Mosese - Betrayal in the City Characterization and Role

Mosese is a former university lecturer who is later imprisoned for criticizing the ruling elite.

Friendly/sociable

He easily makes friends with Jere in prison. He also shares his views with Jere .
For example, when Jere tells him that he was a soldier before he came to face to face with reality, Mosese tells him that fire has always been there. (pg 22)

He explains to Jere the reason he had changed his name –an illegal drug was planted on him by a man bearing the same name as him (Nicodemus) leading to his imprisonment.

Intelligent/observant

He was a university lecturer. He is also able to see through the scheme that the authorities have.
They intend to use prisoners to act a play to entertain a visiting Head of state to symbolize national unity and therefore build confidence in the visitor to encourage him to invest more in Kafira.

Together with Jere and Jusper, he intelligently carries out a palace coup.

Principled

Initially, he refuses to participate in a play to be performed for the visiting head of state. “I will not bend so low.” (pg 26). ‘I cannot do it. Among my friends, that would be equivalent to kneeling in front of Boss and pleading for mercy.’ (pg 27)

His change of name was influenced by Boss decision to change his.
He changed his name since the man who planted a drug on him to implicate him shared a name with him (Nicodemus) (pg 25)

Selfless

Even though he is not related to Adika who is just one among his many students, he protests his killing and fights injustice but the reward for his effort was imprisonment.

Daring

Together with Jusper and Jere he agrees to take part in a potentially dangerous plot to bring down Boss through a play meant for entertaining the visiting head of state.
The plan may not work hence they may be labelled traitors.

Sceptical/Hopeless/pessimistic

After being sent to prison on trumped up charges, he loses faith in the freedom of Kafira.
When told that the release of six hundred prisoners will depend on his participation in the play to entertain the visiting head of state, it only makes him feel like he is betraying what he believes in.
He feels it would be like kneeling down ‘in front of Boss and pleading for mercy’ for something he has not done. (pg 28)

He does not believe in the Bible teachings that Jere seems to believe in.
For example, he says, ‘That is why I don’t believe in such crap as the last shall be first, and blessed are the poor for they shall inherit the kingdom of heaven!…..” (pg 28)

When Jere tells him that things will change, he says, ‘……that is why I prefer to wait and see. I will stay here and remain loyal to my principles. (pg 28)

Roles