Dichotomies 'Tail of the Blue Bird'

Perhaps the most important dichotomy in TotBB (in terms of 'moving' the story along) was the internal struggle of many of the characters between their ambitions and their internal need to 'do the right thing'.  At the start of the book, Kayo dreams of being a forensic analyst for the Ghana Police - to have the opportunity to BE corrupt, and to be on the other side.  He wants monetary success, to drive a Range Rover instead of his old Golf, to rake in massive paychecks,  but when given the opportunity to achieve all of his ambitions, Kayo's dream becomes less and less straightforward.  While before he had KNOWN how corrupt the police and the government was and never had a problem with it in general, Kayo is unsure for a long period of time whether to write a false report that would further his career, or tell the truth - that he couldn't actually solve the mystery.  Kayo eventually decides on furthering his career, but is overcome with regret about his decision, and takes it back on the ride out of the village with Donkor, nearly getting himself executed.

We don't know as much of Donkor's story, but what we do know is this - he started at the bottom of the chain, and through dishonesty, corruption, and efficiency through cutting corners, he rises to nearly the top of the police ladder, achieving his long time dream, with apparently few regrets.

Tail of the Blue Bird 36-80 Theme : Corruption

As I said in my previous entry, Tail of the Blue Bird seems to be a more modern/relatable (to a modern western reader) story than the previous books we have read, and seems to include at least one of today's more common stereotypes about Africa : Corruption.   While it is barely talked about, if at all, in the small village narratives, corruption seems to be a rampant problem from Kayo's narration.  In the beginning of the book, there is some brief talk of bribing the police, but it is towards page 30 and beyond that the constant presence of corruption begins to become more evident.  I personally found the whole situation where Kayo gets a job working for the police to be a prime example.  To start, the police force badgered his boss, Acquah, and ended up blackmailing him for various small offenses he had committed in order to persuade him to release Kayo from his contract, while of course implying that they would need to be frequently paid off in the future if Mr. Acquah wanted to avoid prison.  Further complicating/corrupting the situation was how exactly the police got in contact with Kayo.  It seems to me had they simply asked, and told him that his boss now approved, Kayo would have jumped at the chance to work for them - something that he states earlier is something he aspires to.  However, instead, the police draw up an entirely false and ridiculous charge to take Kayo into custody, hold him overnight in a cell, and then  offer him a job.  This second part may not be corruption in it's typical sense, but it still feels to me like things just aren't being done right.

Other examples :
"You bribed someone, got what you wanted, and moved on.  That was the system Kayo understood; the system that allows his father to persuade a clerk to add a year to Kayo's age so he could qualify for a government scholarship when he was still sixteen."  P. 18

"The Ghana Police had a ninety-nine percent record in solving crimes through 'specialised' interrogation" p. 21

"It is not even a case we would have bothered with, but the minster for roads and highways is sleeping with a girl from Tafo.  She discovered some human matter and the minister himself called me that day to ask me to deploy some men" p. 54

"A free Mr. Acquah would pay his tax arrears, but he would also be forever grateful to Sergeant Mintah for not putting him in jail.  He would express that gratitude in regular gifts, cash gifts at christmas and easter, and other favours when needed" p. 59