Chapter 1 'Sankofa' — Summary, Themes, and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens at moonrise as Sankofa, a fourteen-year-old girl who looks younger, walks up a dirt road in a Ghanaian town. A small red fox, Movenpick, trots behind her. The townspeople recognize her and react with fear, shouting warnings about her arrival and her “remote control” power, which they consider the most powerful witchcraft. Doors slam, children are pulled inside, and the streets empty as she passes.

Sankofa heads toward the largest, most modern home in the neighborhood, a white mansion with a red roof and a gate topped with broken glass. She notices a spider climbing the gate and greets it in Mampruli, then switches to Twi and English as she knocks. The gateman, who looks at her with contempt, lets her in without escort. Inside, she finds a Christmas Eve party in progress. The adults are terrified, but they offer her food and a change of clothes. Sankofa eats ravenously, then asks for children to keep her company. Two siblings, Edgar and Ye, are brought to her. Edgar is curious and bold, while Ye is frightened. Edgar asks about her abilities, and Sankofa demonstrates by glowing a dim green in the dark, which makes Ye cry and Edgar excited.

After about an hour, Sankofa leaves with new clothes—a blue and white wrapper and matching headband—and a book Edgar insists she take, Mouse Guard. She walks up the road, thinking about her mother and her long search. The gateman confronts her, accusing her of killing his brother, Kwaku Agya. He fires a gun at her. Sankofa’s green light explodes the bullet and incinerates the gateman, leaving only a single bone. She explains that she had mercy-killed his brother, who was dying of cancer and had asked for release. She then applies shea butter to her skin and follows Movenpick into the night.

Key Events

Sankofa arrives in a town where everyone fears her, and she is greeted with shouts of “Sankofa is coming” and warnings about her remote control power.
She enters a wealthy family’s mansion during a Christmas Eve party, where she is fed and given new clothes.
She meets Edgar and Ye, the children of the house, and demonstrates her green glow ability.
Edgar gives her a book, Mouse Guard, and she leaves with it.
The gateman confronts her on the road, blaming her for his brother’s death.
Sankofa’s power activates involuntarily, destroying the bullet and killing the gateman, leaving only a bone.
She explains that she had killed his brother as a mercy, at the request of the dying man and his family.
She applies shea butter and follows the fox away.

Character Development

Sankofa is introduced as a complex protagonist. She is young but carries the weight of a violent power she struggles to control. She is compassionate—she asks for children’s company, she spares the grasshopper, and she remembers the names of those she has killed. She is also weary, having walked for years in search of her mother. Her power is both a gift and a curse: she can kill with a thought, but she does so only when necessary, and she mourns each death. Her interaction with Edgar shows her desire for normalcy and connection, while her confrontation with the gateman reveals her burden of guilt and her commitment to mercy.

Edgar is a curious, brave boy who is fascinated by Sankofa rather than afraid. He asks direct questions, offers her a book, and treats her like a person. His boldness contrasts with the fear of the adults and his sister.

Ye is terrified of Sankofa, crying and running away. Her fear represents the common reaction to the unknown and the power of rumor.

