ANALYSIS OF AKACHI ADIMORA EZEIGBO’S NOVEL

TRAFFICKED

By

Adenle Adepeju Temitope

03 Feb, 2009

This paper focuses on:

Summary of the novel Trafficked

Analysis of four leading female characters

Language

Subject Matters in the novel.

Summary of the Novel

Trafficked is a novel that deals with the issues of human

trade, that is, women trafficking through a series of

reminiscences. Nneoma, the leading female character in the

novel shows the trauma that goes with human trafficking; the

deceit, the lies, the cons, and the slavery or servitude that goes

hand in hand with women trafficking because they all end up as

sex objects to men, in order words, the pimps use them “the

trafficked” as prostitutes.

The novel which is credited with twenty-nine chapters has

each chapter unfolding the stories and circumstances of each of

the characters portrayed in the novel. Nneoma after a slight

hiccup in her relationship with Ofomata decided to leave her

home town in Ihite-Agu and upon hearing from a friend that there

were teaching vacancies in the United Kingdom and that she

would be introduced to the agents in charge, Nneoma went

straight to her friend and they both traveled down to Lagos to

meet with the agents. Six of them were chosen (all ladies

between the ages of seventeen and twenty) and were flown out

of the country under the guise that a teaching job awaits them.

Nneoma expresses her joy and thank her ‘Chi’ at this junction but

little was she to know that danger lay ahead of her. However,

before they were flown out of the country they were made to

swear an oath before a shrine and that, “…if we disregard the

terms of the agreement, disobey them or cut links without

settling our debt….” (Pg: 128).

Only when Nneoma got to Italy did she know she had been

trafficked. After a period of six years of been trafficked she was

caught and deported back to Nigeria where the government had

made provisions for the empowerment of trafficked women

through the establishment of Oasis Youth Centre for Skills

Development (OYCSD) her she stayed another two years before

she could summon the courage to go back home to see her

parents at Ihite-Agu. During her two years stay at the centre she

was trained as a tailor and she was able to get an admission into

the University of Lagos to study a teaching course. The novelist

through this novel is able to skillfully and tactically bring to the

attention of the reader the issue of female trafficking and the

inhumanity of man towards the women, the need for women to

be more educated and enlightened about the issue of trafficking

and the dangers attached to it, as well as understanding the

process of trafficking.

At the centre of the novel is a consideration for the place

and effect of parental love in the life of a child. Nneoma parents

are an example in this case. Nneoma father in the person of

Ogukwe Eke loved his daughter deeply and he believed that it

was the spirit of his dead mother that dwells in Nneoma. Nneoma

grew up a loved and cherished child in a peaceful home in which

she was the third child of four children. Ogukwe who was a clerk

at the Internal Revenue Department in the Ministry of Finance

regarded himself as a family man, having done his best to train

his children in school and provide for them and their mother.

Adaeze, his wife, made more money than he does by the nature

of her work which is trading and brought home more income than

he did. But these things were not voiced,

“…For a woman’s wealth belonged to her husband and she could

lay no claim to it at any time in her lifetime or even after she

died…”

The novelist here subtly voiced out the plight of the woman

in the Igbo culture which is also obtainable in other cultures as

well where the woman cannot claim anything fro herself even

after she laboured to acquire the wealth, she has no say in its

spending, giving rise to the voiceless nature of the woman which

society and culture had imposed upon her.

However, upon Nneoma disappearance from home and her

elder sister Hannah religious fanaticism which led her to the arms

of Prophet Elias who abused and mistreated her and encouraged

her in committing outrageous crimes against Ihite-Agu shrines,

completely embarrassing the family, Ogukwe still showed his love

for his daughters by receiving them back with opened arms and

not overtly criticizing them. The novelist through this portrayal of

parental love is able to show that love stabilizes a lot of atrocities

and erases pains, loneliness, and sorrow as Ogukwe and Adaeze

showed their daughters that they were willing to forgive and

forget.

