The simile "Keeping feelings inside like intestines."
The Jidada nation is unlike any other in the continent because its leader, Old Horse, is God-Chosen and most feared. During a rally, animals gather in the Jidada Square, waiting eagerly for the Father of the Nation to come and address them. Once assembled in the Jidada Squire, the citizens are not allowed to get out until their president Old Horse comes and addresses them. The Father of the Nation is taking too long to come, and people are starting to have anxiety about leaving. However, they must keep their feelings inside like intestines and wait even longer. The author writes, "But the land of farm animals wasn't any other place, it was Jidada, yes, tholukuthi Jidada with a-da another –da, and just remembering this simple fact was simple enough to make most of the animals keep their feelings inside like intestines.” The citizens are obliged to obey national rallies without showing their frustrations even if Old Horse fails to show up.
God’s infallible machete
The wrong perception of leaders in the continent is demonstrated by the simile of God's infallible machete. Animals have been gathered since morning, waiting for President Old Horse to come and address them, but he takes too long to turn up. Leaders believe that people have nothing important apart from waiting for them and singing praise songs. The author writes, "But not all the animals were going to stand for the torturous wait, some indeed started to leave, grumbling about having work and other things to do, about places to go, about the leaders of other lands who arrived at things right on time like God's infallible machete." The animals notice that leaders of other nations keep time because they value nation-building and do not have time to waste.
The metaphor of the nine life spans of a hundred cats
The author uses the metaphor of nine life spans of a hundred cats to symbolize Old Horse's dictatorial regime and unwillingness to quit power. The author writes, "Enter the father of the nation: the ruler whose reign is longer than the nine life spans of a hundred cats." Old Horse is the longest-serving leader in the continent and the whole world. The metaphor shows that African leaders have not embraced democracy and believe they must die while in power.
