The depiction of children in Mujajati’s Mwana waamai (2008) and Fear not my brother (2011)

Abstract

Children are the future leaders of any nation. Their portrayal in literature shapes and influences their roles. Their upbringing and treatment affects their future. This paper examines Mujajati’s presentation of children in his two novels Mwana waamai (2008) and Fear not my brother (2011). These two works are replete with children and their different images. Mujajati constantly portrays children with these stereotypical images as vulnerable, defenceless, victims, narrow-minded, weak, powerless and innocent beings. Unfortunately, children cannot avoid the way they are portrayed in literature. However, they can show that they do not have to fulfil these expectations of adults and that they are able to stand up for themselves through their actions. Children have their own identity which does not have to be formed by the stereotypes in current literature. The study reported on in this article showed that children are strong, empowered, liberators, life companions, guardians and powerful future leaders with an inner spirit that needs to be nurtured.