"If we do not help the whites, we shall be left by the roadside. And if we are such fools as to stand against the whites, they will grind us till we become less than impotent, less than grains of bad snuff tossing in a storm."
Ababio hides behind white dominance. Seeking to align himself with power for its own sake, he chooses the path of least resistance, which in this case is compliance. He desires to lead his community into acceptance of the newcomers, but his motive is hatred.
"I am saying this is seed time, far from harvest time."
Damfo is a reserved old man. As a healer, he prevents himself from professing too much wisdom. He advises Densu and others to wait patiently. He values patience above all else. Wait to take action, he advises.
"Send me words of eloquence."
The narrator reveals complete knowledge of his position as narrator. He is concerned with telling his tale effectively, confessing a sort of disbelief in his own ability to communicate effectively; instead he relies upon the mercy of the gods to inspire his words.
"The present is were we get lost -- if we forget our past and have no vision of the future."
The characters of this novel are concerned with the past. It is real and relevant to them still. For the men in charge, this means consulting both the past and the present in informing their decisions. This results in wise leadership, but men like Ababio are not nearly so concerned with being informed.
