Tambudzai “Tambu” Sigauke

Tambudzai Sigauke, also known as “Tambu” for short, is the protagonist and anti-hero of this novel. Tambu is approaching middle age and, at the beginning of the novel, struggling to pull herself out of poverty. Tambu was educated at the Young Ladies’ College of the Sacred Heart, an experience that left her educated but also alienated from herself. Tambu worked in advertising for a number of years, but left the agency after she felt disrespected and disregarded by her white colleagues. Tambu eventually becomes involved in her former colleague’s plans to start an ecotourism business and, when she resigns, takes a job in her aunt’s security company.

Tambu is generally self-interested and self-involved. She thinks of herself as worthless and antipathetic, and indeed, can be harsh and cruel to the people around her. Tambu suffers a nervous breakdown after viciously beating a meek and...