--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But when did this anger take root? When…" description: "\"“But when did this anger take root? When snakes first appeared on the national scene? When water in the bowels of the earth turned bitter? Or when he v..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/ng-g-wa-thiong-o-35968_aburiria_but-when-did-this-anger-take-root-when-s_1047994.jpg" --- # But when did this anger take root? When snakes first… ![“But when did this anger take root? When snakes first appeared on the national scene? When water in the bowels of the earth turned bitter? Or when he visited America and failed to land an interview with Global Network News on its famous program Meet the Global Mighty ? It is said that when he was…” quote by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/ng-g-wa-thiong-o-35968_aburiria_but-when-did-this-anger-take-root-when-s_1047994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/ng-g-wa-thiong-o-35968_aburiria_but-when-did-this-anger-take-root-when-s_1047994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/ng-g-wa-thiong-o-35968_aburiria_but-when-did-this-anger-take-root-when-s_1047994.jpg) > ““But when did this anger take root? When snakes first appeared on the national scene? When water in the bowels of the earth turned bitter? Or when he visited America and failed to land an interview with Global Network News on its famous program Meet the Global Mighty ? It is said that when he was told that he could not be granted even a minute on the air, he could hardly believe his ears or even understand what they were talking about, knowing that in his country he was always on TV; his every moment - eating, shitting, sneezing, or blowing his nose - captured on camera.”” [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques media control and the shock of being denied airtime despite constant surveillance in the speaker’s home country. **In simple terms:** It highlights the paradox of being constantly filmed yet silenced on a major platform. Key Takeaway Recognize how media access shapes power dynamics. Themes media power surveillance silence culture Mood critical reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - journalist interviews - media criticism - activist speeches Key Concepts colonialism public sphere visibility voice Questions to Reflect On - How does constant surveillance affect personal expression? - What alternatives exist when mainstream media blocks a voice? A Different Perspective The anecdote may exaggerate for rhetorical effect, limiting factual precision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Anger Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger-root-2488822/) [Despot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despot/) [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Did Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-anger-2488820/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Interview Global](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interview-global-2488821/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Satire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satire/) [Snakes Appeared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snakes-appeared-2488818/) [Tv Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv-moment-2488819/) ## Related quotes > [Do not get angry because others question what you believe, be calm and loving, for anger is the root of a faulty belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-brown/do-not-get-angry-because-others-question-what-you-believe-be-calm-and/) [Leon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-brown/) > [I loved the medium of TV from the first moment that I got into a studio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-aldred/i-loved-the-medium-of-tv-from-the-first-moment-that-i-got-into-a/) [Sophie Aldred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-aldred/) > [One of the things that's really fun to tap in with television right now is this sort of explosion, the peak TV moment that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/one-of-the-things-that-s-really-fun-to-tap-in-with-television-right/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [Tom always did anger well. Hid it well, but showed it even better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/tom-always-did-anger-well-hid-it-well-but-showed-it-even-better/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“Son of-Who did this to you" Anger rolled through every word Ethan spoke. "And what are you going to do? Go bet him up?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-rachel-cole/son-of-who-did-this-to-you-anger-rolled-through-every-word-ethan/) [Annie Rachel Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-rachel-cole/) > [Fashion, n. A despot whom the wise ridicule and obey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/fashion-n-a-despot-whom-the-wise-ridicule-and-obey/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Here Fashion is a despot, and no one dreams of evading its dictates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/here-fashion-is-a-despot-and-no-one-dreams-of-evading-its-dictates/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A good constitution is infinitely better than the best despot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-good-constitution-is-infinitely-better-than-the-best-despot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“WILL ALIGNMENT Despot's ultimate goal, using terror as his tool in trade = Corporal punishment in schools Kamil Ali”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/will-alignment-despot-s-ultimate-goal-using-terror-as-his-tool-in/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Nothing is more durable than the dynasty of Doubt; for he reigns in the hearts of all his people, but gives satisfaction to none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/nothing-is-more-durable-than-the-dynasty-of-doubt-for-he-reigns-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Every State is a despotism, be the despot one or many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/every-state-is-a-despotism-be-the-despot-one-or-many/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) > [There are three kinds of despots. There is the despot who tyrannizes over the body. There is the despot who tyrannizes over the soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/there-are-three-kinds-of-despots-there-is-the-despot-who-tyrannizes/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [In every country and in every age the priest has been hostile to liberty; he is always in allegiance to the despot, abetting his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-every-country-and-in-every-age-the-priest-has-been-hostile-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The single despot stands out in the face of all men, and says: I am the State: My will is law: I am your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-single-despot-stands-out-in-the-face-of-all-men-and-says-i-am-the/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) ## More by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o > [“Our fathers fought bravely. But do you know the biggest weapon unleashed by the enemy against them? It was not the Maxim gun. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/our-fathers-fought-bravely-but-do-you-know-the-biggest-weapon/) [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) > [“Unshed tears of an unrequited desire for vengeance are exhausting and require privacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/unshed-tears-of-an-unrequited-desire-for-vengeance-are-exhausting-and/) [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) > [“Does rough weather choose men over women? Does the sun beat on men, leaving women nice and cool?' Nyawira asked rather sharply. 'Women bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/does-rough-weather-choose-men-over-women-does-the-sun-beat-on-men/) [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) > [“Luckily for me, I loved books. 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A closer look at language could reveal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/for-i-had-reached-a-point-in-my-life-when-i-came-to-view-words/) [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) > [“Written words can also sing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/written-words-can-also-sing/) [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) > [“Belief in yourself is more important than endless worries of what others think of you. Value yourself and others will value you. Validation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/belief-in-yourself-is-more-important-than-endless-worries-of-what/) [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) > [“Your own actions are a better mirror of your life than the actions of all your enemies put together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/your-own-actions-are-a-better-mirror-of-your-life-than-the-actions-of/) [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) > [“That was one of the most rewarding things about spending nights in the open. Birds were bound to wake you up, and whether they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/that-was-one-of-the-most-rewarding-things-about-spending-nights-in/) [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) > [“Stories, like food, lose their flavor if cooked in a hurry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/stories-like-food-lose-their-flavor-if-cooked-in-a-hurry/) [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) > [“Truth never dies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/truth-never-dies/) [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) [Explore all 13 Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) ## More Africa quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/) [Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/) > [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/) [Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. 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