CHARACTERS

Hashim Matumbila
Hashim is the father of his three children (Amina, Rajab, and Zulfiqar) and husband
of Zainat. He immigrated to the states because he wanted a better job and to shop
at thrift stores. He occasionally gets annoyed when family members back home
disturb him for money or products from America. Heʼs pretty cheap, but he likes to
keep a “tight budget”. Hashim at times can get quickly tempered when his children
donʼt listen to his advice. He tries to keep traditional cultural values in his house.
His hobby is watching soccer with his other Tanzanian friends around town, funny
videos, and plunging the toilet. His favorite food is sambusa.

Zainat Matumbila
Zainat is the mother of her three children Amina, Rajab, and Zulfiqar) and wife of
Hashim. She immigrated to the states with her daughter, Amina (toddler), after
Hashim came over. Zainat enjoys talking on the phone, especially with her best
friend Fatima, gossiping about the various people in their community. Zainat is
extremely overprotective towards most everyone in her family, and sometimes her
compassion can be turned against her. Unlike her husband, she really loves
helping her relatives anyway she can, although they take advantage of her
kindness. Her pet peeve is someone trying to interrupt her when sheʼs on the
phone or watching Tanzanian & Nigerian movies on the internet.

Amina Matumbila
Amina is the eldest of her two other siblings. She came to the States with her
Mother when she was an infant. Amina is extremely conscious, for the things that
donʼt really need any deeper understanding. She questions a lot about the
behaviors in her family and other people around her. Occasionally, she enjoys
eavesdropping when her Mother is gossiping. Amina is a straight A student,
ambitious, and wants to start a revolution against old white people for no actual
reason. Amina works at ABC Halal Fried Chicken, but tries to hide away from free
looting family-friends. She is a junior in high school.

Rajab Matumbila
Rajab Matumbila is the middle child in his family. He was the first to be born in the
States. Rajab is a huge music fan, notoriously a big fan of Lil Lil Ung Ung (low-level
famous rapper on SoundCloud). He likes to push around his younger brother
(Zulfiqar) at times, although he is shorter than him. At school, heʼs not much of a
great student, barley average. His biggest pet peeve is not eating dinner. Although
Rajab rebels at times, he has a good moral structure that doesnʼt make him jump
off the cliff. He looks over it, and walks back.

Zulfiqar Matumbila
Zulfiqar is a sixth grader and the youngest member in his family. Heʼs a very
innocent character who really doesnʼt see the main issues when it comes to
problems that he faces. His timidness can sometimes get the best of him. He
questions a lot about his Tanzanian background since heʼs born in America.
Zulfiqar also has a hard time being openly straight forward when heʼs annoyed or
disturbed. He enjoys tv and is scared of shoki-shoki.