Sidi is a young village girl living in Ilujinle. Her physical beauty earns her the title of "village belle" and the nickname "jewel." She expects suitors to respect local customs, specifically the payment of a bride-price before marriage. After a foreign visitor publishes her photograph in a magazine, her confidence inflates into vanity, causing her to view herself as more important than the local authorities.

Lakunle is the twenty-three-year-old schoolmaster of Ilujinle. He attempts to embody Western civilization by wearing foreign clothes and using complex vocabulary. He wants to modernize the village and eliminate traditions he views as backward, refusing to pay a bride-price for marriage. Despite his progressive goals, his views on gender remain distinctly unequal.

Bale Baroka is the sixty-two-year-old chieftain of Ilujinle. Known as the "lion," he holds significant power and actively works to prevent the village from modernizing, believing progress will diminish his authority. He maintains a harem of wives and relies on cunning to outsmart outside influences, such as bribing railway workers to bypass his territory.

Sadiku is the eldest wife in Bale Baroka's household. She manages the female affairs of the chief's residence and serves as his emissary when he wishes to propose to a new woman. She takes her role seriously and expects younger women to jump at the opportunity to elevate their social standing by joining the Bale's family.

The residents of Ilujinle form a tight-knit community bound by shared customs. They operate collectively, acting as an audience and participating in reenactments of notable events through song and dance. They observe the conflict between modern ideals and traditional practices playing out among the village leaders.

The Wandering Man is a visitor from Lagos whose car breaks down near Ilujinle. He photographs Sidi and publishes her image in a magazine, inadvertently shifting the social dynamics of the village. He represents the outside world and brings modern media into the isolated community.