The Promised Land by Grace Ogot

About Grace Ogot

The Promised Land by Grace Ogot

A young farmer and his wife who have migrated to Tanzania from Kenya become embroiled in issues of personal jealousy and materialism, and a melodramatic tale of tribal hatreds ensues. The novel explores Ogot's concept of the ideal African wife: obedient and submissive to her husband; family and community orientated; and committed to non-materialist goals. The style is distinctively ironic, giving the story power and relevance. The story follows Ochola, whose ambition and greed take him and his devoted wife Nyapol across the lake to Tanzania. But prosperity comes at a terrible price — Ochola's obsession attracts a mysterious curse that begins to destroy him from within. The novel blends Luo folklore, spirituality, and realism into a cautionary tale about the dangers of abandoning community values for material gain. Grace Ogot was the founding member of the Writer's Association of Kenya and the first female author to be published in English in East Africa — making this book a historic landmark of African women's literature.