A young man of Muslim Indian descent whose family has lived on the east coast of Africa for generations. Feeling disconnected from his roots and sensing political instability, he moves to a remote town in the interior to run a trading shop. Salim acts as an observer of the changing political and social dynamics around him, struggling with feelings of isolation and a desire for a more sophisticated life.

Formerly known as Ali, Metty grew up as a servant in Salim's family home on the coast. He arrives in the interior town seeking refuge with Salim after witnessing violent uprisings. Charismatic and adaptable, he quickly integrates into the local community, earning the nickname 'Metty' from the French word for mixed-race, and establishing a life independent of his employer.

A young African student sent to the town by his mother to receive an education. Having spent his early years in his father's village in the south, Ferdinand feels like an outsider in the town. He is exploring his identity under the shifting political climate of postcolonial Africa, displaying a mix of entitlement and a desire to understand the wider world.

A young Belgian woman living in the government-sponsored Domain complex. Married to an older historian, she represents the sophisticated, European lifestyle Salim craves. Yvette is socially adept but quietly frustrated by her husband's stalling career and their exile from the capital city.

Salim's childhood friend from a wealthy coastal family. Indar studied at a prestigious university in England but struggled to find a place where he truly belonged. He returns to Africa working for an organization spreading new ideas, presenting a polished, European-influenced exterior that masks a deep sense of rootlessness.

A shrewd African marchande who makes a dangerous 60-mile journey by dugout canoe to buy goods in the town and resell them in her village. Zabeth is a successful businesswoman who pays exclusively in cash. She carries an aura of mystery and is rumored to be a magician, utilizing protective ointments that give her a distinct scent.

A European priest and the head teacher at the town's lycée. Father Huismans maintains a deep, academic appreciation for traditional African culture and religion. He frequently travels into the bush to collect indigenous masks and carvings, viewing himself as a witness to the continent's history and spiritual heritage.

A fastidious, handsome expatriate from East Africa who runs a shop across from the town's hotel. Mahesh is highly pragmatic and adapts quickly to the shifting economic landscape of the town, eventually opening a fast-food franchise. He believes in simply carrying on regardless of the surrounding political turmoil.

Mahesh's wife, who comes from a wealthy family and married him against their wishes. She lives an insular life in the town, rarely venturing out and feeling a deep sense of isolation and regret over her estrangement from her relatives.

An older, successful family friend from Salim's coastal community. Nazruddin is a charismatic businessman who lives a comfortable, cosmopolitan lifestyle. His vivid stories of the town's earlier, prosperous days initially inspire Salim to move to the interior.

An older European historian and writer in his late fifties. Once a close advisor to the country's president, he has been quietly sidelined to the Domain. Raymond dedicates his time to compiling the president's speeches and writing articles about Africa, though his knowledge relies heavily on outdated colonial sources rather than firsthand experience.

A local mechanic who becomes a minor political official in the town's shifting hierarchy. He represents the unpredictability of the new government's bureaucratic changes, taking advantage of his sudden elevation in status to demand respect and enforce his meager authority.

Nazruddin's daughter, who eventually settles with her family in London, working as a pharmacist. She is tied to Salim through long-standing family expectations that they will one day marry, representing a lingering connection to his past and his family's traditions.