Sissie

Sissie, or as she is referred to in the novel’s title and first section as “Our Sister,” is the protagonist of Our Sister Killjoy, or Reflections from a Black-Eyed Squint. At the time in which the novel takes place, she is a young woman invited to volunteer in Germany at a pine tree nursery. She also spends time in England during the course of the novel, though it is not clearly stated whether she herself is studying there or simply visiting with other students there.

As the title suggests, Sissie is often critical and pessimistic about the state of the world around her. Sissie thinks frequently about issues of sexism and colonialism. Although she is proud of being Ghanaian and of being African, she recognizes the many flaws and failings in their societies. She is critical of her fellow Africans who aspire to earn the respect and...