Summary, Setting and  Narrative Structure in Kissiwaa The Heroine(Featured in the Beacon of Light)

SUMMARY OF KISSIWAA THE HEROINE (Featured in The Beacon of Light).

The story captures  the draught battle between  Kissiwaa  and Bediako in  a remote village  called Asempayetia. Kissiwaa , a young woman of 17 years Kissiwaa challenges the five-time draughts champion, Bediako.

At the inciting  events, there were initial doubts about Kissiwaa’s  attempt to compete against  the all-time champion, Bediako . Again, the villagers(spectators) also exhibited hostility included in were chants, and insults to cheer their players (Bediako or Kissiwaa).
Meanwhile, Kissiwaa was still determined amidst the tension so as to impress the community and overturn the ideology that girls or women cannot compete against men in a draught.
As the match unfolds, she wins the first  game. Tensions rise, and Bediako’s anger boils over, leading to a heated exchange with Kissiwaa. However, the argument  takes a dark turn when Bediako’s 10-year-old son Ababio, yells a vile insult, shocking the crowd.
Old Soldier intervenes, rebuking the adults for setting a poor example and emphasizing their responsibility to teach children respect and civility. The community comes together, acknowledging their collective fault and committing to positive change.
The story culminates in a final game between Kissiwaa and Bediako, which Kissiwaa wins by 3:0, becoming Asempayetia’s first female draughts champion. The village unites in celebration,honouring Kissiwaa’s achievement and marking a new era of unity and respect.

Setting of  the story

The story’s setting is
Asempayetia, a rural village (likely in Ghana, a Fante Community to be specified). The mention of the three Fante Warriors Obrumankoma, Odapagyan and Oson confirms this.

Although, there is no mention of time when the events took place , the mention of draught being a community entertainment for the Asempayetia village suggests that the story is set in the post colonial Ghana where the feminism  and issues  about gender roles  were now emerging.

Other physical setting in the story includes
Village square( Under the Nyamedua Tree), chief’s palace, and
surrounding homes.

Narrative Structure

The story employed the Linear type of narrative where the events unfold chronologically with any flashbacks. It only focuses on Kissiwaa’s journey into fame.

Point of View

The point of view used in the story is the third person. The narrator is not part of the action but tells the story from the perspective of Kissiwaa, Bediako and Old soldier.

Tone

The tone changes as the story progresses. During the early stages, the tone  was inspiring, then it changed to reflective and finally into a celebratory tone when Kissiwaa won.

CREDIT TO VICTORIA KUKUA STEVENS, Dr. JEMIMA LARTELEY AND VERY REV. EBO EPHRAIM

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