The
Last Living Cannibal, by Airana Ngarewa.
1940’s Aotearoa New Zealand and the Second World War is raging: Taranaki Maori have not joined the fighting
by choice – the cream of their manhood has been decimated over the last century
by colonialism, bringing on the Land Wars and unjust imprisonment for some
warriors like Koko, who had to endure shame and humiliation because he had
fought to retain ownership of his tribal land;
now Koko is in his 90’s and the
fight has gone out of him as it rightly should.
Younger men than he should step up to continue the fight – until he
learns from his beloved grandson Blackie that Koko is known at his grandson’s
school as The Last Living Cannibal by the pakeha teachers.
Then insult is added to injury when he hears that Blackie
and his mates are threatened with the Strap, a leather strip used for
sharpening razors and capable of inflicting nasty welts on young skin: Okay, that’s the last straw: time to show that high and mighty
schoolteacher who has the most mana.
Koko will cut him down to size.
And does, from the back of an unpredictable horse who will sometimes
allow people to ride him – and sometimes not;
fortunately he must have been in a generous mood to carry Koko to his
triumphant meeting with the gobsmacked teacher:
the effect they created is unforgettable, the only problem being a fatal
heart attack for Koko on his winning way home.
Koko has lost his last battle.
BUT! More trouble
awaits: Koko is laid out on the Marae in
advance of his funeral; his spirit is
still watching to see who is going to visit to pay their respects. He is attended by his feckless son,
Blackie’s dad and Blackie himself, plus all the old Aunties without whom these
useless men can’t seem to function, when unexpected strangers arrive who don’t
seem to be particularly friendly. They
are Tainui, the Northern Tribe of Blackie’s mother, and everyone is shocked to
see her arrive and demand to take Blackie with her back to her tribal home on
the Waikato. She left Blackie’s dad after
he beat her in a drunken rage – now she wants her son under the law of Muru, a
just repayment for former wrongs suffered:
she wants her son: Taranaki Maori have had him long enough!
Once again Airana Ngarewa has blessed us with unforgettable,
exuberant characters – Blackie’s mates in particular, (and don’t forget that
horse!) – and lessons in history that
pakeha would much rather forget but as always, he accentuates the positive and
like Koko, we recognise that despite great tragedy and injustice optimists can
still take heart in some parts of this troubled world. SIX STARS.
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