What role does Bikokolo play in Mission to Kala?

Bikokolo is the patriarch. He is respected and influential. He also sees the value of Western education, but only serves to use it for his own purposes. Bikokolo's postion enables him to coerce and manipulate Medza... to use him. Bikokolo tells Medza, "When the story is recited after my death, you will be its hero. You are that formidable man; you speak with the voice of thunder.... Shall I tell you what your thunder is?".... "Your certificates, your learning, your knowledge of white men's secrets."

Bikokolo, as a village elder, is intelligent and experience... Medza is easily played by appealing to his pride.