Act 1: Scene 2 Analysis

Summary of Scene

• Setting: Thursday evening in the kitchen and living room of Sipho and Thando's home.
• Mandisa arrives from London with Themba's remains.

Key Events

• Sipho enters carrying an urn with Themba's ashes, staring at it in silence.
• Thando arrives with suitcases, followed by Mandisa, who carries a fashion designer's portfolio.
• Thando invites Mandisa to stay until the funeral.
• Sipho is angry because he expected Themba's body, not ashes, as he had planned a traditional burial.
• Mandisa explains that it was her mother's wish to cremate him and that she had written to Sipho but received no reply.
• Sipho rushes out to discuss funeral arrangements with Mr Khalha, Reverend Haya, and his uncle.
• Mandisa decides to stay with Thando and Sipho, cancelling her hotel booking.
• Mandisa and Thando talk about their different backgrounds.
• Mandisa asks Thando to accompany her to meet a fashion designer in Johannesburg.
• Thando invites Mandisa to attend the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearings with her.
• Thando reveals that Sipho blames Themba for Luvuyo's death, as Luvuyo admired Themba and became an activist.
• Sipho returns and insists that there will still be a traditional funeral for Themba.
• The scene ends with Sipho's shocking reaction when Mandisa says he looks like her father, hinting at a family secret.

Themes

Truth and Reconciliation

• Sipho refused to let the TRC investigate Luvuyo's death.
• Thando invites Mandisa to the Cradock TRC hearings.

Traditional vs Modern Culture

• Mandisa, raised in London, believes two weeks of mourning is enough, while Thando explains that in African culture, mourning lasts a month.
• Cremation is accepted in the UK but not in traditional African culture.
• Themba had wanted to be buried closer to his ancestors.
• Mandisa struggles to understand isiXhosa, and Sipho translates for her.
• Mandisa's parents expected her to marry a black man from the West Indies, England, or South Africa.

Exile

• Mandisa describes what it was like to be born in England but always hear about South Africa.
• Mandisa explains how Themba first studied in Nigeria before moving to England.

Style

Dramatic Irony

• The audience knows Sipho will not approve of Mandisa's plans to visit Johannesburg, creating tension.

A Dramatic Ending

• The scene ends with Sipho's shocked reaction to Mandisa's comment that he looks like her father.
• The "Blackout" stage direction creates suspense and anticipation for the next scene.

Diction and Figurative Language

Euphemism

• Sipho describes Themba's remains as "burnt", while Mandisa and Thando prefer "cremated" as it sounds less harsh.

Local Languages and Slang

• Mandisa attempts to speak isiXhosa.
• Sipho uses local slang, such as "skokiaan joints", adding authenticity to the dialogue.

6. Tone and Mood

• The tone is uneasy, as the family faces conflict over Themba's funeral.
• The dramatic tone at the end, with the blackout, builds suspense.
• The mood reflects the emotions of the audience – do they feel sad, angry, or indifferent?