The Thing Around Your Neck

Acerbic police officer at the Enugu station who dismisses the family’s request for release paperwork.

Narrator’s father, a university professor who values written reports, deals with the family crisis.

Narrator’s mother, owner of valuable gold jewelry, reacts to its theft and navigates police bribery.

Narrator's brother who steals mother’s jewelry, gets arrested for alleged cult involvement, endures Cell One and later is released.

Retired civil servant detained in the same cell as Nnamabia, subjected to humiliation by police.

Neighbor who previously broke into the narrator’s house and stole a TV, VCR, and videotapes.

Constable at Enugu police station who informs the family about the cult arrests and permits a brief visit.

Nkem’s older daughter, attending preschool and later school in the United States.

Nkem’s housegirl who helps with cleaning, cooking, and offers companionship.

Nkem’s friend in New Jersey who informs her about Obiora’s girlfriend and discusses life in Nigeria.

Another staff member mentioned by Uchenna as present in the Lagos house.

Narrator, a Nigerian immigrant living in suburban Philadelphia, deals with her husband's infidelity, motherhood, and cultural displacement.

Nkem’s husband, a wealthy Nigerian businessman who shuttles between Nigeria and the US, collects African art, and has a young girlfriend in Lagos.

A young woman, about twenty‑one, with short curly hair who has moved into Obiora’s Lagos house.

Nkem’s younger son, born three years after Adanna.

One of the staff members mentioned by Uchenna as present in the Lagos house.

The new houseboy in Obiora’s Lagos home, who answers Nkem’s late‑night call.

Chika’s aunt, director at the secretariat, lives in a gated estate.

Narrator, a young Igbo Christian woman studying medicine, experiences a riot in Kano and seeks shelter in a small store.

Daughter of the Hausa woman, mentioned as missing during the riot.

Muslim Hausa trader who shelters Chika, sells onions, offers prayers, and tends to wounds.

Chika’s younger sister, political science student, disappears during the riot.

Poet who died in the Biafran war, remembered as a colossus

Contact of Ikenna during Biafra, discussed rebuilding the campus

Late wife of James, remembered for her care and recent death

Househelp who waters the garden and prepares onugbu soup

Former sociology professor, thought dead, appears alive; returns from Sweden after retirement

71‑year‑old retired mathematics professor grappling with pension and loss of wife

Referred to as the great dancer and former vice chancellor

Narrator’s daughter, a doctor living in Connecticut/Rhode Island

Clerk at university bursary who greets narrator as Prof

Older former driver for James, now provides bananas and anecdotes

Seven‑year‑old biracial son of Tracy and Neil

Narrator, Nigerian immigrant nanny in Philadelphia caring for Josh

Josh’s father, a white Jewish lawyer

Kamara’s husband from Nigeria, mentioned in backstory

Josh’s mother, an artist who works in the basement

Writer from Johannesburg, patient and pious

Older former UCT lecturer who hosts the workshop and drives participants from the airport

Edward's wife, an animal‑rights activist who spent her teenage years in Botswana

Writer from Nairobi, tall with patterned shirts

Youngest writer, 23, studied in Paris and has silver dreadlocks

Writer from Arusha, quiet and observant

Early‑thirties Ugandan who won the Lipton African Writers’ Prize and leads the workshop

Nigerian participant arrives at Jumping Monkey Hill for the African Writers Workshop

Writer from Durban, earnest and makeup‑free

Writer from Bulawayo with cowrie‑adorned dreadlocks

Owner of a Ghanaian‑type shop in Hartford who interacts with the narrator and her boyfriend about African identity.

Waiter at Chang’s who speaks some Mandarin and asks the narrator about a girlfriend in Shanghai.

Manager of the Connecticut restaurant where narrator works, offers under‑the‑table pay and gives her advice on immigration.

Unnamed Nigerian woman who wins visa lottery, moves to Maine, then Connecticut, works as waitress, experiences abuse and cultural challenges. The narrator stands in line at the Lagos American embassy seeking asylum after her son Ugonna's death and her husband's escape. Narrator marries Ofodile, moves from Lagos to a Flatbush apartment, adopts the name Agatha Bell on official documents, and adapts to American life.

Community‑college professor in Maine who lectures on decolonization and displays a superior attitude toward African studies.

Relative who picks narrator up at airport, offers housing, works at a company with diversity hiring, later assaults narrator.

Wife of the Maine uncle who calls narrator "nwanne" and helps create a home‑like atmosphere.

The embassy staff member who conducts the narrator’s asylum interview, probing for evidence of government persecution.

Dr. Balogun is the narrator’s physician who refuses additional tranquilizers and advises her to keep her mind blank for the visa interview.

A man behind the narrator repeatedly talks to her, offers oranges, and gives visa‑interview advice.

Ugonna is the narrator’s four‑year‑old son who is shot dead in front of the embassy line, his body described with a red palm‑oil splash.

Nigerian neighbor on the third floor who visits Ukamaka to pray in a Pentecostal style and later reveals he is undocumented and at risk of deportation.

Catholic priest in Princeton who meets Ukamaka and Chinedu, offering counsel about faith and God.

Ukamaka’s ex‑boyfriend, an MBA student at Wharton who was thought possibly on the crashed flight but is later confirmed safe.

Nigerian graduate student in Princeton who receives a knock from Chinedu, prays, experiences a shivering, and deals with news of a plane crash involving her ex‑boyfriend Udenna.

Narrator's aunt who advises her on phone calls and the timeline before the wedding.

Black American woman living in 2D who owns a hair salon and befriends the narrator.

Narrator's new husband, a Nigerian doctor who changes his name to Dave and later to Bell for American convenience.

Neighbour from apartment 3A who brings mail and offers a brief greeting.

Narrator's paternal uncle who arranged her marriage and discussed the Super Eagles gold medal.

Narrator’s cousin, companion in childhood games, later the driver who brings narrator back to the family home and keeper of the secret of Nonso’s death.

Narrator’s father, absent during the crisis, attending a Black Arts festival in the woods with no communication devices.

Narrator’s grandmother who taught childhood rituals, enforced gender rules, and later appears as a grave in the backyard.

Narrator’s mother who lives in a California commune, arranges Nonso’s body shipment, and exhibits a distinctive ho‑ho‑ho laugh.

Narrator’s brother who dies after falling from an avocado tree during a summer marked by a storm and a snake threat.

Son of Nwamgba and Obierika, later baptized as Michael and becomes a catechist, navigating missionary education and family rivalry.

Nwamgba's close friend of slave descent, outspoken and well-traveled, provides counsel on marriage and education.

Missionary who disciplines students with physical punishment, causing Nwamgba's protest.

Catholic priest who intervenes after elders beat Anikwenwa's wife Mgbeke at the Oyi stream.

Holy Ghost Congregation priest who baptizes Anikwenwa and provides English education.

Headstrong widowed woman who reminisces about her late husband Obierika and navigates conflicts with his cousins and missionaries.

Prosperous potter and flute player, husband of Nwamgba who dies under suspicious circumstances.

Maternal cousin of Obierika, greedy and envious, later claims Obierika's property after his death.

Ayaju's husband, described unfavorably by Ayaju.

Second maternal cousin of Obierika, similarly greedy and opportunistic.