A CHARACTER DRIVEN STORY...
Illustrations by Ethel Ruth Tawe. Visit website
YEFON LABAM AT 7
Yefon Labam at 7 years old. She is a curious child who wants to do things differently from all the children around her. Unlike other girls, she hunts rabbits in her spare time, and asks questions that no one else dares to. She is the only one in her house that owns a cotton dress, and she wears it proudly, even though every one else sneers at her for wearing the white man’s garment. With a mind of her own, she grows up into this adventurous woman with an exciting journey .
YEFON AS A TEENAGER
Yefon working at the Catholic parish as a maid: Her duties included serving tea for the priests, and other activities. On one of her duties, she learns of the new girl school that has been opened in Bamenda, and she dreams of being one of the girls admitted there.
YEFON AT 20
Yefon Labam at 20 (1960): During this period, she has several interested suitors, but she is more focused on her career, and leaving for the big city, only to be chosen as the palace wife.
PA BANKA LABAM
Pa Banka Labam: He is Yefon’s father, who gets murdered when she is a teenager. During his lifetime, he is considered one of the most successful men in the land. He has several wives, and a household which he maintains well, and he trades kolanuts and salts all the way in Nigeria. He is the first black man to buy a car, and his children are the only ones who own clothes. Yefon loves her father dearly, as he is the only one who seems to understand her. Before his death, he predicts that she will do something special for the tribe,and offers her a beautiful red necklace, and a cave, that become the guides to her new life.
MA SOLI LABAM.
Ma Soli Labam: She is Yefon’s mother, and they share the most peculiar relationship. Ma fears that her husband is encouraging Yefon to become a rebel, and as a result, she may never find a husband. She beats Yefon up several times and does all types of things to make sure Yefon grows up to be a ‘good wife with cooking, cleaning and farming skills. She is against any type of female freedom.
YENLA LABAM
Yenla: She is Yefon’s biological older sister. She has a stammering problem, and an albino pigment, and takes a lot of treatments, that would hopefully make her darker skin, since she suffers several inhibitions as a result of her pigmentation. She is timid, quiet and fearful of everything, including her shadow and thinks Yefon is ungrateful for wanting more out of life..
KADOH
Kadoh: She is one of the most interesting characters in the book. Kadoh is Yefon’s best friend and half sister. Her mother (Ya Sero) is Yefon’s father’s second wife, and Yefon often wishes that Ya Sero was her biological mother. Kadoh has escaped reality by wearing clay masks, and flowers all over her head, and telling Yefon all kinds of folktales and myths. She is funny and loveable.
SOLA
Sola: She is Yefon’s half sister. Her mother(Ya Buri) is Yefon’s father’s third wife, and allegedly one of the most troublesome women Yefon has ever met. Sola is being groomed to marry the prince. She is treated to numerous hair and body treatments, and never gets along with Yefon, or any one else for that matter.
KOME
Kome: He is the mysterious Fulani boy who offers to help Yefon learn how to read. He owes her his allegiance as Yefon’s late father was of great service to the boy’s own father. Yefon may have feelings for him, and wonders if he thinks of her that way too.
FATHER ANTHONY BUNGARD
Father Anthony Bungard, aka Father Tony or Big Father: He is the parish priest of the Shisong Parish, where Yefon gets employed as a parish maid.
PRINCE VEYEH
Prince Veyeh: Yefon is betrothed to the handsome prince, against her will. He was educated at the University level, in neighboring Nigeria, and has hair that is rumored to be magical. He is the ideal man for most of the females in the book.
PRINCE SAMBA
Prince Samba: He is Veyeh’s younger brother. He despises Yefon from the first time he sets eyes on her. He has fought war with the tribal army, and always seems ready to pick up a fight, or be involved in one. He is ruthless.
FON NTO
Fon Nto: He is the paramount chief of Yefon’s village.
