“I was born and bred in the rural side of Kwa-Zulu Natal” said 18 year old Mthokozisi with pride resonating from his voice. Growing up he never thought he would ever amount to much as the stereotype branded on a lot of black South African men.
He sits his small statured body on his study table casually scratching his dark unkempt hair. Mothokozisi’s room is rather plain only a traditional Zulu head gear hangs from his closet door and he does not hold back in making it clear that he prefers to live his life divorced from materialism. “My mom died some time back and I live with my granny, we don’t have much and that is why I am going to make it in life” he uttered as his voice went quite and looking down for the first time since we started the interview.
He almost succumbed to the stereotype and became part of the black uneducated statistic until ‘God’ as he puts it intervened and he got accepted at Rhodes only to receive the letter a week after o’week. On his arrival in Grahamstown, all alone he did not know where to go and it was late at night so he found refuge at the police station where he was brought to the campus protection office where he spent the night. The next morning when he got to the registration office he was told he did not have financial aid and there was no help for him. “I did not know what to do, I only had a hundred rands not even enough to get back home” he giggled. But he was later told the he could be helped and got his financial aid and a place in residence.
“The first term was a bit rough” he said making gestures with his skinny small hands. He failed his first test but that did not discourage him as he decided then that he was here to work and that was what he was going to do. “I am not doing my best but I am not failing either, but I am going to achieve my goals in this institution” he said with a content smile on his face.
“My family and my music are what gives meaning to life” he said. He is some what a known rapper at Rhodes; one would find him performing at most gigs of the hip hop society. Despite the life style or rather the alcohol and the drugs associated with these kind of scene at Rhodes, despite his friends who of course subscribe to this kind of life style he has managed to abstain from using any, “I decided alcohol was not the way for me, and that it was against the will of God” pointed out Mthokozisi with assurance in his voice.
When coming to university people are faced with a lot of new experiences, and sometimes students forget where they came from and end up changing who they are to fit in. But Mthokozisi has managed to stay real and stuck to his principles with the help of his faith and focus. He had humble beginnings and lives his life as such.
He sits his small statured body on his study table casually scratching his dark unkempt hair. Mothokozisi’s room is rather plain only a traditional Zulu head gear hangs from his closet door and he does not hold back in making it clear that he prefers to live his life divorced from materialism. “My mom died some time back and I live with my granny, we don’t have much and that is why I am going to make it in life” he uttered as his voice went quite and looking down for the first time since we started the interview.
He almost succumbed to the stereotype and became part of the black uneducated statistic until ‘God’ as he puts it intervened and he got accepted at Rhodes only to receive the letter a week after o’week. On his arrival in Grahamstown, all alone he did not know where to go and it was late at night so he found refuge at the police station where he was brought to the campus protection office where he spent the night. The next morning when he got to the registration office he was told he did not have financial aid and there was no help for him. “I did not know what to do, I only had a hundred rands not even enough to get back home” he giggled. But he was later told the he could be helped and got his financial aid and a place in residence.
“The first term was a bit rough” he said making gestures with his skinny small hands. He failed his first test but that did not discourage him as he decided then that he was here to work and that was what he was going to do. “I am not doing my best but I am not failing either, but I am going to achieve my goals in this institution” he said with a content smile on his face.
“My family and my music are what gives meaning to life” he said. He is some what a known rapper at Rhodes; one would find him performing at most gigs of the hip hop society. Despite the life style or rather the alcohol and the drugs associated with these kind of scene at Rhodes, despite his friends who of course subscribe to this kind of life style he has managed to abstain from using any, “I decided alcohol was not the way for me, and that it was against the will of God” pointed out Mthokozisi with assurance in his voice.
When coming to university people are faced with a lot of new experiences, and sometimes students forget where they came from and end up changing who they are to fit in. But Mthokozisi has managed to stay real and stuck to his principles with the help of his faith and focus. He had humble beginnings and lives his life as such.
1 comment:
Andy,
I loved everything about your profile, from the writing style and tone to the character choice. It kept me wanting to know more. Your description of Mothokozisi is brilliant, using the perfect touch of adjectives without overdoing it. The way you tell his story makes the reader empathise and look up to Mothokozisi, creating a good ‘hero’ feel.
His story is easily related to Todorov’s story functions, taking the reader right through the equilibrium and disruptions in an interesting way. We can imagine the equilibrium before his mother’s death, and are taken through a series of disruptions and challenges before we realize the characters strength and will in finding his new equilibrium.
You tell the story as it is, which relates to your character as you describe him too. Relevant quotes were made in appropriate places and one is made to feel that they know this person, obtaining a great deal of admiration for him as a hero.
Miss Babalas
http://www.livingsotallytober.blogspot.com/
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