Uncle Zemach sure nurtured Soumchi's imagination that's for sure. On pg. 210 it says He brought him all kinds of outrageous presents. Uncle Zemach just seemed like a eccentric guy.
Zemach Shabad was born in 1864.
Zemach Shabad died in 1935.
Margot Zemach was born in 1931.
Margot Zemach died in 1989.
Shlomo Zemach was born on 1886-06-02.
Shlomo Zemach died on 1974-11-06.
Kaethe Zemach has written: 'The Question Song'
Benjamin Zemach was born on February 1, 1901, in Moscow, Russia.
Benjamin Zemach died on June 18, 1997, in Jerusalem, Israel.
Margot Zemach was born in Los Angeles, California, United States
I believe Soumchi wants to go to Africa because he wants to get away from the madness. He hates the taunting and misunderstanding from pretty much everyone he interacts with. There are many times in the text where Soumchi mentions his hatred for boys at school like Bar Kochba Sochobolski, Goel Germanski, and Elie Weingarten. I can imagine how much I would want to disappear after being bullied like the scene on page 213. This is the scene where the boy's made fun of Soumchi's bike. Africa seems like a wonderful place for Soumchi to get away to and never come back.
Uncle Tom's Cabinet is lesser known than Uncle Tom's Cabin, and had little impact.