The Zulu people have colourful names for their children, which often come to resemble the nature of the child, and so it was with fifteen-year-old Thulani. His name meant Be Still in Zulu and his parents often wished he were, for Thulani was a lively boy who loved telling wild tales, which bestowed on him the nickname Amnyama Idla. This meant Cloud Eater in the Zulu tongue, and it perfectly described the boys dreamy nature, his stories were gossamer and ethereal as the clouds themselves. In Zulu culture there are strict traditional rules on upbringing, children are taught to keep silent around the adults, yet this was impossible because the elders loved listening to tales of the Cloud Eater. A common sight was a group of men gathered around, while Thulani recounted his latest adventure, the boy was in fact something of a Zulu seer. Many of his fables were part of African folklore, while others will become part of folklore, the Eaters of Clouds they are called in Africa. Whimsical philosophers who are the lifeblood of African culture, because history and traditions are passed on orally in Africa. The tales of Thulani are in fact cautionary folklore, pointing the way to a modern South African fable at the end of the book, which is an allegory of an actual act of injustice. As noted by BBC journalist Peter Biles, on 16th November 2006 in an article titled, SA Media Misrepresent Shaik Trial. A shameful episode in South African history, ending with the notorious Spy Tapes, yet strangely there are no books covering this tumultuous time.