The play begins with a debate. Briefly explain how this came about

A Bantu classroom at Zolile High School in South Africa, circa 1984. Anela Myalatya is a teacher currently moderating a debate between his student, Thami Mbikiwani, and a student from a school in the affluent white neighborhood. The white student, Isabel Dyson, from Cambedoo High School, is declared the winner of the debate, but afterward the two students engage in conversation that results in a blossoming friendship. This stimulates Thami’s teacher—known informally as Mr. “M”—to invite Isabel to join along with Thami in an interschool competition for the purpose of revealing that even in Apartheid-era South Africa, people of different races can work together toward a common goal. Of course, there’s always the potential for the competition to net Thami a scholarship. Isabel admits that she had been somewhat anxious about how black students might react to a white student at first, but her friendship with Thami has convinced her that she should accept the invitation without worry.