Discuss the Validity of the Statement "Propaganda Can Be a Tool for Maintaining Control and Oppression, but It Is Ultimately Ineffective Against a Determined Opposition" Using Illustrations from Adipo Sidang’s Parliament of Owls

  Adipo Sidang’s Parliament of Owls vividly demonstrates this principle through the owl leaders’ use of propaganda and the resilient opposition from the other birds. The novel shows how propaganda can be employed to control, but ultimately fails when confronted with unwavering defiance.

In Parliament of Owls, the owl leaders use propaganda to control and oppress the bird kingdom. They spread false information to justify their cruel policies. For example, the owls spread lies about Osongo to scare the birds and prevent resistance. The Owls target Osogo for being Oyundi's ally.To get to him they made Tel Tel to go around the kingdom spreading lies about Osogo.Though they promised they were never going to touch  her ,they went for her and when they failed to kill her they instead killed thirty-three of her kin.The parliament of owls picked Tel Tel to propagate for them  because she has the gift of the gab and she could reach out to all birds.She appeals to the emotions of day birds and they tend to listen to her.(page 16).The weavers massacre was meant to cower osogo and other birds but instead it strengthens their resolve and inspires them to fight for justice.(page 11). The owl leaders use propaganda to maintain their dominance and oppress the other birds. The massacre of Osogo’s family is portrayed as a warning to the other birds, instilling fear to suppress any resistance.Still this does not stop Osongo from fighting for justice.She speaks the truth to Red String when she tells him that all birds in the kingdom  have freedoms and right to life.She also says that a time will come when oppression by the owls will come to an end and all birds will have a sane parliament.She questions if it is right for omnivores and night birds to kill and murder grain-eaters and day birds for the sake of protecting the kingdom and parliament of owls.She calls out the parliament for passing bad laws that favour owls.She calls out the owls for peddling propaganda;that because of the owls the kingdom is safe and that their neighbours are not a source of threat to their survival yet these are the same neighbours they invite to night feasts at Royal Trees,where they feed on the flesh of fellow birds.She tells Red String that python is a friend of their court.They use him to punish their enemies.During the the Unity Pact Celebration ,Oyundi tasks Osogo with the responsibility of calling the day birds to action in the morning with her flute.Her song must praise Royal Owl in the morning to fool him into thinking all is well.Justice is finally served when Royal Owl sentenced Money Bags and his accomplices to life imprisonment.Osongo dedicates that day to all her relatives killed in cold blood by Money Bags and his goons.

Tel Tel, despite being coerced into spreading lies continues to fight for justice by exposing the truth about the owls' actions  questioning .She boldly tells Red String that the birds cannot twitter quietly in the moonlight to their young ones anymore.They look after their nests in turns or else their young ones will be eaten by well known attackers.Red String is ready to pay Tel Tel to spread some some lies about the moonlight bill but she blatantly declines the offer.He picks on Tel Tel because she was once used to spread lies about Osogo and she has a sweet tongue and a powerful beak.She is supposed to make the birds believe that the kingdom is under imminent attack and the owls have found it prudent to take quick measures for the safety of all birds by introducing the moonlight bill.The bill will push forward supervision and roll call hours from 10 p.m. to 6 p.m.The exercises will run until midnight.It will also ban moonlight twittering with the crickets past 6 p.m.,which the likes of Osogo do.It also bans flying from tree to tree in the night and any other unauthorised movement, past 6p.m. But the owls shall be immune to these new laws.The birds shall also be expected to contribute a daily 'moonlight tax' as a necessary allowance to compensate the owls who will spend longer hours supervising and taking the roll call in a bid to protect the kingdom.She should also  convince the birds that the tax will be partly used to feed sick and old birds.Tel Tel can tell the birds that they are contributing a tithe to their gods and it shall be delivered by Falcon next time he visits the skies.Tel Tel can see through Red Strings lies. She wonders if the tax is not a way of extorting money from the birds.She also questions why the bill comes now,when the new moon has just appeared.She feels the new bill is a plan by the owls to cage Osogo and Oyundi after the 'Weaver Massacre' thus setting them up for arrest.She does not believe the Bill shall benefit the whole kingdom especially after learning from Red String that the Bill is sponsored by Money Bags and has the blessings of the Royal Owl.She terms it another scam from the parliament of scams.She tells Red String that she knows about his lies and she cannot be used to  mislead birds .She firmly asserts that she has the gift of the gab not the gift of deceit.Even with threats and intimidations from Red String, she remains firm  and chooses to stand with other birds that watch hunger-stricken as the owls hoot and loot,boast and belch.She stands with other birds that have formed a coalition  led by Oyundi to save the kingdom from the greed and arrogance of the owls. She is even declared a  wanted bird before being arrested for treason. She manages to escape from prison a move that makes her to be declared a wanted bird by Royal Owls and he even promises to reward any bird that will bring her to him dead or alive.She appears at the Unity Pact Celebrations and exposes Money Bags for revealing secrets about the golden bead to her.She also exposes him for using Olik Tiga to serve his own interests.This damning revelations makes the Royal Owl to relieve Money Bags of all his duties and further sentencing him and his accomplices to life imprisonment for treason.It should also be remembered that it is Tel Tel who stole the golden bead which she submitted to Oyundi who in turn dipped it in the river at the spot where Arum Tidi was murdered an act that rendered the Royal Owl powerless giving rise to the birth of a new kingdom.( page 6-9,84,118,123,125).

