A guy called Salim Alidina returns to Tanzania after spending many years in Canada in the book "Leaving" by M.G. Vassanji. Salim and other significant figures in the narrative share the following qualities:
Salim Alidina: The protagonist of the narrative is contemplative, restrained, and pensive. As a Tanzanian-Canadian, he faces identification and connection issues. Salim's intelligence, empathy, and curiosity enable him to successfully negotiate Tanzania's complex social and cultural dynamics.
Amin Shivji :is a charming, extroverted, and self-assured boyhood companion of Salim. He is a wealthy investor who has a keen interest in Tanzania's destiny, both politically and economically. Amin also enjoys having affairs and taking chances, which places him in peril.
Jerri: Jerri, Salim's Canadian partner, is a free-spirited, autonomous individual. She also shows Salim kindness and support as he attempts to reconcile his past and present.
Uncle Amir: Salim's uncle Amir is a traditional patriarch in Tanzania who places a high value on character and family dignity. He is domineering, rigid, and judgmental, which causes friction between him and Salim.
Indira: Salim's childhood crush, Indira, is a complex character who embodies both traditional and modern values. She is intelligent, ambitious, and independent, but also loyal to her family and her cultural heritage. Indira's experiences as a woman in a male-dominated society add depth to her character.
Overall, the characters in "Leaving" are well-developed and nuanced, with a range of strengths and weaknesses that drive the plot forward and contribute to the novel's themes of identity, belonging, and cultural conflict.