Nnaemeka is an independent young man from the Igbo tribe who lives in the cosmopolitan city of Lagos. He respects his cultural heritage and cares deeply for his father. His exposure to modern city life influences his belief in personal autonomy regarding marriage. He struggles to manage the generational divide, desiring both personal happiness and his family's approval.

Okeke is a firm traditionalist rooted in his rural Igbo community. He believes marriage is a communal affair that must occur between members of the same tribe and be arranged by parents. He cares for his son but acts out of a strict sense of cultural and religious duty. He views modern independence as a direct threat to family honor.

Nene is an independent teacher who has lived her entire life in Lagos. Her city upbringing makes the concept of tribal-based marriage restrictions seem foreign and slightly absurd to her. She provides emotional support for Nnaemeka and faces cultural prejudice with resilience. She maintains a desire for family unity despite facing severe rejection from her prospective father-in-law.

This group of elderly men represents the strict traditionalist perspective in Okeke's rural village. They view modern changes and intertribal marriages as a religious and cultural collapse. They adhere to patriarchal gender roles and actively encourage adherence to older customs, including the use of native medicine.

Ugoye is the eldest daughter of Okeke's neighbor in the rural village. She has received a proper Christian upbringing and possesses all the domestic training expected of an ideal traditional wife. She represents the culturally acceptable path that Okeke wishes his son to follow.