is mxolisi a product of his own environment

I think it is accurate to say that Mxolsi is a product of hios environment. Most every part of him seems to be a reaction or rebellion to his environment.

At the time of the novel, Mxolisi is 20 years old. He is part of a generation of millions of children in South Africa who rebelled against ineffectual schooling and spent their time fighting against the oppressive apartheid government.

Mxolisi stays up all night, roaming the streets in with a group of other boys. He is fiercely intelligent, loyal to others, and very caring and demonstrative to his mother. At the worst of times he is disobedient and a bully to his siblings, at the best, he is a protective and politically active leader.