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Oliamilekan
Mama Agba, Zélie’s teacher, trains young women in Illorin to wield the staff—a self-defensive weapon she hopes they will never have to use. She helps sustain memories of the gods and other traditions that existed before the Raid. She carefully conceals her status as a powerful maji and was able to escape the Raid by disguising her true identity as a seer.
Mama Agba Quotes in Children of Blood and Bone
The Children of Blood and Bone quotes below are all either spoken by Mama Agba or refer to Mama Agba. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter One Quotes
Deep down, I know the truth. I knew it the moment I saw the maji of Ibadan in chains. The gods died with our magic.
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After guards arrive and demand new, higher taxes for divîners in Zélie’s village, Zélie is full of anger and despair. Mama Agba reminds her of the day divîners lost the ability to do magic, saying that only the gods know why. Zélie, however, believes otherwise. At the beginning of her journey, Zélie is convinced that the gods have not just forsaken the people of Orïsha, but that they no longer exist whatsoever. Daily life is extremely difficult for Zélie and her family, and it is far easier for her to believe that the gods have died than trying to understand Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur moll
Chapter Five Quotes
You must protect those who can’t defend themselves. Mama Agba’s words from this morning seep into my head.
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After Zélie manages to sell the sailfish in Lagos for a hefty sum, she knows she has done her brother and father proud. Zélie often feels as if she is letting them down—by being impetuous or neglectful, or simply by drawing attention to the family because she is a divîner—so this feels like a rare chance at redeeming herself. But when a clearly terrified girl begs her for help, Zélie can’t help but break away from her brother’s instructions to stay out of trouble. Zélie feels herself pulled to obey a moral code that extends beyond simply keeping herself and Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperior
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Mama Agba Character Timeline in Children of Blood and Bone
The timeline below shows where the character Mama Agba appears in Children of Blood and Bone. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter One
...they are fighting—which only excites fiery Zélie’s anger more. Ignoring the warnings of their teacher, Mama Agba , the two girls fly at each other with more passion, both landing powerful hits.
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Suddenly, the match comes to a halt as a girl warns that guards are approaching. Mama Agba and the students swiftly hide the fighting materials and make it appear as if they...
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When Zélie bursts out in protest, a guard threatens her. Mama Agba pays the guard, narrowly avoiding a confrontation. Afterwards, Mama Agba scolds Zélie, who says she...
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Mama Agba begins to tell a familiar story: in the past, the land of Orïsha was home...
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After the other students leave, Mama Agba holds Zélie back. She expects to be beaten for her impulsiveness, but instead, Mama Agba...
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Chapter Five
...knowing she will be killed if they are caught. But, thinking of her training with Mama Agba , she realizes she has a responsibility to help those who can’t defend themselves.
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Chapter Nine
Zélie, Tzain, and Amari arrive at Mama Agba ’s home in Illorin. They find Baba asleep there. Tzain scoops up his father and...
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To Zélie’s surprise, the scroll awakens Mama Agba ’s magic. Zélie had assumed she was a kosidán because she lacks the divîner’s characteristic...
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Mama Agba says some words in Yoruba, the language the maji use to communicate with the gods....
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Light explodes between Mama Agba ’s hands, and Zélie suddenly feels that the gods have been with them all along....
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Chapter Ten
...and the only way to ensure their safety is to fight back. Tearfully, Baba and Mama Agba bid goodbye to the three teenagers. On Nailah’s back, they ride into the night.
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