“Every day belongs to the thief but one day belongs to the owner

of the house” (Pg: 145)

This is the case with Ofomata who was regularly besieged by

Dr Komolafe, a lecturer at the University of Lagos who takes

pleasure in extorting money and other forms of things from his

students, not only Dr Komolafe but some other lecturers in the

campus was reported and had been asked to resign without much

publicity being drawn to the case after a two hundred level male

student set a trap for him. Ofomata, who happened to be the love

of Nneoma before she fled their home town, was used by the

novelist to explore the angle of corruption and bribery even in the

academic world and the trauma some lecturers make students go

through all in the name of passing them in the various courses

they handle.

The novel goes on to tell the readers the post-traumatic

implication which trafficking has on its victims and how Nneoma

grew to be weary of men and most things they stand for. Through

the eyes of Nneoma we are able to understand the extent of

female degradation and through her plight we are able to form in

our minds the question as to whether prostitution is a form of

male violence against women?

Whether therefore, prostitution is a form of male violence

and show of domination on women or not, the fact still remains

that women from all parts of the world are being trafficked

everyday to serve as prostitutes in most European countries with

the lure of a better life and some are just outright kidnapping.

In all, the novel Trafficked, is a book full of the show of love,

culture and tradition, education, human trafficking, and a host of

other issues which has culminated together to give the work a

sense of identity which is common with most of Akachi Adimora

Ezeigbo works. Akachi with this book therefore has been able to

portray and illuminate more on the issue of human trafficking and

other elementary issues that keep a society together.

ANALYSIS OF FOUR LEADING FEMALE CHARACTER

The four leading female characters selected for this research

are Nneoma, Efe, Hannah and Dr. Chindo Okehi. Two of these

characters will portray the issues of prostitution and trafficking in

their lives (Nneoma and Efe) while Hannah exposes issues of

insecurity and lack of self confidence and Dr. Chindo Okehi will

portray what the other three women dreamed of being.

NNEOMA

A young lady who had been dealt with a blow from the hand

of fate; Intelligent, beautiful, and adventurous but who was turned

into a brooding, skeptical, traumatized, humiliated, shamed and

stigmatized woman as a result of life experiences and most

importantly as a trafficked woman, but who however, refused to

be nothing and decided to make something out of her life after

being deported back to the country as a prostitute and trafficked

woman thereby showing an inner quality: strength and dignity.

Born to Mr. Ogukwe Eke and Mrs. Ogukwe Adaeze, she was much

loved by her father who believed that she, Nneoma, was his

mother reincarnated and as such was the apple of his eye. As

“…his favorite child and second daughter…” (Pg: 10) Nneoma

could do no wrong in the eyes of the father and when Adaeze the

mother would complain about this, saying, “… you can go on

spoiling her if you wish…. You are the one that will regret it…” (Pg

11). Her fathers reply would be “…it’s alright, my little mother…”

cooing Nneoma showing that Nneoma is a much loved child.

Her love for Ofomata and their disagreement as to his

traditional title (Ozo Nkwu’s) which he is to assume upon the

death of his father led to Nneoma decision to flee her home town

Ihite Agu in Anambra State causing a stir in her house and her

parent unnecessary heartache which eventually led to her been

lured and trafficked by crooked men who promised her a teaching

job upon her arrival at the United Kingdom, but that was not the

case as she met herself in Italy where she discovers she is been

trafficked and she says,

“… I am completely devastated by the life I’m forced to live: hit

the street, waiting for customers, winter, spring, summer, and

autumn; comeback at dawn, eat and sleep till it all begins again

at nightfall…” (Pg: 129).

Life as a trafficked woman subjugated to prostitution left her

traumatized and shamed. However this did not stop her from

plotting her escape which she succeeded in and where she met

some Nigerian men who helped her but were lured by her beauty

and tried demanding sex off her. Her second escape came swiftly

but she was deported back to the country.

Back in Nigeria, Nneoma is faced with the stigmatization of

trafficked persons like herself by people and the press, but as luck

would shine on her an organization took her and others in and

they were provided with food and shelter as well as an

opportunity to learn a skill.

Her quest for success and a redefinition of her life started at

the OASIS rehabilitation centre where she picked up sewing and

proved to be a better tailor as she said, she wanted more. The

need and agitation to be a better person and not just a tailor, the

cravings to be better educated all led to her re-application for a

JAMB form and her quest to go to the university to earn a degree.

Her resolution paid off as she passed her examination and was

thereby accepted as an undergraduate at the University of Lagos.

