No matter where you come from you can be whatever you want to be, as long as you believe in your self. Itai Wanyuku is living proof of this. Determination is what keeps Itai going. Itai comes from a village called Mutade in Zimbabwe. The 22 year old young man is currently a first at Rhodes University doing a B Com, being at Rhodes to him it is like a dream come true when looking back where he comes from. Itai grew up living in a mud build house, herding cows and fetching water from the river.
Itai is a very anti-social person. He doesn’t have friends because he believes that he is here to study, not to make friends. When he goes to the dining hall, he seat and eat by himself and not talk to anyone nor say hi to anyone. Before he starts eating he closes his eyes and bows his head and prays. When he goes to lectures he walks by himself carrying a big bag with all his text books. On his right wrist he has a watch that was gold but now it’s bronze, he says the watch belonged to his mother. After each lecture he looks at the watch and rushed to another lecture. “I hate being late because it disrupt my classmates and the lecture” says Itai. He spends 95% of his time studying. He even sleeps at the 24 hour library. He is always wearing training shoes with black and red tracksuits. He has this tiny smile that he gives you when speaking to him, and he never looks at you straight in the eye. He bows his head all the time, when he’s walking even when he’s talking.
His home boy Thabo* described his character as complicated because he is always alone, saying nothing to anyone but sometimes you see him laughing and joking with his housemates. Thabo* says, the Zimbabwe issue is what makes him talk because he doesn’t want people criticizing Zimbabwe. Thabo* reckons that he feels like it’s his duty to portray a good picture of Zimbabwe.
He describes himself as a shy person. He grew up in a nuclear family and unfortunately when he was in grade eight his parents passed away. The death of his parents brought a big change in his life, where he had to go and live with his uncle and he also had to drop out of school but two years later he returned to school. “My people are very backwards and don’t understand the importance of education.” said Itai. After matriculation the chief told him not to further his studies just so that he could start working as he is the only one left in the family.
He said that the reason he doesn’t talk too much is because of the way he was brought up, and being the only child at home also played a big role. He feels like he doesn’t fit in the society of Rhodes because of his background and the way he dresses. He says, he is still mourning for his parents and that is why he is still wearing his mothers watch because it’s the only link he has with his mother. They died when he was very young and he didn’t understand what was happening, it’s now that he realises that something important is missing in his life.
“My schooling at Rhodes has taught me a lot of things about life.” Itai said. His background is what inspires him and makes him strong. He wants to be everything that his parents wanted him to be and he does not want to disappoint them in any way, what he want the most is to make them proud. He said no matter what obstacles you come across along the way you just have to know who you are, because a hero lies within you.