Samba Diallo is the protagonist of the novel, which follows him through his transformation from a young boy living in the Diallobé region of West Africa, to a young man living in Paris, and finally to his return to the Diallobé community. Samba is in a constant state of growth, caught in a battle between traditions and modernity, religion and science/secularism, and life and death. These dualities live inside of him, and much of his transformation throughout the novel involves his search for balance and peace.

From the first chapter, Samba exists between two seemingly opposed lifestyles. This is due to his noble heritage, as his cousin is the chief of the Diallobé tribe and his father is an important worker in the city of L. Due to his nobility, the Diallobé send him to learn about the “modern” life of the colonizers, hoping that he will translate this into the community’s long-term survival. This modern life is generally not satisfying for Samba, and he finds himself lonely as he walks the streets of Paris. His companion Pierre-Louis states that this is due to the lack of religion in the West. However, when Samba returns to the Diallobé, he no longer participates in religious traditions such as prayer.