Character Profiles
(in order of appearance)
Fatoumata (Fatou) Ka: Only daughter of Ali Ka, chief of the Koro compound and Ramatoulaye. Arrestingly beautiful, naturally intelligent, fiercely independent and tenacious when necessary. Semi-literate, she speaks Fula, Wolof, French and later, English. Ethnically Fula.
Ramatoulaye (Rama) Ka: Fatou’s mother and the second of Ali’s four wives. She’s barren and weak-spirited, but stubbornly devoted to her only child, Fatou. Viewed with disdain by the other wives because Ali seems to favor her. Chronically depressed and later, mentally ill. Illiterate, she speaks Fula and Wolof, and later, practically mute except for random utterances or outbursts.
Ethnically Fula.
Awa Ngor: Once beautiful, and still relatively young, has fallen on hard times due to her past of prostitution and the ravages of untreated venereal disease. Extremely cunning, clever, proud, independent and loyal. Raised in a small fishing village on La Petite Côte but ran off with an older man to life in the big city (Dakar) when only fourteen. He abandoned her after a year a she’s since struggled to survive and, for a while, serviced foreign tourists. Ethnically Serer.
Madior (Madior) Fall Diop: Although raised in the griot caste in a traditional environment, went to French School and fought in the Algerian War (for the French), losing a leg. Has witnessed Senegal’s transition from colonialism to independence and is aware of all history as trained. Makes a living as a woodcarver and has some supernatural powers from his upbringing. Born in Rufisque in French West Africa, he renounced his French citizenship and re-found his humble origins as an untold penance. Speaks (channels) many languages but primarily Wolof and French. Ethnically Wolof.
Yves Antoine Faubert: Third generation French colonial, born in Saint Louis, Senegal. Has led a privileged and somewhat isolated life abroad. Family origin: Nantes, France. Speaks primarily French but can function in passable Wolof if necessary. Patriotically French although he has only gone to college there, returning to Senegal after his father’s death and mother’s illness. Ignores his half-Senegalese sister.
Moussa Sarr: A corpulent, bon vivant who was instrumental in securing the country’s independence and seeks to retain his position as long as it suits him. A political animal, he’s not necessarily corrupt but extremely self-interested and not afraid to literally throwing his weight around when he wants something. Life is a chess game, and he has all the pieces. Somewhat amoral and an unmitigated womanizer. Speaks French and Wolof. He is well-matched with his social-climbing wife, Mariama, whom he married as a political maneuver. Wolof aristocracy.
Worthington Delaney Burke (aka Yatma Sarr): Tall and wiry, from East Texas with Scot-Irish roots. Loves Senegal and enjoys development work, seek to stay for a third year and rise up in the Volunteers in Progress ranks. Rarely seen without his cowboy hat. Speaks English and fluent Wolof, passable French. Appears “redneck” at a glance but is multidimensional and defies stereotype.
Paul Steinberg: Bearded and a bit-sunburned, from the Chicago suburbs and secular Jewish. An urban volunteer stationed in Dakar growing weary of V.I.P. bureaucracy and local politics. Likes Senegal and plans too to make it and the V.I.P. better for everyone involved. Passionate and committed even if frustrated. Speaks English, garbled French and spotty Wolof. Much smarter and stronger than he looks.
Ruth Meyers: A sturdy, handsome woman with bobbed hair and freckles. From Oakland and attended Berkley as a political science major. Abused as a child and somewhat traumatized, but not victimized. Loves her new life in the village and is very integrated into all aspects of Senegalese society. Caucasian. Speaks English, some French and very, unusually fluent Wolof.
Malcolm Lavelle King (aka Samba N'Diaye?): Educated, well-read, astute and good-looking , can be exasperating and too smart for his own good. Never runs from a fight and has been known to start some. Not a chip on his shoulder but as of late a bad attitude. On a good day, kind and empathetic given his religious (Baptist) upbringing he now rejects as a college graduate. Self-righteous but privately nonjudgmental and fair in the sense that he’ll share both happiness and misery with everyone equally. Has the courage of conviction and enjoys a good argument. Mature enough to accept and respect disagreement. Developing a world view. Decent childhood, middle-class, Black in South Los Angeles with a close knit family. Adjusting poorly to Senegal and being a volunteer; not sure why he came nor if he’ll stay. An urban volunteer in a moribund education program. Speaks English, academic French and decent, but rehearsed, Wolof when interested.
Karen Robinson (aka Nafi Seck): Unusually smart, well-educated, witty and pretty, can be a pest when she wants to prove a point. Very loyal and protective about those and things she cares about and is proudly Afrocentric. Naturally open-minded and forgiving but there's hell to pay until or if she doesn't forgive you. Listens to everyone, but follows her own heart and the beats of her own drum. Fiercely independent, but loves to be on a team. Southern, from Virginia, was a debutante and in a sorority in college. Loves to talk and laugh and can be louder than her genteel upbringing allows. Expanding her world view and really has grown from her experience in Senegal. A third-year veteran volunteer who served in a village and now primarily in Dakar in her Senegalese boyfriend's family compound. Painfully monolingual, speaks English, no French and three phrases in Wolof after two years of service!