Housegirl who assists Nkem and reacts to news of the girlfriend.

Friend who informs Nkem about Obiora’s girlfriend.

Protagonist, explores husband’s infidelity and decides to move back to Lagos.

Husband who has a girlfriend in Lagos and is often away for business.

New houseboy in Nigeria who confirms who is at home.

Chika’s aunt, who lives in a gated estate and works as a secretariat director.

Chika, a Lagos medical student caught in Kano riots, hides in an abandoned store with a Hausa woman.

Senior registrar at the teaching hospital mentioned by Chika.

Nnedi, Chika’s sister, disappears during the riots.

A Hausa Muslim woman who shelters Chika in the abandoned store.

Contact in Sweden who informed Ikenna about rebuilding the campus

Househelp who cooks onugbu soup and tends the garden

Survived the 1967 war, escaped to Sweden via Red Cross, returned and retired, widowed three years ago, organized Biafran fundraising abroad

Renowned dancer and former vice‑chancellor remembered by the narrator

Clerk at the university bursary who informs the narrator about pension delays

Former driver of the narrator, now in his late sixties, reminisces about past work and family

Seven‑year‑old son, participant in Read‑A‑Thon, cared for by Kamara

Nigerian immigrant working as nanny for Neil and Tracy, reflecting on marriage to Tobechi and immigration struggles

Josh’s French teacher, introduced to Tracy

Father of Josh, employer of Kamara, white Jewish lawyer with anxiety about parenting

Kamara’s husband, still awaiting green card, now works at Burger King

Josh’s mother, an artist who appears in the kitchen and basement

White senior at state university who courts narrator, gifts her, and promises to fund a trip to Nigeria

Father of the college senior, jokes about Indian food

Mother of the college senior, supportive during dinner

Manager of the Connecticut restaurant where narrator works, pays under the table

Protagonist, Nigerian woman who wins visa lottery, moves to US, works as waitress, experiences assault, begins relationship, learns of father’s death Narrator is applying for US asylum after her son Ugonna is killed; recounts husband’s journalism and escape.

Distant relative who hosts narrator in Maine and assaults her

Doctor who treated the narrator’s back after a balcony fall and warned her against tranquilizers.

Narrator’s husband, a journalist who exposed Abacha’s regime, was arrested, tortured, escaped to Benin and then the US, and holds a valid US visa.

Ugonna is the narrator’s four‑year‑old son who was killed and buried two days earlier.

New Nigerian neighbor who prays with Ukamaka and later reveals his undocumented status and impending deportation

Narrator's aunt who helped arrange marriage and gives advice

Husband of narrator, Nigerian doctor in residency, uses American name Dave Bell, previously married on paper, lives at 2B Flatbush, snoring and culturally controlling

Black American neighbor from 2D, owns a hair salon, befriends Chinaza, reveals husband's past

Neighbor from apartment 3A who visits Chinaza early on

Narrator's uncle in Nigeria who arranged the marriage

Maternal aunt who tried to take Dozie away after Nonso's death.

Narrator's cousin who survived the summer and meets her upon her return.

Narrator's father, who was in Zanzibar at the time of Nonso's death and later attended the funeral in Virginia.

Narrator's paternal grandmother who raised her in Nigeria and whose yard is the setting of the childhood memories.

Narrator's mother, living in California, who arranged for Nonso's body to be shipped home.

Woman from the house across the road who called the narrator's mother after Nonso's death.

Narrator's younger brother who died in the avocado tree accident.