Stench

Throughout the novel, stench is used as a symbol of corruption. This corruption can be both personal and structural. For example, Kamiti struggles in his work as the Wizard of the Crow because his clients, who are generally wealthy men looking for more privilege, reek. He occasionally gasps for air. Stench also fills the air later, after the Ruler announces Baby D, suggesting that this new plan for democracy is just as rotten and corrupt as the Ruler's more overtly authoritarian strategies.

Flower Scent

Notably, Nyawira is the only person in this novel who is explicitly described as smelling like flowers, a detail that suggests Nyawira's greater moral purity compared to those around her. This flower scent is one of the first details that Kamiti observes about Nyawira and that draws him to her.

The “Marching to Heaven” Project

The Marching to Heaven project, which is...