Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism, sexual harassment and violence, religious discrimination, and emotional abuse.

Lawino says that Ocol is angry that she does not understand how to tell time or keep a schedule. He has brought a large clock to their home, and Lawino is afraid of it because she doesn’t understand what makes it work. She doesn’t understand how to read it or understand the way Ocol now tells time. She is proud of the clock, however, because visitors to the home are always impressed by it. Instead of using a clock to know exactly what time it is, Lawino follows the Acholi tradition of observing the world’s natural rhythms to have a general sense of the time. She watches the sun’s position in the sky and observes when cattle are brought home at the end of the day.

Lawino is confused by Ocol’s grouchy demeanor in the house; he does not want their children to make any noise, and he does not like when people come to visit. None of this makes sense to her because she thinks a home without the noise of children is one that has experienced infertility.