Funiwe

Outer characterization

Funiwe is Mandisa’s maternal aunt in the novel Mother to Mother by Sindiwe Magona. Funiwe’s mother is Makhulu, and she has two older siblings: Mama and Malume. She lives in East London, South Africa, where she works as a teacher. She is described as a woman “at least as large as Mama” (p. 109) with a “milky coffee complexion” (p. 109).

Inner characterization

Funiwe sends a letter to Makhulu to let her know that she will come to Gungululu to give birth to her child. Mandisa, who was living with Makhulu at the time, believes that she can ask Funiwe to take her to East London when Funiwe returns, so she can go to high school there. Because of this, Funiwe represents a hope to escape her mother’s smothering presence for Mandi...