Importance of The Hijab

The hijab is a sign of religious affiliation and just as religious affiliations shift over the course of the novel, so too does the meaning and significance of the hijab. In the beginning, characters who wear the hijab, like Aisha, because they are devout Muslims. However, after Ya Ta and others are abducted by Boko Haram, the hijab becomes a sign and symbol of their oppression. The girls do not choose to wear the hijab; they are forced to wear it.