Nneoma displayed a more positive and matured side of her

character under the siege of stigmatization. She gave instances

as to her reaction when she was assaulted and fired based on her

prostitution record. The first being in New York where she worked

and she was caught and the way she retaliated when she was

asked to leave in comparison to her reaction when Chief Amadi

fired her based on the fact that she was a deported prostitute, in

her own words, she says,

“.. the memory still rankled. But her reaction had been totally

different this time. She had left with dignity…”

She therefore asks herself’,

“…Was this a sign that she had matured, or had become

hardened?” (Pg: 282).

Her love for Ofomata never died as she is seen picturing him

in her mind and always recounting the various episodes of their

time together and when fate brought them together,

“…she felt sure that this man would take her back knowing her

for who she was…” (Pg: 311)

In all, Nneoma displays and represents a lot of things to our

contemporary young ladies. She who had experienced such

dehumanization at the hands of fellow human but stood firm in

the face of adversary and refused to allow her past experience

becloud her present and future, is a lady who deserves an

applause. Not minding her experiences she believed life still

offered more than she had witnessed and isn’t afraid to reach out

and get that which is meant for her.

HANNAH

Hannah, the older sister to Nneoma is a lady plagued with

low self esteem and who in her desire to be loved and in

gaining recognition took to Christianity. In the process of religion

she became the concubine of a prophet named Elias even at the

objection of her parents. She ran away with the self proclaimed

prophet.

Hannah fell under Prophet Elias’ spell when a friend took her to

his church one Sunday; three years after Nneoma had

disappeared. Frustrated by her father’s complaints and pathetic

groans over the non-payment of his gratuity and pension and the

loss of his favourite daughter which also meant the loss of the

piece of land promised by his prospective in-law; unable to find a

job after her secretarial studies, and lacking much of the

comeliness of her younger sister, Nneoma, which made men

slaves to passion when they saw her, Hannah fell for the first man

who paid her serious attention (Pg: 170).

Hannah is found to ask herself always, “…what does Prophet Elias

see in me that made him love me…” (Pg:170). This therefore led

her to becoming Prophet Elias concubine since her parent

objected to her marrying him.

After three years of wild adventure, Hannah returned home

damaged and disconsolate as she had been kept as a concubine

in a harem of ten women and she was often used as a punching

bag when the prophet needed to unburden his pent up emotions.

After all this she decided to return home to her parent. Her father

upon seeing her was not ready to forgive her and was ready to

send her out of his house but after he saw the agony she was in,

took pity and decided that after all Hannah was his first daughter

and forgave her.

It wasn’t easy for the mother to forgive Hannah but she thought

to herself, “…Hannah behaved so outrageously, she had

stretched the elastic cord of affinity beyond its limit…” (Pg: 180).

Lebechi unwittingly broke the spell of discord between Hannah

and her mother and through this the universal language of

maternal love was opened.

Hannah like her sister Nneoma, after her ordeal decided to

make a better person out of herself and decided to let go of the

past and press forward into the future and in doing so, she took

up selling “okrika” – second hand clothes- which she bought from

Aba and sold in Ihite-Agu market. Hannah exhibited a level of

responsibility, maturity and repentance when she realized she

was lucky to have a second chance.

EFE

A young lady who was one of those deported based on the

fact that she was trafficked and was made to the street displays

an aura of positivism in the novel Trafficked. Efe is a woman who

refuses to let anything or circumstances get the better of her. She

is full of life and light-hearted, welcoming and friendly, above all

she is one to find good things in worst places or situation, never

afraid of lurching out after her deportation, and she proved to be

loyal.

Efe displays her sense of friendship to Nneoma as she was

able to get Nneoma to talk about her ordeal as a trafficked person

and was able to motivate Nneoma that life is not ending because

of what had happened to them but that it is what they make out

of the opportunities given to them. Throughout the novel,

Nneoma found it easy and comfortable to confide in Efe and even

after Efe left the OASIS centre she made sure she kept in touch

with Nneoma. Efe played the friendship part well in the novel.

