Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree

Content Warning: This section contains descriptions of sexual assault, gore, violence, war, and slavery.

Ya Ta is the protagonist of the story. She is unnamed because she represents the stories of all the girls who told of their experiences being captured by Boko Haram. Before being captured, Ya Ta’s future looks brilliant. She is the top student in her class and qualifies for a prestigious scholarship to secondary school. Ya Ta is intelligent and studious, as well as humble and protective of her family. She is the only daughter in a family with five brothers, and as such, has more responsibilities than any of her siblings. Still, she loves her family and hopes to provide for them one day when she is a teacher. Ya Ta is impatient to develop and grow up and is jealous of Sarah for having larger breasts than hers. She hopes to be as tall as her mother one day. Ya Ta and her family are Christians and attend church faithfully, while also remaining attached to their Hausa culture and the superstitions that come along with it. Ya Ta admits she is in love with Success but worries for his safety when the Boko Haram attacks reach Maiduguri.