When Tel Tel refuses to be used by Red String to spread propaganda  Arum Tidi  the male propagandist for Royal Trees grabs the opportunity. He discredits Tel Tel while presenting himself as the best candidate for the job.He even suggests how Red Strings can get back at Tel Tel by sneaking in a law banning the hammering or better still  let every bird that hammers at trees to pay a fees or even better to arrest Tel Tel just to ensure there will be no counter-propaganda as they push their secret agenda.As his reward for propagating, Arum expects to be made an employee of the parliament something Red String is not ready to confirm.Instead he is promised a rat every night served with delicious soup at Royal Trees.He is thrilled to hear that he will have a rare opportunity to dine with the king for the next seven days if he sells the moonlight bill to the birds.He accepts the job whole heartedly.He is even ready to spread some cheap lies and propaganda about the renegade owls that stand for truth portraying them as corrupt.The owl leaders pick on him to spread propaganda because he is ignorant, always hungry and will take anything he is given.In fact he is paid peanuts.He is desperate and does everything to impress.(page 36). He gets to work persuading and  calling the birds to celebrate the Moonlight Bill thinking that the law will protect the hornbills too since they can work closely with the owls to bring about unity among the night birds and omnivores.(page 14-21,37).When the Money Bags is planning the homecoming party at Royal Trees they enlist the services of Arum Tidi once again to spread the word to ensure all birds attend since Royal Owl shall address all birds at sunset tomorrow.Money Bags and Red String laugh at his gullibility as they plot to kill him once they are done  using him since he already knows to much.They do not even plan to pay him at all.( Page 36)Arum Tidi realizes he is being used and decides to change tune.The moment Money Bags suspects Arum Tidi of acting against their interests when he is heard speaking in coded language and singing a freedom song at a time when the birds are planning to stage a struggle for freedom against the owls.He orders Red String to look for One-Eyed to take him to the Water Stone point. (page 37).The death of Arum Tidi is later announced by Veteran P.(page 61).Money Bags goes ahead to warn all birds against speculating about the death of Arum Tidi.( page 69) The death of Arum Tidi was meant to cower the other birds into submission but instead it invigorates them. The like-minded animals rally behind Oyundi.Together they remove Tula Nyongoro and his cronies from the parliament of owls.Oyundi calls other birds to observe a moment of silence for all the birds that died in the struggle including Osogo's kin and Arum Tidi.( page 128).

The owls use deceptive narratives to manipulate public opinion. They portray themselves as benevolent rulers while hiding their oppressive nature. This manipulation helps them maintain an illusion of legitimacy and suppress dissent. To suppress any  resistance from the birds the owls make some birds to believe that day birds and grain -eaters will never get a chance to run the kingdom  and power will always remain in the hands of the night birds or omnivores. And because the owls have the largest eyes ,they will always be at the helm. Osongo is very much optimistic that a time is coming when all this will end and all birds will have a sane parliament. Ochongorio on the other hand seems to be losing hope especially after the demise of Arum Tidi.She feels the birds are fighting a losing battle since they are no match for owls who are too powerful, intelligent, have big eyes,hardened claws and sharp beaks to frighten the  faint-hearted.( page 63).  Osogo encourages her to be strong and hopeful because hope is all they are left with.If they give it away ,they are finished for it is their only weapon.( page 79). When the birds thought the situation in the kingdom has become hopeless when they think Oyundi has betrayed them by working with the owls,Oyundi instead fuels their fighting spirit when she reveals to them that she has a plan that will see the owls kicked from parliament .Day birds and grain - eaters put their faith in Oyundi and she never disappointed.Together they manage to free the kingdom from the owl's greed ,arrogance and injustice.( pafe 126).

