Critic's Review.

When Rain Clouds Gather.
By: Bessie Head
3/5

In When Rain Clouds Gather, we've been introduced to many characters. Makhaya, Gilbert, Dinorego, Maria, Mma-Millipede, Paulina Sesbo, Chief Matenge, and Chief Sekoto.
Makhaya has escaped from his old country to go to Botswana. Once he finds himself inside of the Botswana borders, he is hiding as a refugee inside of Dinorego's house. When Dinorego first met Makhaya, he took Makhaya under his wing, and introduced him to his daughter, Maria, and his good friend Gilbert.

Gilbert has big plans for Golema Mmidi; plans to modernize the country and open the people's eyes to new cash crops and other doorways. He needs to change the way that the people of the country see things. Introducing tobacco, millet, and other cash crops is just the start of his plan. With those cash crops in order, the money will be reeling in for all of the people in the country, and with that money will come intelligence, with intelligence comes women's rights. The women would be able to speak out for theme selves, and the brutal actions towards them would be stopped. The men would be able to stay home with their family and not have to travel around with cattle and children will be able to stay home and go to school. Although all of this sounds like a wonderful plan, bigger people have other ideas about Gilbert and his friends.

Chief Matenge highly dislikes Dinorego and Gilbert. He feels that they are trying to take over (especially Gilbert) when really they are only trying to help. When the Chief finds out about both of them hiding a refugee in the borders, he is absolutely furious and wants to get Makhaya thrown out A-SAP. The Chief only wants to stay in power and rule over all of the land which can't be done on account of his biggest enemy: Chief Sekoto, his brother. Both of the brothers despise each other, and can't stand to be near one another. Hence why their ruling areas have been split in half. Chief Sekoto rules one half, while Chief Matenge rules the other half. These two characters are pretty sketchy, and Chief Matenge thinks that his brother is plotting to kill him so naturally his hate only grows for his brother.

This book is pretty good so far, although the plot has kind of come to a level right now. But I'm sure it's only a matter of time when some more action starts up. Hopefully something will happen between Paulina and Makhaya.