Salim
Salim is the novel's protagonist and narrator. He was determined to make his way in life, so he left his hometown to start a business in Africa's interior. Salim is resourceful and understands how to operate in a difficult environment. He was able to establish a successful business in the interior and to make money through illegal trading. He was also able to flee the country when the political situation became volatile. Salim is a person who is open-minded and tolerant. He is open to other people's beliefs and practices, even if they differ from his own. He was open to the idea of exploring a romantic relationship with Yvette, even though it went against his cultural norms.
Salim can also adjust to changing circumstances, whether political or personal. He quickly learns the town's customs and is able to form relationships with its residents, even earning Zabeth's trust to watch over her son. He also adjusts to his changing circumstances in the Domain, transitioning from a shopkeeper to a manager and chauffeur for the new owner of his company.
Nazruddin
Nazruddin is a family friend of Salim's and an Indian Muslim who has lived in various places throughout Africa. He is the one who offered Salim the shop. Nazruddin exemplifies the instability brought about by colonialism. Due to political unrest, he is forced to relocate from his home on the East African coast to Uganda, and then to Canada, due to economic concerns. He is a businessman who has traveled the world and seen much of it, and he is wise and experienced beyond his years. He has had several failed business ventures, including ones in Canada and London, and he is a landlord in the latter city. He is a realist who advises Salim to reject false security ideals and live in the real world. Despite his various moves, Nazruddin remains optimistic about his future, and his optimistic attitude is adopted by Salim, who eventually decides to leave his own home in search of a better future.
Raymond
Raymond is a historian trying to make his mark on the history of his country. He was once the President's mentor and remains devoted to him despite falling out of favor with the politician. Raymond is editing a collection of the President's speeches, but the President is dissatisfied with Raymond's work and publishes and distributes a drastically altered version of the book that only contains brief maxims. Raymond is also having problems with his much younger wife, Yvette, who is having an affair with Salim.
Raymond is also a symbol of the African people's struggles under colonial rule. Locals respect him, but his age and status make him an outcast. He is a colonial relic, a reminder of oppression and subjugation. He is also a symbol of the President's government's failures, as his writings are met with indifference or even disdain. Furthermore, Raymond exemplifies how age and experience can be both a blessing and a curse. His age provides him with wisdom and insight, but it also prevents him from adapting to changing circumstances. He is unable to move forward because he is stuck in the past.
Father Huismans
Father Huismans is a Belgian priest in charge of the local secondary school where Ferdinand, Zabeth's son, attends. He adores Africa and has an extensive collection of African masks. He is an intriguing character in the book because he represents the colonial past while also being fascinated by African culture. He is a reminder of the past and how his views differed from those of the town's residents, who were still dealing with the legacy of colonialism. His assassination, which was never investigated, is a symbol of the violence and chaos that characterized the country's transition to independence. His mask collection, which is looted by an American visitor, is a symbol of the exploitation of African culture and resources by outsiders.
Zabeth
She is a sorceress who works as a local trader. Zabeth takes Salim under her wing, providing him with a steady flow of business and entrusting him with the education of her son Ferdinand. She is tenacious and determined to provide her son with the best possible start in life. She is also devoted to her community and is frequently regarded as a leader and protector. Zabeth is a source of strength and stability for Salim throughout the novel. She assists him in adjusting to his new life in the African interior by providing much-needed support and guidance. Salim also benefits from Zabeth's protection. When political unrest breaks out in the town and Salim finds himself in trouble with the law, it is Zabeth's son Ferdinand who helps to release him from prison.
Metty
Metty is a half-African former slave who is assigned to work as Salim's shop assistant after Salim relocates to the African interior's former colonial town. Metty is a trustworthy and hardworking character who quickly becomes an indispensable asset to Salim's company. She is also extremely perceptive, detecting danger before it occurs. Metty, for example, can detect when a customer is dishonest, allowing Salim to avoid being taken advantage of. Metty also has a knack for spotting lucrative trading opportunities, as evidenced by her tip to Salim about where to find illegal ivory. In this way, Metty's keen insights and hard work assist Salim in making the most of his business, even in the chaotic and dangerous post-colonial environment.
Ferdinand
He is the son of Zabeth, a trader, and a childhood friend of Salim's who has been sent to the town at the river's bend to get an education. Ferdinand is a symbol of hope in the novel because he is the only character who is able to transcend the town's tribalism and classism. He can get an education and advance through the government ranks to become a commissioner, a position of power and authority. Ferdinand also serves as a reminder of the value of education, as it was his education that allowed him to rise to power. He also serves to remind the reader that even in times of chaos and upheaval, there is always the possibility for progress and change.
Indar
Indar is a childhood friend of Salim's from the east coast of Africa. He is a university lecturer at an unnamed African country's polytechnic university. He is well-educated, and those around him value his knowledge and wisdom. He is a source of information for Salim, introducing him to the world of intellectuals and African university students. He also provides Salim with a sense of familiarity and friendship in a foreign land. Indar acts as a link between Salim's old and new homes, providing a familiar presence in an unfamiliar setting. He exemplifies the opportunities for growth and success that exist in the new Africa. He provides Salim with support and advice and encourages him to embrace the world in which he lives. He also serves as a reminder of the difficulties of life in the interior, as he is eventually unable to stay and must leave with the steamer.
Yvette
She is Raymond's much younger wife and the love interest of Salim. Yvette is a woman of great charm, elegance, and sophistication, but she is also a mystery. Yvette is a multifaceted character who has been both a victim and a survivor. Raymond's neglect and obsession with the Big Man have left Yvette vulnerable. She is also a victim of Salim's rage and rejection, which culminates in a violent outburst at the end of their affair. Yvette, on the other hand, is a survivor because she is able to move past her experiences and embrace the concept of self-determination. She is not content to sit back and let life happen to her; instead, she takes charge of her destiny.
The President
The President is a powerful and influential leader of an unnamed African country. He is a symbol of hope for many people in the country, as he works to modernize the country and usher it into a new era of progress. He is also a symbol of oppression, as he tightens his grip on power and silences dissent. The President has a talent for manipulating the public to his advantage, and he uses his connections in government to pass laws that reflect his interests. He also keeps a tight grip on the country's resources, expropriating foreign-owned businesses and enforcing a strict "radicalization" policy that serves to limit the influence of those who oppose him. Even those who are loyal to him, such as Raymond, are often pushed aside and ignored when they attempt to please him.
Kareisha
She is the daughter of Nazruddin, a family friend of Salim's who returns to the coast after living in the interior for a few years. When Salim visits London, he meets Kareisha, with whom he quickly falls in love. Despite their disparate backgrounds, Kareisha and Salim form a strong bond and eventually marry. She is described as independent and strong-willed, and she encourages Salim to take risks and embrace change. For example, despite the risks involved, Kareisha encourages Salim to pursue his dreams of leaving Africa and moving to London. She also supports Salim's plan to smuggle illegal goods to raise funds for his trip. Despite her own family’s troubles, Kareisha is fiercely loyal to Salim and stands by him during difficult times, such as when he is arrested for smuggling.
Théotime
Théotime is an inexperienced and troublesome African who inherits Salim's shop after it is expropriated by the President's new "radicalization" program. He is described as "ignorant and lazy," and he continues to employ Salim as manager and chauffeur. He is a symbol of the government's incompetence and corruption because he is unable to run the shop properly and relies on Salim to do everything. Théotime is the polar opposite of Salim, who is portrayed as a hardworking and dependable man. He is also a symbol of the African country's political unrest, as his incompetence highlights the lack of security for honest businessmen and the country's general sense of hopelessness.
