Mama Nadi hopes for a secure piece of land. She wants land that no one will take from her the same way her father’s land was taken. Sophie wishes to have surgery to repair her body. She was ruined and even stole from Mama Nadi to pay for the surgery. This shows how much she wanted her pain to go away. Salima wished that she could return to her old life. Though she may have denied it, she wanted her child and husband back. Josephine longed for Mr. Harari to take her to the city with him. She really did not want to live life as a prostitute anymore and instead wanted to start a life with Mr. Harari. Christian wanted to start a life with Mama Nadi. He loved her and would always flirt with her and attempt to convince her to run away with him. In the end, he got what he wanted and finally kissed and danced with her. Mr. Harari wished to never come back to the Congo. He was a city man and hated every part of being in the Congo. That is why he left Sophie behind at the end of the book. Fortune wanted to have his wife back. He loved her and wanted her forgiveness. He even stood outside Mama Nadi’s bar for days in an attempt to find her. However, the next time he got to see her, she died in his arms. Simon wanted to follow Commander Osembenga’s orders and to convince Fortune that his wife was dead. He did not believe she was still alive and grew tired of Fortune’s constant searching. That is why he abandoned Fortune to return to Commander Osembenga. Laurent wanted to follow Osembenga’s orders. He was faithful to him, hence why Osembenga kept him at his side. Both Jerome Kisembe and Commander Osembenga had the same goal. They wanted to eradicate each other and gain a profit while doing it. This shows how they were led by greed instead of a want to help the people like they claimed to be doing. Finally, the Aid Worker only wanted to escape the war. He would not wait any longer and took off without Sophie, leaving her at Mama
Mama Nadi hopes for a secure piece of land. She wants land that no one will take from her the same way her father’s land was taken. Sophie wishes to have surgery to repair her body. She was ruined and even stole from Mama Nadi to pay for the surgery. This shows how much she wanted her pain to go away. Salima wished that she could return to her old life. Though she may have denied it, she wanted her child and husband back. Josephine longed for Mr. Harari to take her to the city with him. She really did not want to live life as a prostitute anymore and instead wanted to start a life with Mr. Harari. Christian wanted to start a life with Mama Nadi. He loved her and would always flirt with her and attempt to convince her to run away with him. In the end, he got what he wanted and finally kissed and danced with her. Mr. Harari wished to never come back to the Congo. He was a city man and hated every part of being in the Congo. That is why he left Sophie behind at the end of the book. Fortune wanted to have his wife back. He loved her and wanted her forgiveness. He even stood outside Mama Nadi’s bar for days in an attempt to find her. However, the next time he got to see her, she died in his arms. Simon wanted to follow Commander Osembenga’s orders and to convince Fortune that his wife was dead. He did not believe she was still alive and grew tired of Fortune’s constant searching. That is why he abandoned Fortune to return to Commander Osembenga. Laurent wanted to follow Osembenga’s orders. He was faithful to him, hence why Osembenga kept him at his side. Both Jerome Kisembe and Commander Osembenga had the same goal. They wanted to eradicate each other and gain a profit while doing it. This shows how they were led by greed instead of a want to help the people like they claimed to be doing. Finally, the Aid Worker only wanted to escape the war. He would not wait any longer and took off without Sophie, leaving her at Mama