Her sense of enthusiasm and positivism comes to play when

she was willing to move on and have a relationship with a man

she was unaware off as been a trafficker and upon knowing was

willing to risk uncovering the man for who he is. Her journey back

to her hometown met her with a load of adventures as she

constantly told Nneoma over the phone and at a point Nneoma

remarked that, “…though she and Efe were similar in some ways,

they were totally different in many others. Efe couldn’t bear a dull

moment; she liked to be on the move all the time, having new

experiences. She was not afraid to take risks. She had responded

to a strange advertisement placed in a newspaper and on the

basis of that traveled abroad with strangers. Even the experience

of being trafficked had not diminished her go-for-it attitude to

life.” (Pg: 125)

With this, it shows that Efe having undergone the same

experiences which Nneoma went through reacted to it in another

form as compared to Nneoma. Efe has therefore shown that ones’

attitude and reaction to issues is of great importance to the

survival of humans.

Dr. CHINDO

A senior lecturer in the Department of Science Education of

the University of Lagos, Nigeria, tall and elegant who is in her

early forties is a brilliant academic whose opinions are highly

respected, not only that, but she is highly concerned about the

welfare of her students, kind and generous as well as

understanding and a good mother.

Dr. Chindo was always careful to remember to get Ofomata

books when she travels out of the country on her academic tours

and as Ofomata would describe her, “…Dr Okehi did not belong to

the class of lecturers who discussed their colleagues with

students…” (Pg: 148). Nneoma in describing Dr Chindo Okehi said

she was confident and refined. Nneoma remembers Chindo

generosity towards her when they met in London and how Chindo

helped her to rebuild her shattered psyche and mend her broken

body.

“…Chindo was special…” Nneoma concludes (Pg: 197).

Dr. Okehi also exhibited her kindness and generosity when

she offered Nneoma an opportunity to live in her son’s quarters so

that Nneoma could save some money. She is aptly described as,

“… Ma, you are so kind to me…” (Pg: 308). An added plus for her

on her ability to be a good confidant

Dr. Chindo Okehi hereby represent the image which Nneoma

aspires to be in the novel Trafficked, that is, the symbol of

enlightenment and disciple and she is also the willing instrument

through which Nneoma and Ofomata are brought together again.

LANGUAGE USE IN TRAFFICKED

Language as a style used by Akachi Adimora in Trafficked is

one of the authors’ technique through the use of words to convey

particular meanings and since it is a known fact that a work of art

is expressed in one language or another, each language therefore

used in the novel is physically and psychically articulated to suit

the situation and subject being written about; not only that, it

reflects the author’s personality.

In reading Trafficked, one is particularly drawn to the diverse

language used in the novel, each language representing a

particular dialect and region in the country in which the author

wishes to draw the attention of the reader to.

Sentence Tribe Meaning

‘O di egwu – o’ (Pg:191) Igbo It is

terrible

‘Allah’ (Pg: 191) Hausa God

‘Ole’ (Pg: 191) Yoruba Thief

‘Make you no mind de man. You know

say na de way dem dey chop country

money’ (Pg: 202)

Pidgin

This particular form of language mixture ‘code switching’

and ‘code mixing’ is peculiar to bilingual environment and

through this the author is able to expose the mind of the reader

and at the same time make readers identify themselves with the

characters depending on the nationality of the reader. Invariably,

the author is able to add up languages such as; Yoruba, Igbo,

Pidgin, Hausa and English in the deployment of the novel.

Another peculiar way in which the author is able to use

language in depicting the style of the author is the fact that one is

particularly drawn by the level of affective and emotional

language which pervades the novel. The novel burst out with the

language of despair;

“… I’d rather die than return to that country…” (Pg: 3)

This is equally followed with abusive languages:

“…Shame on you ….Go join the rest of the scum…” (Pg: 17)

This led to the language of enquiry;

“… Why are you so hostile?” (Pg: 19)

“…Have you gone mad?” (Pg: 46)

A similar sentimental outburst recurs later in the novel;

“…Whatever gave you the ideas that you could successfully

escape from me?” (Pg: 53)

“…How did he find out where she was?”

“…What was she to do now?” (Pg: 53)

The language of romance and love persist the novel also:

“…Nneoma, his favorite child and second daughter, would perch

on his knee and, pulling his moustache playfully, ask him what

work he had done in the office, instead of telling him what she

had done on school…” (Pg: 10)

“…How he enjoyed cuddling and kissing her!” (Pg: 36)

“…She came out all smiles. In the full view of everyone, he pulled

her to him and kissed her lips. She laughed, protesting mildly.

