Who is Bakayoko from God's Bits of Wood and what is their importance?

Bakayoko is the novel's central character, in spite of the fact that he doesn't actually appear in person until more than two thirds of the way through. Until his return to the Thies / Bamako / Dakar region, (Chapter 16), his presence is theoretical and inspirational rather than physical, his beliefs and actions defining choices for both pro- and anti- strikers, for both those who respect him and those who don't (here it's important to note that not all the pro-strike characters respect him, and vice versa).