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Short Stories during. South Africa’s Apartheid Period (1): Njabulo Ndebele (2): The Music of the Violin. "The Music of the Violin".
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Short Stories during South Africa’s Apartheid Period (1): Njabulo Ndebele (2): The Music of the Violin
"The Music of the Violin" • How are the two women (Vukani’s mother and Beatrice) different from the two men (Vukani’s father and Dr. Zwane in the opening scene? What are they each concerned with? • How are Vukani and Toboho treated differently? How does Vukani respond to having visitors at home? Why is he so afraid? • How is “education” presented in this story? • In the two central scenes of conflicts, how are the issues of gender and race mixed together?
The Adults gender relations • Vukani’s mother and Beatrice – about the Saturday meeting of the Housewives’ League and the Jewish recipes; something they find precious • While the men laugh at them pp. 95, 97-98 The men are condescending to the women and their “Housewives’ League.” • “Peace, women of Africa”
Gender Relations • Vukani’s father (school inspector) and Dr. Zwane– about the “invisible” garden plots in a bush school • Vukani’s father– African nationalism. (96-97) on South African Jews • Toboho and her mother serving tea • The mother argues for the universality of food, music and literature. Is this true?
Education of Different Kinds • Ideological control -- Vukani’s homework (104) --"the coming of the whites" led "to the establishment of prosperity and peace among the various Bantu tribes." • Evasion of control -- Mabaso –the teacher at a bush school; • Physical punishment -- Ms. Yende 100 red dress = violin; • Maseko – prefers to be a hungry dog than a chained dog; seen as wandering dog; p. 101
Education (2) • P. 108 • Vukani’s mother turns her son into Mozart; • Mrs. Zwane her daughter into ballerina
Vukani in between the gangs and the “educated” • wanted to escape 97; wish to talk to Toboho; • His anxiety and latent need for rebellion (book turned into flame 99 & Doksi p. 100); source—school teachers, parents • Another source of his anxiety – the school kids • his violin (“strange guitar”) stolen p. 101 – “inspector’s son” • “music man” pp. 104 – Bhuka and the copper bangles
Cultural Conflicts sexism • The father vs. the mother: nationalism vs. assimilationism into Western culture • The father is aware of Boer’s discrimination. • The boys on the street – in support of African music (e.g. "ThokoUjolaNobani" http://www.answers.com/topic/mahotella-queens ) • Their discriminatory views on women/girls