Ancestors play a vital role in the novel because they are important in the lives of the Gikuyu people. Ancestral spirits are often sought for a number of rites and rituals among the Gikuyu, for by inviting the ancestral spirits to participate, the family is able to truly present a unified family group. Insulting the ancestral spirits can result in dangerous conditions for the Gikuyu, as the wrath of the spirits can cause bad luck and misfortune, and thus ensuring that all ancestral spirits are communicated with is vital to the life of all Gikuyu.