Content Warning: These Chapter Summaries & Analyses reference slavery and anti-Black racist sentiments that feature in the source text.

Set in 1725, Chapter 1 begins at nightfall in an African forest clearing where the At-mun-shi people, from a nearby village, have gathered. They dance, sing, and play drums and flutes to usher in the season of planting corn. Saala, an old wise man, leads on the wooden drum. When the music stops, the people turn to face their chief and his two children—15-year-old prince At-mun and 12-year-old princess Ath-mun. Prince At-mun is tall and well-built; Princess Ath-mun is shy and has a leg disability that she hides behind her father as she leans on him. The chief spreads his arms open to indicate that the people can carry on at ease. As more people join in the clearing, they are careful to leave all their weapons at the outskirts of town because it is a peaceful gathering. The people sing to the earth and sun and ask the moon and rain to aid their harvest. When the chief signals, the people again fall silent.

Prince At-mun descends from his place next to his father to go to the center of the clearing.