Azaro
He is a young boy who narrates the story. Born with a deep connection to the spirit world, he is called an abiku, or spirit child. He struggles while very young to manage this gift, but eventually he learns to use it to fight for the forces of good, helping his family and village. He's continually battling spirits who try to draw him into the spirit world, but he resists for love his family. Although his life is challenging and his family struggles financially and socially -- often because of him, -- Azaro remains hopeful and committed to good.
Azaro's father/Black Tyger
Azaro's father is kind of an idealist. Sometimes ignoring his family's real needs, he spends money on extravagant parties or gets drunk and beats his son. He's a loving man, but he's also troubled. As the narrative progresses, his propensity toward violence increases. Finally he decides to become a boxer and begins training. He fights spirits as well as men until he finally defeats the most famous boxing opponent for miles -- a ghost in a white suit. After defeating him, Black Tyger -- his boxing title -- secures a large sum of money for his family as well as restoring peace to the village's spirit world, an effect which also brings peace to Azaro himself.
Azaro's mother
She's a hard worker and supportive mother. Working from home, she sells wares in the village. Always willing to sacrifice, she does everything she can to support and encourage her son, despite his troubled spirit.
Madame Koto
She's an enterprising owner of a local bar. She keeps Azaro around because she believes he encourages friendly spirits to frequent her business. Constantly updating, she makes her bar so successful that she opens a second one across town. She compromises her values by catering to the party of the rich, causing the villagers to accuse her of witchcraft. She's a friend to Azaro, but at one point she tries to steal his blood to make herself younger.
Jeremiah
He's a photographer who takes a photo of the rich people's van after the poisoning. He is forced into hiding afterward, staying with Azaro's family for sometime.
The Landlord
He despises Azaro and his family, uncomfortable with Azaro's spiritual activities.
The Green Leopard
He's a boxer who challenges Black Tyger to his first major fight. Although he is a noteworthy opponent, he loses. Possessing some spiritual component to his craft as well, he injures Black Tyger spiritually as well as physically. He leave Azaro's father in a coma fighting off evil spirits for three days.
Ade
Ade is another abiku child and can be said to be Azaro's only friend in the book. Unlike Azaro, Ade does not want to stay as even the old man prophesied that between the both of them one person will die soon. Ade and Azaro fought the first time they met but subsequently became friends. Ade is from a very strict family as he constantly lives in fear of his dad. He is mostly seen with Azaro whenever Azaro's father fights in public. he even goes to the ecxtent of giving Azaro charm that will help his father win and also aided Azaro to punish the blind old man
Sami
Sami is a gambler and owns a betting shop. He takes advantage of Azaro's father fighting skills by providing a means for people to bet for their choices. He makes a lot of money from this and is heavily guarded to prevent thieves from stealing the money. He attempts to deny Azaro's father of his share of the money but gives in when he is threatened by him.
