Skin of the Sea

Kola is Simi’s love interest and brings his own storyline and tension to the novel. When Simi first sees him, she is struck by his sharp cheekbones and features that “resemble a regal terra-cotta sculpture” (26). As she gets to know him, Simi sees past Kola’s handsomeness, realizing that his attractive outward appearance is complemented by an equally beautiful inner self. Like Simi, Kola is a protector who fiercely guards those he cares about, especially his younger siblings. His status as the son of a village leader makes him confident, as his privilege has led him to believe there is nothing he can’t overcome. Kola’s response to the journey to Esu’s island and the battle with the orisa show that he is capable of growth. Rather than crumple as his friends are lost to Esu’s minions, Kola uses the losses as resolve to continue the fight. At the end of the book, Kola dies and is brought back to life. Since this is an unnatural process for humans, it may be that Kola will have supernatural abilities in subsequent books.

Yemoja is the orisa of the sea and has a voice that is “both rough and smooth, like satin and sand and smoke” (13). In Yoruba myth, Yemoja was the mother of all waters and depicted as a Black woman with the tail of a fish. In Skin of the Sea, Bowen adapts Yemoja so she may walk on land, and the Yemoja of the novel created the other Mami Wata to help her collect the souls of those who were taken from their homes. Yemoja is Simi’s mentor and guide. The orisa offers direction and advice, but her influence may only do so much. In keeping with the tropes of young adult literature, Simi must take what Yemoja is permitted to give and set out on a quest with which Yemoja cannot help. Yemoja remade Simi as a Mami Wata, and it is unclear how much, if any, influence this gives Yemoja over Simi. It may be that Yemoja will interfere in the deal Simi made with Olokun because Simi is Yemoja’s creature and cannot be bound by another orisa.

Esu is the antagonist of Skin of the Sea. In his orisa form and when he’s disguised as Ifedayo, Esu limps because he has “one foot in the human world and one in Olodumare’s” (267). Esu began as a human who tricked his way into Olodumare’s good graces and had orisa power bestowed upon him. Though Esu is the novel's antagonist, he is not necessarily evil. He is the orisa of many things, including crossroads, which defines his nature. A crossroad offers multiple paths, often one good and one bad. Like a crossroads, Esu has good and bad parts. His arrogance is his fatal flaw. His greed and lust for power make him choose a dark path, and it is likely that if Esu had chosen differently, he would be a very different orisa who still possessed dominion over the same things. Esu represents the idea that our desires and personality influence our choices and how we use any power we have.

Yinka is one of Kola’s friends and a warrior. She chooses to shave her head, but no reason is given for why. In some African cultures, women shave their heads when in mourning, and Yinka may keep her head shaved out of respect for those who have been taken. In some cases, head-shaving was also considered hygiene, as hair was believed to offer a place for germs to grow. Yinka’s choice to shave her head embodies her unapologetic attitude about who she is. She does not feel the need to explain or defend her actions, and she does what she believes is right regardless of others’ opinions. The last time Yinka is seen in Skin of the Sea is when the group leaves her behind to face the bultungin, and it is unclear if she will appear in the sequel.

Olodumare is the creator in Yoruba myth, and Bowen assigns Olodumare “they” pronouns. Though Olodumare is not seen during the novel, their presence is undeniably felt throughout Simi’s journey. When Simi finally contacts Olodumare, she feels only love and gratitude from the creator, suggesting that much of the anger and disapproval attributed to Olodumare is due to Esu’s misrepresentation of the creator’s will.

Issa is a yumbo and one of Simi’s many companions. Issa takes an immediate liking to Kola and insists on accompanying Simi and Kola on their journey because he wants to help. Issa is killed during the group’s trek to Esu’s palace, but since Simi will reside in the realm of the dead in the sequel, Issa may still have a part to play in the series.

Bem is one of Kola’s friends and another warrior in the village. Bem’s name means “peace,” something Bem embodies throughout the book. Bem is the peacekeeper in the group. He moderates arguments and rarely gets upset. Bem is last seen on the opposite side of the retracted bridge from Esu’s palace, and it is unclear what happens to him while Simi and Kola continue their search for the twins.

Folasade is another Mami Wata who is only seen in the first chapter. She appears older than Simi and represents the commitment to the Mami Wata cause that Simi struggles to find. No details are provided about Folasade’s past, but it may be that she has less pleasant memories than Simi, which is why she more easily adjusted to life as a Mami Wata.

Simi’s parents are only seen in the context of Simi’s memories, but they play a large role in Simi’s character arc. The more Simi remembers her past, the more she yearns to be human again. Simi’s father taught her to fight, which serves Simi well, and Simi inherited her mother’s knack for storytelling. Even when Simi doesn’t remember her parents, she still has the skills they taught her, which questions how memories are formed, where memories are stored in the brain/body, and how forgetting a memory affects related memories. These questions are not answered in Skin of the Sea.

Taiwo and Kehinde are Kola’s younger twin siblings. Taiwo was born first and is the more daring of the two, whereas Kehinde is more cautious and thoughtful. The twins give Kola’s character arc purpose, and they later make Simi realize she is willing to sacrifice her happiness to protect the people she loves. At the end of the book, Taiwo and Kehinde save Kola by bringing him back to life, which is ironic because Kola spends the entire book trying to keep the twins safe and alive.

The babalawo is a high priest who helps Simi’s group on their journey. When Yemoja first describes the babalawo, Kola recognizes the description, and the babalawo is the initial thread that forces Simi and Kola’s stories to unite. The babalawo’s home is adorned with images of Mami Wata, which suggests he may play more of a role in Simi’s journey in later installments of the series.