The book follows Nii Tackie, a Ghanaian‑born man of Nigerian descent, and his sister Mama Orojo who were separated years earlier by political upheaval and forced migration. Nii struggles with identity, hardship, and xenophobia in Ghana, while Mama Orojo builds a life in Nigeria but still longs for her brother. Their lives — shaped by displacement, poverty, prejudice, and family loyalty — unfold against the backdrop of migration and social chaos. Eventually, in the early morning “dawn,” an unexpected reunion occurs, giving the novel its title.