Ofo, stop it. You are shameless…” (Pg: 74)

“…She laughed softly and walked away. Suddenly she felt that

this man would take her back, knowing her for who she was.” (Pg:

311).

The language of friendship also pervades the novel:

“… Don’t get me wrong”, Efe said quickly. “I just want to be your

friend in the real sense, to carry some of your burden, if you allow

me and also get you to share some of mine, if you are willing…”

(Pg: 97)

The language of discord also pervades the novel which is as a

result of Lebechi constant attack of Ogukwe and his family for

want of trouble…”

“…Eyi-o, aghonaha-o! Yes, their evil plan has succeeded! .... The

war has just started. We’ll see who will get tired first!” (Pg: 116)

“…So the champion trader is back with her apprentice daughter,”

Lebechi jibed…”

(Pg: 118)

Considering the language aspects used (semantic, syntactic

and phonological concepts), Akachi Adimora was able to show her

level of dexterity. Therefore, the semantic, syntactic and

phonological aspect of language use will also be considered.

SEMANTIC

The author was able to use proverbs in adding more

meaning to her choice of words. Proverbs is used aptly and

concisely all through the novel thereby giving the novel a flavour

peculiar to Akachi Adimora. The use of proverbs in the novel

helped in defining the authors’ style and making it unique.

Examples abound in the novel and they are:

“A foolish chicken overlooked the knife that cuts its throat and got

angry with the pot cooking it” (Pg; 4)

“Show me the person for whom life is continuously blissful and I

will doff my hat for him or her” (Pg: 5)

“A woman who neglects or disrespects her husband will become

destitute” (Pg: 9)

“When a visitor is not offered a seat, he will attract more visitors

to his host” (Pg: 30)

“When a boil attacks the scrotum, you do not leave it untreated

for fear it will give pain to the sufferer”

“Everyday belongs to the thief but one day belongs to the owner

of the house” (Pg: 145)

“Legs that fly like shooting star must realize that flash like

lighting are watching” (Pg: 181)

“An ostrich buries her small head in the ground forgetting that the

rest of her body is sticking out for the world to see” (Pg: 185)

“Since all lizard lie flat on the ground, it is impossible to tell which

of them is suffering from belly ache” (Pg: 204)

“A person who wants to confuse a fly climbs a tree to fart” (Pg:

239)

Poems are another form of language which the author uses

in adding more to the characters intention, thoughts and actions.

The author is able to use poem prolifically to express the feelings

and moods of the character, giving it the stream of consciousness

appeal peculiar to Virginna Woolf. Examples are:

“Mother and daughter talking

Confronting differences

Bridging gaps

Closing ranks

Mending broken fences

Mother finds her lost child

Child rediscovers the taste of mother’s milk.”

(Pg: 182)

“Iwe na-ewe ayi

O, iwe na-ewe ayi

Ochu okuko new oso

Elias mekporo ala”

[We are angry

O, we are very angry

A fall awaits the one who pursues a hen

The hen will escape unhurt

Elias committed an abomination].”

(Pg: 219)

LEXICAL DEVIATION

Lexical deviation occurs when the author uses a word in such

a way that it stands out prominently in the sentence, what

Chapman call ‘foregrounding’. This lexical deviation could be

hyperbolic, metaphorical and dialectical or code switching.

DIALECTICAL OR CODE SWITCHING LEXICAL DEVIATION

This is the infiltration of mother tongue vocabulary into the

second language. It is a prominent feature of a bilingual or

multilingual community in which Nigeria is one. Examples are:

Words Meaning (English)

Iyawo (Pg: 20) Wife

Okpo (Pg:35)

Asa (Pg: 35)

Nsogbu adili (Pg: 38) There is no problem at

all

Aka ji ya (Pg: 42) She is a captive

somewhere

Guguru (Pg: 190) Popcorn

Bole (Pg: 190) Roasted plantain

Obodo oyinbo (Pg:

40)

White man country

METAPHORICAL LEXICAL DEVIATION

This is the transfer of the concrete meaning of a word to an

abstract meaning by analogy, for example:

“One for motorists, another for motor-cyclist and the third for

foot-runs” (Pg: 107)

Here the underlined word is used instead of people without

vehicles or motor cyclist.

