Religion is an important theme in the novel. Henderson meets people of many different religions in Africa, including Romilayu, the Christian convert who guides Henderson in Africa, and the Wariri, who worship many gods, including Mummah, the goddess of clouds. He accidentally becomes the rain king of the Wariri tribe thanks to his unwitting participation in an important religious ceremony, during which he lifts a statute of the goddess Mummah. Henderson himself doesn't believe in their religion, however. He is a WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) from Danbury, Connecticut, and has been wealthy all his life. He doesn't appear to be especially religious, though he does seek a spiritual connection with nature.