Who is Dieynaba, Maimouna, Penda from God's Bits of Wood and what is their importance?

These three characters are women of Thies, each embodying aspects of female life in the culture of the time and of female transformation in the context of the novel. Dieynaba has a mask of gruff edginess but is a decisive caregiver. Penda, defined by many characters but never by narration as a prostitute, is strong-willed, at times ruthless and at other times roughly compassionate.