Fifteen-year-old Amadou is the novel’s protagonist and narrator. Because the story is told from his first-person point of view, the reader gains insight into his thoughts and emotions. Amadou’s primary focus is keeping his younger brother Seydou safe. He works hard each day in the cacao fields so that both of them can escape a beating, and he sticks close to Seydou to watch over him. Even though his protection for Seydou comes from love for his little brother, his words and actions towards Seydou often come across as harsh. After two years on the farm, Amadou has hardened; he is starting to become like the bosses in some respects. For example, when wild Khadija arrives at the farm, he puts himself into the bosses’ shoes and thinks like them about whether they should take her on as a worker. Amadou also wants to prove himself to Moussa and is willing to betray Khadija for a word of praise from the boss.

Guilt plagues Amadou. He feels it’s his fault that Seydou is at the farm, blames himself for the terrible beating Seydou received when they tried to escape, and now feels guilty for failing to protect Khadija from rape.