch doctors were able to make money.

That year in November little rain fell and soften the earth. All villagers went to plough their fields. Mokgobja's family also went to plough their field. Mokgobja had a son, Ramadi, Ramadi's wife Tiro her unmarried sister Nesta and two granddaughters Neo and Boseyong. They ploughed land. But suddenly, by mid-November, the rain flew and the sun-dried all moisture of the earth. It was impossible to plant anything on the dry earth. So they were disappointed.

The two girls, unknown from the effects of drought were quite happy in their little-girl world. They imitated the behaviour of their mother towards them and played. They scolded their rag dolls and then beat the dolls with severe expressions. This actually showed how they were mistreated in their home. Instead of loving and advising in their mistakes, their mother used to beat them. It showed they were valueless for their family.

Being frustrated with future starvation the two women started wailing each night. Mokgobja remembered an ancient ritual of sacrificing children's bodies to make rain god happy. He consulted it with his son and daughter-in-law and decided to sacrifice two girls. They spread the bodies of the two little girls across the land but the rain did not fall.

Soon people in the village noted the absence of the two little girls. Police came to investigate. The family told them that the girls had just died and burial at lands. As they didn't know what the children had died of, police asked to see the graves. At this, the mother of the children broke down and told everything.

Ramadi and the old man were arrested and got the death penalty for ritual murder. Actually, it was the two women who caused the death of the little girls. Due to their nightly wailing, Mokgobja tried to find a solution to their problem which was a crime and Ramadi became irrational and ready to kill his own daughters.

Characters in the Story Looking for a Rain God

Mokgobja - over seventy years old, head of the family
Ramadi - son of Mokgobja
Tiro - Ramadi's wife
Nesta - Tiro's unmarried sister
Neo and Boseyoung - Tiro's and Ramadi's daughters

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Summary in Short

'Looking for a Rain God' is the story about an African village where there were all kinds of pleasure but from 1958, a seven-year drought fell upon them. Predicting next year's starvation several people hung themselves. 

In November little rain fell, people's hopes ran so high but soon again dryness covered the village. Mokgobja family to come out from coming starvation decided to follow their ancient ritual of sacrificing children's bodies. Mokgobja sacrificed his own two little granddaughters to make rain god happy and to make rainfall. 

The worst thing was that in Mokgobja's misdeed Ramadi, the girls' father, and Tiru, the girls' mother supported him. Soon villagers noticed the absence of the two girls and suspect the whole family. The two little girls' mothers revealed everything to the police. Ramadi and Mokgobja got the death penalty for ritual murder.