HYPERBOLIC LEXICAL DEVIATION

This is an exaggeration in order to produce a strong

impression, for example:

“His bulbous nose flared slightly as if he was displeased…” (Pg:

106)

‘bulbous’ here could have been substituted with a simpler word

like ‘fat’

“…Why are some of the lecturer’s excesses not curtailed by the

authorities?” (Pg: 33)

Here the author could have used a simpler equivalent ‘reduce’.

The author successfully uses language as a style in carrying out

the idea, intention, truth, meaning, and reference for which, only

language can act as its subservient and convenient vehicle of

expression.

THE SUBJECT MATTERS IN TRAFFICKED

The subject matter of Akachi Adimora in Trafficked is one

that deals mainly about those things that affect women in our

society. It exposes certain vulnerabilities of the Nigerian socio-

economic terrain which has presented the modern Nigerian

woman as prey to the dangerous tidal waves of post-modern

phenomena.

The issues in Trafficked will be discussed under the following sub-

heads:

Trafficking

Betrayal

Love

Friendship

Stigmatization

Education

TRAFFICKING

Akachi Adimora uses her novel Trafficked itself as a form of

enlightenment on the issue of human trafficking and how

particularly young Nigerian women are lured by traffickers into

this modern form of slavery. The title of the novel itself speaks

volume regarding what to expect in the novel and this issue is

pronounced as it can get every where in the novel. Human

trafficking particularly women trafficking is a global issue that

needs to be raised as it is a form of inequality to women in the

society, not only inequality, it shows that men still regard women

as a toy to be handled which way they please. Not only does

human trafficking serve as a form of women inequality in the

society it also reflect the socio-economic stand of the country as

most trafficked women are lured by the opportunities they think

awaits them. The theme of trafficking exposes the Nigerian

women as prey to the dangerous tidal wave of post modern

phenomena as the gripping tale of a young Nigerian Igbo girl who

fell to the lure and illusions of overseas opportunities and

possibilities which presented her with a fast track on which to live

ends up on the platform of slavery to prostitution.

Through the use of characters like Nneoma, Efe, Alice, and

Fola, the author makes the reader understand what really is at

stake on the issue of human trafficking and not only this, the

reader is made to have a glimpse and understanding of the

measures taken in rehabilitating the deported trafficked women

as well as the level of poverty which would drive people out of

their own country into the hands of those that would even make

their life more terrifying and would reduce them to animals.

BETRAYAL

The theme of betrayal in the novel Trafficked is of great

importance, as we that through this, a sense of loss is felt by

those chiefly concerned. This sense of betrayal is sensed by

Nneoma (a trafficked young woman), Ofomata (a jilted lover), and

Ogukwe (a heart broken father).

Betrayal could wreck serious socio and psychological havoc

in the life of its victims and Nneoma, Ofomata and Ogukwe are no

exceptions. Nneoma who was hypnotized, mesmerized and

tantalized by her dreams of the famed European splendour, that

she could be who she want to be was betrayed when upon

arriving found out she is in Italy (instead of London) as a

trafficked person sold into prostitution. Nneoma is also the cause

of Ofomata sense of betrayal because she choose greener

overseas pastures over Ofomata love thereby leaving him a jilted

lover and making it nearly impossible for him to love another

woman until they met again. Ogukwe (the heroine father) felt

betrayed over the loss of his favourite daughter whose where

about was unknown, about his brother who betrayed him over the

house they both built for their mother, about Lebechi (his

brother’s wife) who continually assaulted him over little next to

nothing and about his first daughter Hannah who decided to

become the concubine of a fake prophet.

Akachi Adimora therefore uses this theme in exposing the

havoc in which betrayal can cause in the life of its victim, the

psychological damage experienced by those who feel this

emotion and their inability to let go of the emotion which later

would bring about other forms of emotions in the life of its

victims. Trafficking itself is a form of betrayal and it leaves all its

victims a shadow of themselves.

