Suave Charmer. Mum's The Word
Noseweek|April 2017

The real hero of trevor Noah’s autobiography is his awe-inspiring mother.

Trevor Noah
Suave Charmer. Mum's The Word

The nation is familiar with the suavity and sharp intelligence of Clever Trevor’s TV persona. His history of surviving disadvantage is a brave tale, not unique in the book of apartheid victims, but told with brio and a minimum of self-pity.

He does not speak for the doughty woman who bore him, but the facts of her riveting life and character are recorded eloquently. It is right and proper that he should have dedicated the book to her. Who would have thought that she, who clawed dignity from a violent life, would produce the suave charmer of The Daily Show?

Her boy achieved fame as host of Comedy Central and featured on the cover of Time magazine. But his many accomplishments flowed from the fierce courage of a mother who, in addition to defying apartheid and rejecting traditional tribal female obedience, was actively determined to shape two new lives.

This story is from the April 2017 edition of Noseweek.

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This story is from the April 2017 edition of Noseweek.

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