Mama Yoko has moved her leadership to Moyamba and is sitting with her attendants, Fanneh and Musu. They are styling her hair and cleaning her toes. Fanneh shares that she prefers Moyamba over Senehun. Their discussion highlights the growth of the Mende Chiefdom. Mama Yoko expresses her wish to have children, but she knows that being a chief in a male-dominated society like Mende's land comes with sacrifices. Mama Yoko also bares her mind on the burden of leadership: .. . Do you know the pressures I undergo? The fear that someday someone will think of creeping into my room with a dogger to kill me?' Mama Yoko understands that not everyone supports her role as chief, especially her brother, Lamboi, whom she suspects was involved in Gbanya's death.

Mama Yoko asks that Jeneba be brought to her. She dotes on the child as if she were hers as she longs for a child of her own: "There are times when I want to feel like a real woman. a mother. Times when I want to hold my own child in my arms". It is revealed in the conversation that Fanneh has three children while Musu has two. Musu soon leaves to bring Jeneba. Mama Yoko Justifies her paranoia while on the throne with the words: ". . . power transforms people, it breeds fear and that tear makes me dread even shadows at night'. Musu soon returns with Jeneba and we are made to witness how Mama Yoko cares for the child. Pap and roast cassava is the food that Fannch and Musu gave to Jeneba. Jencba innocently reports on how Ndapi usually beats the mother,  Jilo.

Guard enters to report the arrival of the Governor's Messenger in Moyamba. Mama Yoko immediately orders Musu to make the Messenger comfortable. ". . . Put him in the best hut give him the best palm wine and food. Find him o Sande girl versed in bed manners. He comes from the Governor and must be treated with due honours". She requests all the elders—Lavalle, Ngo Musa, Keke Lamboi, and Ndapi to be summoned. Just then, Ndapi walks in, beating Jilo and dragging her along. It turns out that Jilo had been caught having an affair with Lansana. "I found them embracing each other in the undergrowth on the road leading to the river, very near the cotton tree," Ndapi explains.

Mama Yoko wants Lansana captured and brought to her. Guard tells her that Lansana has left for Taiama for three days. Mama Yoko orders two warriors to find and arrest him. It is mentioned that Lansana was saved by Mama Yoko from being killed after being brought back as a war slave during Gbanya's campaigns. Mama Yoko then decides to put  Lansana in prison and assures Ndapi that Lansana will be made to pay for all damages. 

Lamboi and Musa are on their way back from Mama Yoko's house. They discuss how Jilo has been unfaithful to Lansana and note that Mama Yoko has been nice to the Governor’s Messenger. Musa also tells Lamboi that the Sande girl he liked is now engaged to the Governor's Messenger.

Lamboi shares his plan with Musa to make Jeneba disappear. His scheme involves kidnapping and killing Jeneba, then falsely accusing Mama Yoko of using her as a ritual sacrifice to strengthen her power. He plans to spread the lie that Jeneba was buried alive in a large pot in the bush, hoping this would lead to Mama Yoko losing her throne so he could take over as king.

Musa is hesitant, but Lamboi dismisses his doubts. He tries to manipulate Musa by asking, "When was the last time you enriched your bofina with the hot blood of a child?" This is meant to persuade Musa to support the plan. Musa responds that the chiefdom no longer goes to war because Mama Yoko fears the Governor. It is also mentioned that three chiefs surrendered their kingdoms to her without resistance.

Despite Musa's concerns, he and Lamboi agree to proceed with their plan to kill Jeneba. They part ways, planning to meet again in the evening.