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SALAY

She is the youngest daughter of Yah Posseh

She is short and stocky

She looks like a well fed pig

RUGIATUShe is the eldest daughter of Yah Posseh

She is a tall girl

She is skinny

She is hungry - looking

She looks like a shaved bird

OLABISI

She is so curious

She is a liar

She is a sturbon

YAH POSSEH

She is a stooped woman

She is black as midnight

She has flat eyes like a snake’s

She walks as if she is about to fall

She is a mother of Rugiatu and Salay

She is a leader of bondo secret society

She is the Digba sowey, the head of the circumcisers

She is said to be very powerful. For instance, it is said, she controls the spirits, the bondo gods

MAKALAY

She is a mother of Olabisi

She is cruel

She is an upholder and custodian of African culture. She implores Olabisi to be circumcised and also advocates for

her to learn her native tongue.

She is vulgar. She uses lots of abusive and insulting language against Ade and Olabisi, for instance, she calls Ade

a skirt chaser, useless man and a hopeless father. She also calls Olabisi a stupid girl and a “Gborka” uncircumcised.

P.19

She is a very strict disciplinarian. She warns Olabisi of dire consequences if she ever disobeys her. Her punishment

would be beating her until her skin peels. P.11

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She is a superstitious. She believes in the power of spirits. For example, she believes the spirits would make her

childbirth difficult if she doesn’t obey them. P.22

She is a hot tempered woman. She is easily upset. For instance, she slaps Olabisi for being too inquisitive and she’s

also angry at Olabisi for dancing when bondo drummers and singers pass outside their house. P.14

She a determined woman. She is so determine to get her daughter circumcised. She bribes Pa Amadu the hunter

with a goat of his choice from her husband’s herd if he brings Olabisi back to her, leaving home late at night to look 

for Olabisi despite the risks and threats from her husband, seeking the arbitration of the court of law to compel Ade

Jones to allow Olabisi to be circumcised.

DAUDA

He is a husband of Makalay

He is a step father of Olabisi