# Taloufa — Banjo character guide

> Taloufa in Banjo by Claude McKay.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** IX Taloufa, Taloufy

**First appearance:** 0012-ix-taloufa-s-shirttail

## Snapshot

A West African drawn to the Back-to-Africa movement, Taloufa plays any music with a lilt and watches the Ditch with a dry, unshockable eye.

## Who they are

Taloufa believes British intelligence framed Marcus Garvey, and he carries the movement's talk into Banjo's orchestra without ever quite committing to sail home. He loves sensuous, heady music and works easily alongside Banjo, who defers the political questions to Ray. His dry remark that the Chinese are the only real sweetbacks in the Ditch frames the brutal scene he and Banjo witness in the alley.

## Relationships

### [Banjo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/characters/banjo)

_friendship_

Banjo and Taloufa have a bond of mutual respect, often exchanging stories and wisdom.

### [Bugsy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/characters/bugsy)

_friendship_

Bugsy and Taloufa share a jovial, easygoing friendship, often joking and bantering.

### [Banjo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/characters/banjo)

_friendship_

Banjo and Taloufa have a bond of mutual respect, often exchanging stories and wisdom.

### [Bugsy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/characters/bugsy)

_friendship_

Bugsy and Taloufa share a jovial, easygoing friendship, often joking and bantering.

### [Banjo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/characters/banjo)

_friendship_

Banjo and Taloufa have a bond of mutual respect, often exchanging stories and wisdom.

## In the story

### [First Part](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/chapters/first-part)

A member of the group whose backstory reveals a history of displacement and a search for belonging.

### [Second Part](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/chapters/second-part)

A Senegalese man whose backstory is revealed, including his time as a football player and his experiences with racism and exploitation.

### [VII: The Flute-Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/chapters/vii-the-flute-boy)

Mentioned as Goosey's friend, a West African with a guitar and horn, who is still on the ship and will be paid off soon.

### [VIII: A Carved Carrot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/chapters/viii-a-carved-carrot)

Teaches the group a West African song, 'Stay, Carolina, Stay,' with a voluptuous voice that captivates the listeners.

### [IX: Taloufa's Shirttail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/chapters/ix-taloufa-s-shirttail)

Reveals his backstory: born in Nigerian bush, mission school, served an Englishman, ran away to Cardiff, experienced riots, deported from America, and remains a believer in Garvey's Back-to-Africa movement. He is robbed by a girl he picks up.

### [XI: Everybody Doing It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/chapters/xi-everybody-doing-it)

Taloufa is referenced as the connection to the two Englishmen, whom Ray met on 'Taloufa's shirttail night.'

### [XIII: Bugsy Comes Back at Banjo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/chapters/xiii-bugsy-comes-back-at-banjo)

Mentioned as having paid for his suit and given Banjo money before going away.

### [XV: White Terror](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/chapters/xv-white-terror)

Taloufa is not mentioned in this chapter's excerpts.

### [Third Part](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/chapters/third-part)

His backstory is revealed, adding depth to his character and the group's collective history.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/characters/taloufa
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/banjo_se/characters