C. Achebe: This is the abbreviated form of Chinua Achebe’s name. In the essay, a reader addresses him this way in a letter: “Dear C. Achebe.”

I. BUBA YERO MAFINDI: He is a real reader mentioned in The Novelist as Teacher. He was from Northern Nigeria and wrote a letter to Chinua Achebe. In the letter, he said that he usually does not write to authors, but Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease gave him great pleasure. He also said he was waiting to read Achebe’s Arrow of God. He added that Achebe’s novels work as guidance for young people. This character strengthens Achebe’s argument that African writers have true readers in Africa and that these readers respect and depend on their writers.

The Young African Reader: Through several letters and examples, this character appears in the essay. These are school and college students who see Achebe as a teacher. They want learning, guidance, and inspiration from literature. Some ask for help in exam preparation, while others debate with Achebe about characters and their decisions. They represent the voice of the new generation of Africa.

The Letter Writers: These are readers from Nigeria and Ghana who send letters to Achebe with requests, questions, or complaints. Some ask for questions and answers to pass exams, while others want the ending of a story changed. They represent the real needs and expectations of society and its readers.

The Woman Teacher from Ghana: She is a strong-minded character who questions Achebe about why the hero of No Longer at Ease did not marry the girl he loved. Her argument highlights the real struggles of women, social barriers, and the need for courage. She symbolizes readers’ emotions, demands, and expectations.

European Writers (as personified characters): Although they do not appear directly, they act as symbolic characters in the essay. They misrepresented Africa, considered their own culture superior, and created literature that shaped hostility and prejudice against Africa. They represent the negative forces African writers must challenge.

The African Intellectuals: These include scientists, historians, philosophers, and political researchers mentioned by Achebe. Each of them works to rebuild Africa in their own field. They make the role of the African writer even clearer and more necessary.