Adah is a highly intelligent and ambitious young woman who fights her parents for the right to an education. She secures a lucrative job as a librarian at the American Consulate to support her family before moving to London. In England, she bears the full financial and domestic burden of raising her children while facing systemic racism, poor housing conditions, and severe domestic abuse. She consistently pushes against traditional expectations to forge an independent path and protect her family.

Francis is an aspiring accountant who travels to England for his education but entirely fails to study or attend lectures. He embraces a patriarchal role that oppresses his wife, demanding her salary while refusing to contribute to childcare or household duties. Separated from his parents' influence in Nigeria, he uses violence, manipulation, and intimidation to maintain authority in his home.

Mr. Noble is an older Nigerian immigrant who originally came to England to study law but ended up working menial jobs. After injuring his shoulder performing a trick for beer, he used his pension to purchase a multi-floor building. He leans into exaggerated, racist stereotypes of African mysticism to entertain white English people and to frighten unwanted tenants out of his property.

Boy is Adah's brother, raised in Nigeria with the full support and financial backing of their family. Unlike Adah, he never has to fight for his right to an education. Despite the family formally disowning Adah over her marriage, Boy maintains a connection with her and shows up at the wharf to see her off to England.

Titi is the eldest daughter of Adah and Francis. In London, she stops speaking entirely after her father beats her for speaking Yoruba, suffering from delayed language development as a result of her stressful home environment.

Vicky is Adah and Francis's first son. He contracts meningitis after being neglected by his daily minder and left to play in the garbage. His severe illness brings out a rare moment of protectiveness in his otherwise neglectful father.

Bubu is Adah and Francis's second son. The hospital staff nickname him "Mohammed Ali" because of his fiery temper as a newborn.

Dada is the youngest daughter born to Adah and Francis. Her arrival coincides with Adah's growing independence and financial planning.

Janet is a white English woman married to a Northern Nigerian man. She befriends Adah and helps her find childcare, offering guidance on British terminology and housing norms.

Babalola is a Northern Nigerian immigrant who came to England with significant funds but failed to maintain his wealth. He is married to Janet, a white English woman.

Trudy is a white childminder whose services are secured for Titi and Vicky. She is highly negligent, leaving the children to play in a garbage-filled backyard while she entertains men in her home, directly leading to Vicky contracting meningitis.

Miss Sterling is an official who oversees registered childminders in the area. She listens to Adah's tearful complaints regarding Trudy's negligence and arranges for Titi and Vicky to be placed in a proper nursery instead.

Mrs. Konrad is an older Czech woman who supervises the North Finchley Library where Adah finds employment. She is kind to Adah and sends gifts for her children during the holidays.

Bill is a Canadian librarian married to another librarian named Eileen. He acts as a supportive colleague to Adah, introducing her to works by Black authors and providing a friendly workplace environment.

Eileen is a librarian and the wife of Adah's Canadian coworker, Bill.

Peggy is an Irish librarian dealing with personal relationship troubles, specifically an affair with an Italian man. She openly discusses her life with the other library staff.

Mr. Barking is the library boss who oversees Adah, Peggy, and Bill at the Chalk Farm branch.

Mr. Okpara is an Igbo man who observes Adah's marital distress. He takes it upon himself to counsel Francis in an attempt to correct his behavior, though his traditional interventions ultimately fail.

Mrs. Noble is the white English wife of Mr. Noble. She is talkative and immediately observant of Adah's pregnancy, while maintaining a somewhat flirtatious dynamic with prospective tenants.

Nweze is a Nigerian lawyer whose return from receiving a British education causes immense excitement in Adah's hometown. His arrival serves as a catalyst for the community's complex admiration of English culture.

Mr. Cole is Adah's neighbor in Nigeria and a teacher at the local Methodist School. When young Adah sneaks into his classroom, he kindly allows her to stay, buys her a roasted plantain, and encourages her to seek formal permission to attend.