Alu
Alu is the wife of Makuri. They have twin sons, one who has left and made money for himself in the city and the other, Igwezu who has returned home to the village. She is a woman who believes her son to be dead, and has believed it for a decade as he has not returned. Accustomed to the ways of the village, she stands by the traditions of her people and the land.
Makuri
Makuri is married to Alu and they have twin boys. His profession is a barber in the village. A trade which he taught to his son, Igwezu. He is a man who believes deeply in his village's deity the Serpent of the Swamp. He and his wife bicker their days away as he cannot stand her constantly believing that one of their sons is dead, when he knows he isn't.
Igwezu
Igwezu is one of the twins which belong to Makuri and Alu. He has just returned from the city where his wife left him for his twin brother. There, Igwezu also lost all of his money and went into debt to his brother. He has returned and accuses Kabiye, the village priest of consuming his sacrifices for wealth and marriage prior to his journey to the city. That because of this he has lost his wife, his money, and his dignity.
A Beggar
The Beggar appears in the story in search of any land that he can make his own. He is from Bukanji, a village of beggar in the northern Nigeria. It is a draught-inflicted region. He usually doesn't beg. He is blind, but believes he has a healing hand and can make any soil fertile once again. He believes in Allah, which is not the god of the swamp dwellers. He becomes Igwezu's bondsman as he desires to serve him in order to help him work the land of his parents in the village. He also senses that Kadiye is a man who is fat, as his voice indicates that he eats much food.
The Kadiye
The only priest of the Serpent god or swamp god. He receives sacrifices from the ordinary people and perform all the rituals on behalf of the villagers to satisfy and pacify the god. The swamp people sacrifices the best ones of their production in order to pacify the serpent god so that they can yield a good harvest otherwise they might suffer from loss.
However, the Kadiye is the most influential character. He lives lavishly. The beggar is the foil to Kadiye. One works hard to earn bread and butter, while the other cheats and deceives the ignorant people to flourish on them.
The true nature of Kadiye is vividly demonstrated by the interrogation of Igwezu, who suspects his (Kadiye's) loyalty and honesty.
Awuchike
The twin brother of Igwezu. He goes to the city and leaves his home-village behind forever. He makes money there illegally and quickly and becomes prosperous overnight. He sales timber. He seduces his brother's wife Desala and keeps her as his mistress. He is mentioned Makuri, his father, to be dead.
Desala
The wife of Igwezu, chosen by his mother Alu. She agreed to marry Igwezu only to go to and live in the city. Igwezu keeps his words. But she deceives him and leaves him for his prosperous brother Awuchike.
The servant of Kadiye
A minor character. He keeps company of the Kadiye and bears his master's loads. He is seen to steal a little sum of money.
The Drummer
He alerts the villagers about Kadiye's arrival and movement. His character shows Kadiye's grand lifestyle.
