Jende Jonga

Jende is Neni’s husband and Liomi’s father. He spent most of his life in Limbe, Cameroon in a lower-class family, working to win over Neni after her father sent him to prison. He immigrated to the United States several years before the beginning of the novel, working menial jobs to raise money for Neni’s student visa. He is employed by Clark as a chauffeur for most of the novel and trying to gain citizenship – first through an asylum application, then through immigration appeals.

At the beginning of the novel, Jende is optimistic and light hearted. He is happy to be with his family and willing to work hard to make life in the United States work. He is unfazed by the differences between himself and natural-born citizens, and has little trouble forming a relationship with Clark, Mighty, and Leah. As the novel progresses, however...