The gateman is driven by grief and anger. He believes Sankofa murdered his brother, and his rage leads to his own death. His confrontation forces Sankofa to explain her actions and reveals the moral complexity of her power.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Remote control as witchcraft: The townspeople call Sankofa’s power “remote control,” linking it to supernatural forces and fear. The term suggests both her ability to kill from a distance and the loss of control others feel around her.
Green glow power: Sankofa’s green light is a symbol of her otherness and her connection to nature. It is both beautiful and deadly, and she is learning to control it.
Fox companion: Movenpick, the red fox, is a constant presence. Foxes are not native to Ghana, marking Sankofa as extraordinary. The fox seems to guide her and represents her isolation and wildness.
Shea butter ritual: Sankofa applies shea butter after killing, as a way to soothe her skin and perhaps to cleanse herself. It is a ritual of self-care and grounding.
Amulet bag: The bag given by a juju man contains her few possessions—money, a watch, shea butter, a map, and a book. It symbolizes her nomadic life and her connection to tradition.
Spider storytelling: The spider she greets suggests the importance of stories and how they spread. Sankofa wonders what story the spider will weave about her, hinting at the power of narrative.
Death as visitor: Sankofa announces herself as “Death has come to visit,” but she is not a mindless killer. She only takes those who ask for release, framing death as a mercy.
Mercy killing: The gateman’s brother had cancer and asked Sankofa to end his suffering. This complicates the idea of her as a villain and raises questions about euthanasia and compassion.
Fear of the other: The townspeople’s reaction shows how fear of the unknown can dehumanize. Sankofa is treated as a monster even when she means no harm.
Control of power: Sankofa’s power is involuntary at times, but she is learning to control it. The chapter emphasizes her struggle to master her abilities.
Tradition vs modernity: The mansion is a blend of Western wealth and Ghanaian customs. Sankofa wears traditional clothing and speaks multiple languages, while the family has a Tesla and a Christmas tree.
Wealth disparity: The lavish party and the gateman’s poverty highlight class differences. Sankofa moves between these worlds.
Journey on foot: Sankofa cannot ride in cars, so she walks everywhere. This emphasizes her connection to the land and her endurance.
Language switching: Sankofa speaks Mampruli, Twi, and English, showing her adaptability and the multilingual nature of Ghana.
Christmas in Ghana: The setting of Christmas Eve in a Ghanaian home blends Western and local traditions, reflecting cultural hybridity.
Sankofa bird: The name “Sankofa” refers to a mythical bird that looks backward, symbolizing the importance of remembering the past. Sankofa is on a quest to find her mother, and her name suggests she is reclaiming her history.
Bone left behind: The single bone left after the gateman’s death is a stark reminder of mortality and the permanence of death.
Burden of killing: Sankofa carries the weight of every life she takes, even when justified. She remembers names and weeps.
Primal ancient spirit: Her power is described as coming from a primal part of her that has existed for millennia, linking her to ancient forces beyond human understanding.

Why This Chapter Matters

This opening chapter establishes the central premise of Remote Control: a young girl with a deadly power navigating a world that fears her. It introduces Sankofa’s character, her abilities, and her quest to find her mother. The chapter also sets up key themes of control, mercy, and the cost of power. By showing both her kindness and her lethal force, the chapter complicates any simple moral judgment. The encounter with the gateman reveals the consequences of her actions and the grief they cause, while her interaction with Edgar hints at the possibility of connection. The chapter lays the groundwork for the rest of the novel, promising a story about identity, memory, and the search for belonging.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Sankofa kill the gateman, and how does she justify it?

Sankofa kills the gateman because he shoots at her, and her power reacts involuntarily to protect her. She explains that she had mercy-killed his brother, Kwaku Samuel Agya, who was dying of cancer and had asked for release. She did not cause the cancer; she only ended his suffering. The gateman’s grief and anger led him to attack her, but Sankofa’s power is not malicious—it is a defense mechanism and a tool for mercy.

2. What does the fox, Movenpick, symbolize in this chapter?

Movenpick represents Sankofa’s connection to the wild and the supernatural. Foxes are not native to Ghana, so its presence marks Sankofa as extraordinary. The fox follows her everywhere, acting as a guide and companion. It also symbolizes her isolation—she is as much an outsider as the fox. The fox’s loyalty suggests that Sankofa is not entirely alone, even though humans fear her.

3. How does the chapter explore the theme of control?

The chapter shows Sankofa’s struggle to control her power. She notes that in the past, her light’s appetite was all-consuming, but now she can control it like flexing a muscle. However, when the gateman shoots at her, the power activates involuntarily, showing that she still lacks full control. The townspeople’s fear of her “remote control” power also highlights how others perceive her as a threat. The theme of control extends to her emotions—she learns to mute her pain and tears, showing her effort to control her feelings as well.