Homegoing Characters

Abronoma, which means “Little Dove,” is Maame’s house girl who had been captured from another village. Esi feels bad for the girl and tries to help by sending word of Abronoma’s location to her father. This kind act leads to Esi’s own capture by the warriors in Abronoma’s village.

Akosua is a poor young Asante girl with whom James falls in love. When she makes him see how evil the slave trade is, James runs away from his family to live with her. Together, the two have a daughter, Abena.

Robert is Willie’s first husband and Carson’s father. He has very light skin, which helps him get jobs in Harlem, but which also makes it difficult for him when people assume that he is white.

Amani is a jazz singer who introduces Sonny to dope, spurring his drug addiction. Later, she and Sonny have a child together, Marcus.

Ma Aku is a woman who tries to help Sam, Ness and Kojo escape their plantation. When Ma Aku is able to escape to the North with just Kojo (Sam and Ness are caught), she raises him as her own son.

A white missionary who accidentally kills Abena when he tries to baptize her. He raises Abena’s daughter, Akua, in the church.

The man Abena is in love with. She has a daughter, Akua, with him, even though he refuses to marry her.

Ness’s husband and Kojo’s father. He works with Ness on the plantation she calls “Hell.” He is hanged when they try to escape.

Quey’s wife and James’s mother. She is the captured daughter of an Asante king.

James’s first wife and the daughter of Abeeku Badu’s successor.

Esi’s father and Maame’s husband. Big Man is a warrior for an Asante village.

Kojo’s wife and Agnes’ mother who is kidnapped and sold into slavery when she is pregnant with H. She kills herself before she gives birth, and the master has to cut H out of her stomach.

Joecy’s son who helps H by writing a letter for him. Robert and Willie stay with him when they move up to Harlem.

A friend of Quey who is the son of the chief of another Fante village. Quey becomes attracted to him as they grow up together, though Quey hides his desires and marries a woman.

Effia’s half-brother and Cobbe and Baaba’s son. He grows up to be a strong warrior and Abeeku’s right-hand man.

Yaw’s house girl, who helps him reconcile with his mother, Akua. She and Yaw eventually marry and have a daughter, Marjorie, who is Effia’s last descendant in the novel.

Akua's husband and Yaw's father. He loses a leg in the wars with the British.

A white boy in Marjorie’s class who goes on a few dates with her, until his dad and the school disapprove of their relationship.

Marjorie’s English teacher who holds a black cultural assembly and inspires her to write a poem about her heritage.

Yaw’s friend who also teaches at the same high school.

Another girl in Effia’s village who marries a British officer.

Another woman who is captured by the British, whom Esi befriends.

Another slave at Thomas Allan Stockham’s planation and Pinky’s father.

A little girl who befriends Ness at Thomas Allan Stockham’s plantation. She is TimTam’s daughter.

A house slave at Thomas Allan Stockham’s planation.

The master of the plantation Ness works on.

The master of the plantation that Ness and Sam work on before Ness is sold to Thomas Allan Stockham.

Willie’s second husband and Josephine’s father. He is a poet.

Carson’s half-sister and Willie and Eli’s daughter.

A friend of Jo’s who also works on boats in Baltimore.

A white abolitionist in Baltimore who Anna works for and who helps Kojo.

A small child in Akua’s village who takes Yaw in.

Akua’s mother-in-law and Asamoah’s mother.

The eldest of Akua and Asamoah’s daughters.

Akua and Asamoah’s youngest daughter.

Marcus’s friend in grad school.

H’s wife and Willie’s mother.

A friend of H’s who works in the mines. His son is Lil Joe.

A white man who works in the mines with H.

Jo and Anna’s oldest daughter and H’s sister.

Agnes’s husband.