“Yaw” begins around 1950, with Akua’s son Yaw teaching history at a Roman Catholic school in Takoradi. He is almost 50 years old and in the process of writing a book entitled Let the Africans Own Africa, with which he is not very satisfied. Later that evening, he is eating dinner at his colleague Edward Boahen’s house, where Edward’s wife cooks for him most nights of the week. Edward says Yaw needs a wife, but Yaw is more passionate about the growing independence movement. He counters Edward’s insistence that he study in America, believing he would “just learn the way the white man wants us to learn” (223). Yaw doubts his book will be successful and decides to leave when Mrs. Boahen suggests she arrange a meeting with a young woman. While walking home, he sees a group of boys playing soccer, and one of them is frightened by his disfigured face.

For the 10 years Yaw has taught at the school, the first day of class has been the same, and Yaw’s reputation precedes him among the students. He wishes he could teach the students in their regional tongues, but “there were too many languages to even try” (225).