Keita Ali, the protagonist, is a young Black man from Zantoroland, a fictional postcolonial nation. He is a Christian and a devoted son. His character embodies all that is good, standing in contrast to most of the other characters, who are either villainous or morally complex. No one else in the novel is as selfless as Keita. He is a runner who gets little joy or pride from his running. Rather, he uses running as a means to protect himself and save his sister’s life. He endures horrible physical symptoms race after race until he is finally diagnosed with diabetes. Keita can be read as a Christlike figure, as he suffers for the betterment and the sins of others (specifically the sins of two corrupt governments).

Lula is a contradictory character. The madam of a brothel, she deals in the underside of society, making money from human trafficking and using the poor and undocumented to grow her empire. However, as she argues, these same people would otherwise be unemployed and homeless, so she convinces herself she is a good person. Other characters see her in a similar light; they aren’t sure if she has their best interests at heart or her own, but they risk her company because they are often better off with her help.