The children in Zanzibar Land were war orphans from around the world. They were saved from various conflicts by mercenary leader Big Boss, who intended to train and put them in the battlefield. The children admired Big Boss, with some seeing him as a father figure, while many of them hated warfare due to their past experiences. The children would often play around the various areas of Zanzibar Land, while avoiding the soldiers on patrol. The children appeared to share a mutual familiarity with Holly White (known to them as "the blond lady"). Similarly, they were also well-acquainted with the former STB agent Gustava Heffner, even when the latter was disguised as one of the Zanzibar Land guards.