The Legacy of Colonialism and Apartheid
Every part of the lives of the black South Africans at the center of the novel are influenced and informed by the legacy of white European colonialism and apartheid. Although decades of oppression and forced relocation affects every aspect of the black South Africans’ lives, the murder at the center of the novel is specifically a result of racist policies and reflects the specific tensions and resentments of the murderer Mxolisi’s generation. Mandisa…
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Family, Tradition, and Obligation
The members of the black South African families at the center of Mother to Mother rely on each other and their larger community for support and structure. In a country where many social support systems and government help have failed, black South Africans are left only with the strong, tight-knit communities and family units that have carried them through since before colonization. These groups, tied by proximity, blood, and tradition, offer a sense of comfort…
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Language, Storytelling, and History
Through songs, letters, chants, legends, and prayers, as well as uses of African languages like Xhosa, the characters in Mother to Mother are able to express more than they could through straight prose or monologues. In each of these instances, language serves a deeper purpose as it brings people together and reminds them of their shared experiences. For instance, Mandisa’s grandfather, Tatomkhulu, tells her the story of a prophetess named Nongqawuse…
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