The owls use fear tactics to stiffle Oyundi's efforts of liberating the kingdom and discourage other birds from working or associating with Oyundi. Thirty-three of Osogo's kin are killed as a warning to Osongo who is a close ally of Oyundi. Oyundi is the de facto leader of day birds and enemy of Royal Trees.Tel Tel mocks Red String that the Owls cannot get hold of her with all their heads together.The Owls spend sleepless nights because of Oyundi.Money Bags declares Oyundi a wanted bird,dead or alive because she has ,on a number of occassions,embarrassed the king.(page 47).Money Bags accuses her of crossing their borders to work with enemies and enemies of their allies.( page 50).Osongo can clearly see why Oyundi was declared an enemy. It is because of her role in kicking the snakes out of the birds nests.The owls felt she was messing up their plan to hoot and loot.( page 69).All this lies peddled against Oyundi seem to have no impact on her.She remains determined in her fight for justice and fairness even when she is arrested for treason.Oyundi mobilises the day birds into action.She summons the hiding birds and tells them she has a plan and wants Tel Tel to play it perfectly because she is the mother of all tricks. Her plan is to kick out the parliament of owls and build a new institution, A parliament of owl will be replaced by the flock of birds. Oyundi makes all the birds to imagine a new kingdom with flocks of birds. She even tells Osogo to call the birds into action with the flute.Her song must praise the royal owl of fool him into trusting them. She urges the birds to sacrifice that day for a better tomorrow. Oyundi also assigns feathered beak to monitor what goes on at the Royal tree. She urges the birds to build that kingdom with the right material, change laws and have a fair representation in the parliament if they want a safe, secure and comfortable kingdom. She also urges them to be United for one purpose and befriend the enemy but strike when they least expect. Finally Oyundi helps the birds to stage a coup and liberate them. She accuses Royal owl of killing his ally for his selfish interest since he wanted the golden bead and tells him to free the kingdom from the oppressive and cruel rule of owls. She declares it is time to chase the owls out of parliament and sing songs of liberation. She pounces on Royal owl and chased the owl out of parliament as they sing songs of liberation. The Royal owl takes off and Oyundi declares the birds kingdom a kingdom of democracy.(Pg12,13,80-82,88,92,124,128,129)

Money Bags uses propaganda to stay powerful by controlling the ordinary owls.He brags that he is the most powerful and the instruments of power lie in his hands.(page 51).His tactic is to seize the minds of ordinary owls and make them believe the vultures and the crows and other birds are against them.That their security lies in protecting the great parliament of owls.The ordinary owls like Red String cannot see through his lies.They keep supporting every Bill he presents on the floor of the house and passing it into law.( page 52).Money bag uses this tactic to get back at the disgruntled vultures and crows.According to Tel Tel ,there were internal political wars among the big omnivores:the vultures,the crows, the hornbills,the owls ,among others.Dissent was building against the owls; the vultures and the crows argued that they were not benefitting as big omnivores, from the rule of the owls.There was a secret protest which was well planned and secretly funded by the vultures.Royal Trees had to counter this.( page 65).Money Bags also tricked the crows and the vultures.He pretended to be impartial regarding the contest between the two flocks of birds over the security tender but secretly awarded the tender to Olik Tiga.( page 68).He also grabbed the sacred tree from the crows and converted it into their secret surveillance tower, controlled by One -Eyed  and his son. When Black String informs him that birds are planning a demonstration at parliament or Royal Trees he realizes that he cannot depend on crows and vultures for help.He faulted when he betrayed them. ( page 45).He can only rely on Olik Tiga and the bat army to provide security to parliament and the Royal Trees.In fact after the death of Arum Tidi the hornbills who are saddened by the murder of one of their own join the struggle for freedom.The Vultures do the same since the Royal Owl betrayed them.(page 87).The worst mistake Money Bags makes is deciding to allow Oyundi to join the Parliament of Owls. Socialite owl warns Money Bags against such a decision citing how cunning Oyundi is. She is a student of the clever, intelligent and wittiest: hare. Socialite owl warns that Oyundi may ruin the reign of owls. But Money Bags does not feel if there will be any danger having Oyundi on their sider He feels that Oyundi has run out of options: in her tricks, which is why she is giving up on joining the parliament of owls. Money Bags rues this decision as Oyundi engineers his fallout with the Royal Owl which led to his death, and-it also ends the ruling of owls in the bird kingdom.

Royal Owl reveals to Money Bags in a dream that the owls rule by weaving conspiracy theories and propaganda and they have the gods to thank for for creating them intelligent and choosing them to rule the kingdom.He makes it clear that the owls rule by creating ideas,then create impressions,then make these impressions look real.They make ordinary owls believe they are sorrounded by enemies from outside the kingdom.(page 57).This is to justify the need to establish viable alliances with Lion Kingdom and sign partnership deals with reptiles.( page 78).They create enemies.Night birds,grain-eaters and omnivores are enemies they create because all of them are just birds.They divide birds into two tribes-owls and other birds.The other tribes are nothing but enemies they create. (Page 56).This is to justify why omnivores and night birds continue to kill and murder grain- eaters and day birds for the sake of protecting the kingdom.The owls even invite their neighbours to night feasts at Royal Trees where they feed on the flesh of fellow birds.( page 3 ).This explains why Red String feels the day birds and grain eaters will never have a chance to run the kingdom and because the owls have the largest eyes, they will always be at the helm.If the opposite were to happen the kingdom will be annihilated by rogue animals from lion kingdom.(page 3).Oyundi seems to know the  power of the owls' divide and rule tactic.She urges the birds to be United for one purpose and befriend the enemy but strike when they least expect.Veteran P reports tgat day birds and grain-eaters always put their faith in Oyundi and she never disapoint.She even got support from some night birds who turned up to be her fervent allies. ( page 103).She manages to fool Royal Owl and Money Bags into believing that she is ready to work with them.(page 109). Finally Oyundi helps the birds to stage a coup and liberate them.

In conclusion ,while propaganda can be a potent means of manipulation, its effectiveness is greatly diminished when faced with a united and determined effort for justice and reform.