Coconut Matlwa Analysis

Coconut

Kopano Matlwa’s Coconut explores what the so-called born frees experience due to the fact that are growing up in a melting pot of different cultures and identities. This environment causes the two protagonists to be in an ambiguous space, a space which Bhabha’s interprets as being spac that is “a source of linkage and connection instead of one which reinforces difference” (Bhabha). However, Matlwa’s Coconut demonstrates that being in an ambiguous space such as the one her protagonists occupy is one that is anything but “positive, liberating, and dynamic “. Through a discussion of Matlwa’s protagonists, this essay will demonstrate the manner in which she demonstrates that being in such a space is the opposite of BhaBha’s claim.

Fifi and Fiks face tension in particular aspects of their lives, namely language, culture and the issues of black beauty. These will each be discussed in respect to each character. First is the issue of language, language is a source of power, particularly the English language. Fiks equates speaking English with the “correct” accent to achieving success and so she tries to distance herself from her surroundings of poverty by speaking “properly” and making use of words such as “facetious and filial”. Language thus becomes a vehicle for her to move from everything she despises: being black a poor. Her destination is of course a white washed world where is she has everything she has ever desired. What Fiks fails to realise is that she is