Background, Context, and Setting (Grade 12 NSC Matric English FAL): Revision Notes
Background, Context, and Setting
Historical context and time period
"My Children! My Africa!" was first performed on 27 June 1989, during a crucial moment in South African history. The play is set just one year before the State of Emergency, which lasted from 1984 to 1989. This was a time when apartheid was nearing its end, but the struggle for freedom was at its most intense.
During this period, prominent freedom fighters like Nelson Mandela and other leaders were still imprisoned, though negotiations to end apartheid were beginning. The resistance to apartheid was becoming increasingly violent, and the entire country was experiencing tremendous political upheaval.
The timing of this play is crucial - it was written and performed during the final, most turbulent years of apartheid, when the outcome of the struggle was still uncertain.
Setting and social context
The action takes place in the Eastern Cape, focusing on two very different schools that reflect the divided nature of apartheid South Africa:
- Camdeboo Girls High School - a well-resourced white school
- Zolile High School - an under-resourced black township school
Township schools were at the forefront of violent resistance against apartheid. These schools became symbols of the struggle, as the apartheid government used inferior education as a tool to oppress black South Africans.
The educational divide between white and black schools was enormous, representing the broader inequalities of the apartheid system. White schools received vastly superior funding, facilities, and resources, while black township schools were deliberately kept under-resourced to limit opportunities for black South Africans.
Character backgrounds and their significance
The play features three main characters who represent different perspectives within this divided society:
Isabel Dyson
- An 18-year-old white girl from Camdeboo Girls High School
- Represents the privileged white experience under apartheid
- Despite her background, she is portrayed as thoughtful, clever, and admirable
Isabel's character challenges stereotypes by showing that not all white South Africans were indifferent to the injustices of apartheid. Her friendship with Thami demonstrates the possibility of genuine human connection across racial lines.
Thami Mbikwana
- A 19-year-old black boy from Zolile High School
- Represents the black youth caught between education and political activism
- Faces the difficult choice between his studies and joining the resistance movement
Mr M (Mr Myalatya)
- A teacher at Zolile High School
- Represents the older generation's belief in education as the path to freedom
- Advocates for education over violent resistance
Mr M's character embodies the philosophical divide within the anti-apartheid movement between those who believed in gradual change through education and those who advocated for immediate, militant action.
Political and educational tensions
The play explores the intense debate surrounding education during apartheid's final years. Key tensions include:
Educational boycotts: The ANC (African National Congress) called for school boycotts as part of the resistance strategy. Many believed that participating in apartheid education was collaborating with the oppressive system.
Generational conflict: There was disagreement between older leaders like Mr M, who believed education was the most powerful tool for achieving freedom and equality, and younger activists like Thami, who felt constrained by the apartheid education system.
The inter-school debate: The meeting between Isabel and Thami occurs during an inter-school debate organised by Mr M. This event becomes a catalyst for exploring the cruelty of apartheid and the violence of the anti-apartheid struggle.
Key themes emerging from the context
The historical setting gives rise to several important themes:
- Education versus political action: The tension between pursuing education and joining the political struggle
- Racial division and friendship: How apartheid affected relationships between people of different races
- Generational differences: Different approaches to fighting oppression between older and younger generations
- The cost of resistance: The personal sacrifices required in the struggle for freedom
These themes remain relevant today, as they explore universal questions about how oppressed people should respond to injustice and whether gradual reform or revolutionary action is more effective in creating lasting change.
The play's tragic conclusion
The context explains the play's tragic ending: Mr M is killed for his moderate stance, Thami goes into exile (likely joining the armed resistance), and Isabel makes a promise to Mr M's spirit to make her life meaningful.
This conclusion reflects the real human cost of apartheid and the difficult choices people faced during this turbulent period. The tragedy shows that even well-intentioned people trying to bridge divides could become victims of the system's violence.
Key Points to Remember:
- The play is set in 1989, just before apartheid's end, during the State of Emergency period
- Township schools were centres of resistance against apartheid education
- The three main characters represent different racial and generational perspectives on the struggle
- Mr M believes education is the key to freedom, while Thami feels torn between studies and political activism
- The inter-school debate setting highlights the educational inequalities of apartheid
- The tragic ending reflects the real human cost of the apartheid system and the freedom struggle