Nathan is a stubborn Evangelical Baptist missionary and World War II veteran. He rules his household with an iron fist, frequently using physical and verbal abuse to maintain absolute dominance over his wife and daughters. Believing himself uniquely chosen by God to convert the village of Kilanga, he refuses to listen to advice from locals or his predecessors. His inflexible worldview immediately puts him at odds with the culture and survival practices of the Congo.

Orleanna is the Mississippi-born wife of Nathan and mother to four daughters. She attempts to buffer her children against their father's tyrannical outbursts while trying to maintain a functioning household in an unforgiving environment. Though cowed by Nathan's aggressive dominance, she harbors a quiet, desperate resolve to keep her daughters safe. She quickly realizes how ill-prepared the family is for the reality of the Congo.

Rachel is the fifteen-year-old, white-blonde eldest daughter of the Price family. Vain and highly materialistic, she resents being dragged away from American teenage culture, sock-hops, and modern hygiene. She generally focuses on her own comfort and appearance, choosing to ignore the complex political and cultural shifts happening around her.

Leah is a fourteen-year-old tomboy and Adah's twin sister. Exceptionally bright and eager to please, she initially idolizes her father and blindly supports his religious mission. She possesses a strong sense of justice and curiosity, which drives her to learn Kikongo and engage with the local community. Her growing awareness of the world gradually challenges her black-and-white understanding of right and wrong.

Adah is Leah's fourteen-year-old twin, born with hemiplegia that paralyzes her right side and causes a pronounced limp. She chooses not to speak, preferring to observe the world quietly and communicate through palindromes and internal poetry. Highly intelligent and skeptical, she immediately notices that the people of Kilanga are far more accepting of her physical differences than the people in Georgia were.

Ruth May is the adventurous five-year-old youngest daughter of the Price family. Unburdened by the prejudices of her older family members, she quickly befriends the local children by organizing games like "Mother, May I." Her innocent perspective offers a unique, unfiltered view of the village, though she struggles to comprehend the harsh realities and local superstitions of their new home.

Anatole is a twenty-four-year-old orphan who works as the village schoolteacher in Kilanga. He bears distinctive facial scars and possesses a deep intelligence and understanding of both local and Western politics. He patiently answers Leah's questions and acts as a bridge between the Price family and the village, even while quietly supporting the Congolese independence movement.

Patrice Lumumba is the historical political leader who becomes the first elected Prime Minister of the newly independent Republic of the Congo. He advocates for his country's absolute independence and control over its own vast natural resources, making him a target for Western powers who wish to maintain economic dominance.

Eeben Axelroot is a rugged, unwashed mercenary and pilot heavily involved in the local diamond trade. He maintains a crucial radio link to the outside world and holds secret connections to foreign intelligence agencies. He frequently exploits the Prices' isolation for financial gain while showing an inappropriate interest in Rachel.

Tata Ndu is the established chief of Kilanga. He observes traditional local religions and views Reverend Price's Christian mission as a direct threat to the spiritual safety of his village. He is a pragmatic leader who tries to manage the disruption the white family brings, occasionally offering strategic compromises that the Reverend flatly rejects.

Nelson, also known as Lekuyu, is a bright twelve-year-old orphan and Anatole's best student. He helps the Price family survive by teaching them essential local survival tactics, language phrases, and cultural taboos. He often points out the family's ignorance regarding local superstitions and dangers.

Tata Kuvudundu is the traditional witchdoctor of Kilanga. He deeply resents the presence of the Christian missionaries and actively works to undermine them. He interprets local disasters and bad omens as signs that the village must reject the foreign religion and its practitioners.

Brother Fowles is the previous missionary assigned to Kilanga. Unlike Nathan, he embraced the local culture, married a Congolese woman, and focused on kindness and mutual respect rather than fire-and-brimstone preaching. He maintains a positive relationship with the villagers and serves as a direct foil to Reverend Price's rigid dogma.

Mama Tataba is a local Congolese woman who worked as a servant for Brother Fowles and initially stays to help the Price family. She tries to teach Nathan practical survival skills—like planting seeds in raised mounds—but eventually leaves the household due to his stubborn refusal to listen to her expertise.

Reverend Underdown and his wife are the Belgian-American representatives of the Mission League. They operate from the relative comfort of the city and provide the Prices with their meager stipend. They eventually attempt to warn Nathan about the impending political unrest and urge the family to evacuate.

Mrs. Underdown assists her husband in managing the affairs of the Baptist mission from the relative safety of the city. She shares his bureaucratic mindset and ultimately abandons the region when political tensions escalate.

Methuselah is an African grey parrot left behind by Brother Fowles. He has learned to mimic human speech, occasionally swearing, which infuriates Reverend Price. Nathan eventually throws the bird out of its cage, forcing it to survive on its own in the dangerous jungle.

Mama Mwanza is the Prices' nearest neighbor in Kilanga. Despite having lost her legs, she expertly manages her household and family. Demonstrating the deep communal care of the village, she secretly sneaks eggs into the Prices' chicken shed when she realizes they are struggling to find food.

Pascal is an eight- or nine-year-old Congolese boy who befriends Leah. He has more free time to play than his sisters, who are busy with chores. He helps teach Leah the local Kikongo language, serving as her first real connection to the children of the village.

Gbenye is Tata Ndu's eldest son. He is boastful and competitive, coming into direct conflict with Leah during the community hunt when he tries to claim an impala that she shot with her arrow.