Zoo City

What role do animals play in Zoo City? Are Sloth, the Mongoose, and other mashavi animal familiars a metaphor for something? If so, what?

Because of Sloth, others view Zinzi as a criminal. Are they right in their assessment? Is Zinzi an honorable or dishonorable person? Does Sloth hinder or help her to do what is right?

How do animalled celebrities influence people’s view of mashavi in general? How do these celebrities, and the fame they attain, cause others to culturally appropriate the mashavi? Why did Dave believe Zinzi should write about her own life as a mashavi rather than about pop culture?