Imani considers himself the “force” behind the Homeboys, but unfortunately he has more ego than talent. Ima is the band’s poster boy, though he can’t sing, play an instrument, or compose a song. Ima is good looking, well spoken and persuasive, but his ego is constantly getting in his way. He had a falling out with fellow bandleader Dula several years back, after having an affair with his girlfriend. Now he's back, to put the band together again.

Tausi (23) is the youngest child of Reverend and Mrs. Kazimbaya. A graduate of the performing arts college at Bagamoyo, Tausi is an extremely talented artist. She has a beautiful voice and sings Gospel in the church choir, often featuring as a soloist. During her university years, Tausi contracted HIV. Her dream of making her own album was shattered by the knowledge that she was HIV+ and her life has not been the same since.

Her parents encourage her to devote her time and energies to God and the church, which she does with determination, but she is becoming restless, and longs for a different life. Tausi has heard about the Homeboys band, and when the band needs a female back up singer, she takes a big step by secretly rehearsing with them.

Peter is a born again Christian and a disciplined musician. His father encouraged him to take piano lessons since he was 12 years old. Before he died, his father bought Peter an expensive Yamaha electronic keyboard and told him that his talent would provide for his family.

Dula is the creative force behind the band and the only band member who has made music his profession. Dula had a complicated childhood. His father was away a lot pursuing his musical career, when his mother Shakila developed a drinking problem. His parents divorced when he was 14. This is when he started smoking dope, which he continues to do with his friend and fellow musician Man Carlos.

Man Carlos lives with his mother, Bi Kidawa, on the edge of town, where she makes Gongo (local brew) and runs a small informal club. Man Carlos learned drumming from his grandfather, who lives deep in the rocky hills above town. Man Carlos is laid back with little ambition in life.

Sadiki, Yasmin's son, and newcomer to the band, has returned to Kalumbi after completing a diploma at the Music Academy in Zanzibar. He comes from a conservative Muslim family, and loves Taarab music and Kiswahili poetry. Though he does compose music, he keeps it to himself, thinking it is not suitable for the Homeboys.

Sadiki lives with his mother Yasmin, owner of the retail shop and beauty salon on Kijewe street. He is the youngest of five children; the only one still living at home. He is very shy and admittedly afraid of women. Ima accuses him of being gay.

Monika is the 37 year-old stepmother of band member, Dula. She met Jabali (Dula’s father) 15 years ago. When Monika fell pregnant with Mainda, Jabali divorced Dula's mum, Shakila. Dula was 13 at the time, and became a troubled teen after his parents’ divorce. He was rude and disobedient to Monika and began smoking ganja. Monika was very frustrated by his behavior and by what she perceived as her husband Jabali’s lack of discipline.

Monika has grown to think of Mainda as her baby, while Dula is always ‘your child, Jabali’. Monika likes to think she has the last word on disciplining her daughter. She has always dressed Mainda well, plaited her hair and adorned her with jewellery. But since puberty, all this grooming has started to backfire. A new sexuality is emerging. Mainda has become not just charming but flirtatious.

Monika runs a modest dressmaking shop in a busy building owned by Yasmin, band-member Sadiki’s mother. Over the years, Monika has become less and less interested in her husband and their home. She resents the fact that since Jabali has retired from the music business, he no longer brings in any income. She spends more and more time at work.

Mainda, 14, is in Form 2. She has been spoiled by her mum and is adored by her father. But her father has very little influence on her.

She seems to live in her mother’s pocket. This makes them very close and co-dependent, but they also argue and bicker a lot. Mainda spends a lot of time at her mother’s workplace, Jasmine’s Arcade, after school. While Monika is busy in her shop, Mainda will often wander over and talk to the women in Yasmin's hair dressing salon, where she is exposed to adult gossip, usually about men. In the last year Mainda has become very interested in the attentions of older boys. Whereas she used to come to her mother’s shop at Yasmin’s straight after school, nowadays she often lags behind to chat with boys.

She loves to dress up and wants a career as a performer. So, when her brother Dula re-establishes the band, and she meets band member Ima, she is bowled over at how good looking he is, and vows to make it into the band. This incenses Monika, who can’t stand Dula’s band.

Ray Mazimba was born and raised in Kalumbi and went to school with band members Ima and Dula. He was a couple years senior to them and recognizing their talent, initiated the original band, nurturing them while they were still in school. Ray moved to Dar es Salaam after high school, to pursue a career in music management. He established himself as a popular DJ, working successfully in the newly established FM stations and clubs and managing rising musical stars.

Ray, his wife Mwangaza (26) and their son, Baraka (4), moved back to Kalumbi recently when Ray was offered a job at the newly established Masifa FM. Ray has a dream of making Tanzania the Mecca of World music. He’d like the east coast of Africa to have the same international vibe as the West Africa has. He loves everything from traditional to jazz and hiphop. He has a fantastic collection of music from across Africa.

Mwangaza is practical, organized, and a very committed and loving wife and mother. She takes good care of her family, but she worries about Ray, who she feels works too hard. She had hoped that the move to Kalumbi would mean a more relaxed and healthy lifestyle, without the heat and stress of life in Dar. But Mwangaza can see the stress of Ray’s new job is taking its toll on his health. It is becoming more evident that Ray is not well.