Post-colonial Study of Akachi Ezeigbo’s Trafficked

Abstract

Post-colonial literature which has become a phenomenon for all nations examines, among others the anti-conquest narrative and the functional relations of social, cultural and political powers that sustained the tripartite governmental bodies of colonialism, post-colonialism and neo-colonialism. Since the colonialists viewed the masses as the ‘Other’ the well-being of the colonizers remained unchallenged as the nomenclature fluctuated from colonialists to post colonialists and to neo-colonialists. These named archetypal structures support all forms of corruption in which human trafficking and the inherent psychological trauma are apparently part. This paper examines post-colonialism in the Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo’s Trafficked through the theoretical framework of post-colonialism. The paper depicted the experience of the migrates in diasporas: ill-treatment of women: and also examined the ideology and practice of neocolonialism fixated on the ideology and practice of colonialism. The paper further portrayed the brazen corrupting influences of the post-colonialists and how they actively employed the ‘Us-and Them’ binary social relation to govern their community; which among others, are reflected on the realities of undue and illegal trafficking of young women prevalent in contemporary Nigerian society. The paper further observed that the post colonialists like their colonial masters and the neo-colonialists, use language as their most important vehicle to exercise powers through a mixture of coercion, persuasion, conflict and collaboration to imprison the colonized. It is the view of this paper that any human-being has the potential for redemption however dark their situation, as exemplified in the lives of the Nneoma and Efe: some of the deported essentialists commercial sex workers who for instance, settled down to some craftsmanship and family lives, Nneoma further gained admission into the University to further her education. Also the teachers, who had not been paid in almost one year because of the strike action they embarked upon, engaged themselves in other lucrative businesses other than prostitution. The paper recommended that post colonialists should address the problems of unbridled corruption, mis-governance, fraud, exploitation, crimes, etc., by incorporating platforms of diversified economy for the gainful engagement of the teaming youth population; and establish maintenance schemes for the old especially the pensioners, in the likes of Ogukwe. It is the opinion of this paper that the government should be sensitive to the earnest demands of the subaltern majority, and the educational core curriculum should be technically based. And finally, many more NGOs should be founded and encouraged to offer skill acquisition to the youths.