The narrator
The narration of the novel is executed in the first person plural. The narrator is therefore a nameless we/us, which serves to represent a sense of community and unity, to tell the story of everyone, to tell the names of everyone who's been through the suffering.
The Wolof man
The Wolof man is the first of the group that got transferred to another place to be sold to go down, to be violently murdered for resisting the humiliation and dehumanization. He grows to symbolize the resistance and strength of his people.
Abuto and Chisanganda
Abuto and Chisanganda become a couple on the slave-ship and find comfort and hope in love. They get separated and sold when the ship reaches American soil, with no hope of ever seeing each other again.
Atiba
Atiba is the last of African people who were ripped from their home to be sold as a slave. He is known as trickster among his people, and he, as the final man standing, acts out submissiveness in order to have and give hope for the future.
