Malaika Sinema (Nazari)
She/her
Although Malaika was born in Riyadh in the Middle Eastern Region, she and her brother were primarily raised in Bumba in the Congo Region. When she was a child, the artificial intelligence known as the Mainframe sent microscopic technology to fuse with Malaika's body. Orphaned, she and her brother were taken in by Nairobi's loving, extended family. She grew up as close friends with Nairobi.
In the late 2190s, Malaika was recruited by the Antistasi to join the Sivylla—a group of other teenagers who the Mainframe fused with technology. Miraculously, Nairobi was also part of this group. During this time, the group discovered side effects of the technology: enhanced abilities. Malaika discovered that her capability was empathic. She could strongly sense the emotions of others, so much so that she could track others based on their emotional trace. With enough context, she could nearly read minds. After the Mainframe events, she returned to Bumba.
At the beginning of "Death's Mending Touch," Malaika traveled from place to place in the Middle Eastern Region, the North African Region, and the Congo Region. She became a relatively famous actress. She didn't see Nairobi in person often, but they videochatted to catch up at least every few months. When the deceased Bian appeared around the world, the Antistasi called Malaika and the other Sivylla together to address this. After reuniting with Bian, the group decided to work with the Antistasi part-time under a new team name: the Enforcers.
This section includes major spoilers about "Death's Mending Touch." Please read the book first, unless you want the ending spoiled.
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Appearance
Malaika was born a human. She was a Black woman with light brown skin. Her recent ancestry was primarily Bantu and Israeli. She was born with golden eyes, but she told others that the color was from her contact lenses.
At the beginning of "Death's Mending Touch," she was plus-size and a devout Eibadan. Part of her way of expressing her religious practice was covering the majority of her skin. She enjoyed wearing layers of loose clothing with elegant colors. She wore orange glasses and had several black star tattoos on her left temple.
Personality, Behavior, Et Cetera
Even before her capability specified the emotions in people around her, Malaika was always strongly in tune with her community. She aimed to provide support and listen when she could, preferring that primarily over speaking. She tended to be a therapist kind of friend.
She enjoyed acting, as it was a way of practicing the evoking of emotions in others within a safe space. She chose the stage surname Sinema as a pun hinting at her chosen career.
Her Eibadan faith helped her feel more connected to the universe. As someone particularly devout, she would pray at sunrise and sunset to multiple gods. Although covering most of one's skin not a requirement to be Eibadan, she preferred doing so as a way of not thinking about her identity as separate from the universe. It also just felt more comfortable. She didn't cover her face and hands like her brother though—that would have bothered her sensory-wise. She was secure in her faith.
She was pansexual and polyamorous.
Relationships
Malaika adored all of her family, but especially her brother and Nairobi. She kept her romantic feelings for Nairobi silent for years. She also started having a bit of a crush on Will when they first met.
When reuniting in "Death's Mending Touch," Malaika's crushes on Will and Nairobi started back up again.
Trivia
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Malaika's birthday was September 2, 2183
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By the time of "When Truth Cowers," she was married to Will and Nairobi. She's one of the partners Nairobi alluded to
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Some of Malaika's personality was inspired by a bright singer who once wrote me a kind letter
