My children My Africa Thami Mbikwana

By Mbali · May 9, 2024

Thami Mbikwana  

Thami is  a  19  year  old  Black  boy  who  attends  Zolile  High  School.  He  has  been  a  student  of  Mr.  M  for  a  very long  time.  His  mother,  Lillian  Mbikwana,  is  a  domestic  worker  and  his  father,  Amos  Mbikwana,  works  for  a railway  company.  His  parents  live  in  Cape  Town  while  he  lives  in  Brakwater  location  with  his  grandmother  and a  married  sister.    He  is  a  promising  and  a  very  smart  student.  Important  aspects  to  his  character  to  be  aware of are:

 •  He  has  a  very  strong  personality  and  he  speaks  his  mind.  As  the  story  progresses  he  is  defiant.  For example, he tells Isabel that Mr. M has old-fashioned ideas and has no authority over him . He is radical and  wants  an  ‘all  out  rebellion’  against  apartheid  and  an  immediate  change.  He  stands  up  for  what  he  thinks is right. 

 •  He  is  rational.  He  takes  time  to  reflect  on  issues.  Isabel  says  that  Thami  is  not  easily  frustrated,  that  he  would ‘never  grab  his  hickey  stick  and  take  it  out  on  somebody  if  he  does  not  win’.  He,  however,  later  becomes convinced  that  words  are  not  enough  and  so  gets  involved  with  the  comrades.  He  avoids  direct  confrontations with Mr M.

  •  He  is  a  fearless  leader.  He  is  a  natural  leader.  He  is  naturally  respectful  of  authority,  but  is  also  impatient. He  does  not  want  to  listen  to  Mr.  M’s  ideas  about  slowly  defeating  Apartheid  when  so  many  Black  people  are suffering.  He  does  not  believe  that  education  can  free  Black  people  when  it  is  part  of  the  system  of  apartheid. Affected by the long-standing apartheid in South Africa, Thami discusses plans 

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