- When Kambili's father tore Papa Nnukwu's painting, for Kambili it felt like a piece of not only her torn apart but also of Papa Nnukwu. Kambili never had a real relationship with her grandfather. She was forbidden from seeing him for long periods. So when she got the chance to live with him for a while, she realized what she's been missing out on all along. The painting made her realize what could've been if she just had time and the freedom to see who she wants to be.