Point of View

The point of view of The River and the Source is a close third-person that tracks the interiority of various characters. It initially follows Akoko, the matriarch of the family, before eventually moving through the perspectives of Nyabera, Elizabeth, Vera, and Wandia. This proximity to the character gives access to their feelings while still maintaining a distinct perspective. It serves the narrative well in that it allows Ogola to explore these characters' respective fears, hopes, and desires, without being tied to a single point of view. The reader is allowed inside their thoughts, but still given the clarity of neutral observation.

The perspective of the novel often shows a great deal of sympathy and care for the characters, as it depicts their joy and sorrow sincerely. When both Akoko and Nyabera lose their husbands and children, the narrator makes no additional commentary on their feelings...