LOVE

Love makes the world go round and it forgives a multitude of

sins. Love is a recurrent subject in the novel Trafficked and the

author shows her dexterity with the usage of this emotion. All

through the novel, the theme of the novel resounds; the love

between Nneoma and Ofomata, Ogukwe and his wife (Adaeze)

and his children (Hannah, Nneoma, Ohaka and Mma), Nneoma

and Efe, Dr Chindo and Ofomata and Nneoma, and the list is

endless. This affords the author to show that love conquers all;

not only that, but it affords the author to bring and infuse a sense

of hope into the tragic tale of the victims of trafficking that love

can afford them to forget past pains and agony giving them

leverage and motivation to press forward toward the mark of

achievement and excellence.

Love also affords the author the opportunity to portray her

characters as real people because the author recognizes that for

any character to be authentic and acceptable, it has to exhibit his

or her own quota of limitations and shortcomings. Love therefore

allows each of the characters an element of reality and equally

portrays them as a group of people who realizes that they need

the love of people around them to forge ahead.

FRIENDSHIP

The novel frequently emphasizes the bond of friendship

between Nneoma and Efe. This bond was what helped Nneoma

and it was on the platform of this that Nneoma could face the

challenges that comes her way when she was deported back to

her country also; the novel got its form from the initiation of

friendship by Efe towards Nneoma.

After a while at the OASIS, Efe was able to get Nneoma to talk

about her ordeal when she discovers she is being trafficked and

afterwards she confesses that, “…I feel cleansed. My body feels

light. Efe, thank you for listening to my story…” (Pg:135)

Not only is the theme of friendship exhibited between Efe and

Nneoma, we had it between Dr Chindo and Ofomata as well as Dr

Chindo and Nneoma herself because DR Chindo offer of friendship

started when she met Nneoma in London and her friendship

proved true as we see in the novel that Nneoma went in search

for her, found her and Dr Chindo was still able to lend a helping

hand.

STIGMITIZATION

The result of the glitterati of the west as sold to the Africans

by several uncanny vendors, of which the media of popular

culture should be chief, possesses the lacerating sting which

wrecks lasting and severe emotional and physical havoc on its

victims has a name called stigmatization.

“…She and the fifteen humiliated young women shuffled out of

the aircraft, past the crew who stood aside, watching them as if

they were lepers or slaved disembarking from a slave ship. She

looked up and saw the disdainful expression on the face of one of

the stewardess, and looked away quickly…” (Pg: 4)

“… Shame on you,” one of the officers taunted. “Go and join the

rest of the scum who flew in from Rome a few minutes before

you…”

“…Look at them,”….what a disgrace to the country…” (Pg: 17)

“…Nneoma, sit down,”… “Why didn’t you tell me you were a

deported prostitute when I interviewed you for this job…. I asked

a question….you are a good worker and talented tailor: no one

can deny that. I cannot keep someone with your background

here. So I am terminating your appointment with immediate

effect…” (Pg: 272-273)

EDUCATION

The author also recognizes the position and importance of

education in the lives of people and she believes in the centrality

of the role of women in any exercise in national development

worth a second look and the sacrosanct of education to both the

man and woman whose place in the global scheme is to be

reckoned with. Through this Akachi is able to reinforce the idea

that for women equality in the society, education is of great

importance and Dr. Chindo in the novel is a fine representation of

this, as she serves as a symbol of enlightenment and disciple

which also serves as a motivation for Ofomata who is a student in

the university campus as well as Nneoma who having being

deported wished to go back to school.

References

Bamgbose, O. (2002), “Teenage Prostitution and the Future of the

Female Adolescent in Nigeria” in

International Journal for Offender Therapy

and Comparative Criminology, Vol. 46, No.

5 (Pg: 569-585). Ibadan: SAGE Publications

Douglas, M. et al. (2003), “Trafficking in Women and Girls” as cited

on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 in

ungarodouglas@tiscalinet.it .

Eziegbo, A. (2008), Trafficked. Lagos: Literamed Publications

Nig. Ltd.

Odewumi, J. (2004), Literature Comparism. Lagos: Anason Intl.

Press Ltd.

Onyerionwu, E. (2008), “The Times of the Signs: Neo-globalization

in Trafficked” in National Life of Sunday

November 9, 2008.

Stark, E (2000), Tricking and Tripping, Prostitution in the Era of AIDS. New York: Social Change Press