1

THEME, NARRATIVE DEVICES, FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONS AND

STYLE IN AKACHI ADIMORA EZEIGBO’S TRAFFICKED

BY

Ariko Ena SAMSON

ART0709825

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND LITERATURE

FACULTY OF ARTS
UNIVERSITY OF BENIN
BENIN CITY

MAY, 2014
 2

THEME, NARRATIVE DEVICES, FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONS AND

STYLE IN AKACHI ADIMORA EZEIGBO’S TRAFFICKED

BY

Ariko Ena SAMSON

ART0709825

AN ESSAY SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND

LITERATURE, UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN CITY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE

DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS (B.A.) IN ENGLISH AND
LITERATURE.

MAY, 2014
 3

Certification

I certify that this study was carried out by Ariko Ena Samson in the

Department of English and Literature, University of Benin, Benin City under

my supervision.

___________________ ___________________
Egruaga, A.O Date
 4

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following people for their contribution towards

my life, and education and the successful completion of this work.

Firstly would like to thank my mother, my aunt, Mrs. Modupe Opia for

her efforts towards my life and education, my aunt, Mrs. Veronica Ugeh, for her

encouragement and contribution, Mr. Tony Opia, for his fatherly role in my life.

I would also like to thank Mrs. A.O. Eruaga for her care and concern over my

education and for supervising this project.

I would also like to thank my friend, Tosin, my cousin, Mr. Lawson and

a lot of other nice people too numerous to mention.

 5

Table of Contents

Title Page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Introduction

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Life and Works of the Authors

1.2 Scope of Study

1.3 Justification of Study

1.4 Purpose of Study

1.5 Definition of Terms

1.6 Methodology

Chapter Two: Themes

2.0 Introduction

2.1 Money/Quest for Survival

2.2 Prostitution

2.3 Poverty

2.4 Love

2.5 Conflict
 6

2.6 Oppression

2.7 Conclusion

Chapter Three: Narrative Devices

3.0 Introduction

3.1 Suspense

3.2 Flashback

3.3 foreshadowing

3.4 Humour

3.5 Conclusion

Chapter Four: Figurative Expressions and Style

4.0 Introduction

4.1 Personification

4.2 Metaphor

4.3 Simile

4.4 Style

4.5 Conclusion

Chapter Five: Conclusion

Works Cited
 7

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction

I chose as my major genre of concentration. Because of its versatility and

the excitement it creates in readers all over the world. The Oxford Advanced

Learner’s Dictionary defines fiction as “a type of literature that describes

imaginary people and events, not real ones…”. A work of prose fiction

elucidates an idea, a particular ill in the society, or a celebrated norm. It is

meant either to correct the ills in the society or to celebrate a particular norm in

the society. The novel I have chosen as my major reference material in this

study is Trafficked, by Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo.

1.1 Life and Works of the Author

Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo was born and raised in the Eastern part of

Nigeria. She was born into the family of Joshua and Christiana Adimora and

she has five siblings. She was raised both in the rural environment and the city

and these factors combined as background and setting for her adult fiction and

children’s stories.

She has lived in different parts of the country-East, North, and West. She

has also travelled extensively to Africa, the USA and Europe. She obtained her
 8

Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Lagos, Nigeria after

which she proceeded for her doctorate degree at the University of Ibadan in

Nigeria. She obtained a post graduate Diploma in Education from the

University of Lagos.

A novelist, lecturer, critic, journalist, writer and administrator, Ezeigbo

was appointed a professor of English at the University of Lagos in 1999, where

she has taught in the Department of English since 1981. She was the head of

this department in 1997 and 1998, from 2002-2005 and 2008-2009. She is

married to Professor Chris Ezeigbo and they have three children.

Works of the Author

The published works of the author are: Roses and Bullets Jalaa Writers

Collective (2011). Rituals and Departures (1996). The Last of the Strong Ones

(1996). Trafficked (2008). Fractures and Fragments (2006). Barmaid and the

Witches of Izunga (2010), and Rhythms of Life (1992).

1.2 Scope of Study

The scope of this work shall cover themes, narrative devices, figurative

expressions and style of Ezeigbo’s Trafficked.

 9

1.3 Justification of the Study

Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo’s novel, Trafficked, clearly depicts the causes

and effects of human trafficking in Nigeria as being spearheaded by some rich

eccentric people in the society. This work discusses how the themes have been

artfully realised, and how narrative devices and figurative expressions have

been used to embellish the story. It also examines the style used in narrating the

story.

My justification for using this book is the author’s ability to expose the

socio-political ills in the society and the harsh living conditions in the country

that encourage the traffick girls in the novel.

The socio-political ill in the society ranges from the inconsistencies and

corruption among the political and other leaders in sundry realms of affairs. As

a result of this, the citizens are deprived of the basic needs of life and

opportunities that the leaders could have conveniently provided resorting to

different means of survival.

The author artistically exposes these harsh living conditions of the

majority of the populace in various instances in the novel. Such are the factors

that pre-dispose for girls to being trafficked. We also see a major socio-political
 10

ill in the higher institutions of learning as one of the characters is consistently

exploited by a lecturer, as well as the harsh living conditions of the students

that make them riot against the university authorities.

1.4 Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is not to look at the perceived inherent

feminism in the novel, but examine the creativity themes, artistic use of

narrative devices, creative use of figurative expressions, and style the author

uses to present a story that highlights the social ills and inhuman trade in

persons in Nigeria.

1.5 Definition of Terms

Themes

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines a theme as “the

subject or main idea in a talk, piece of writing or work of art”. The themes we

shall look at in Trafficked are themes of money/quest for riches, prostitution,

poverty, love, conflict and oppression. Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo uses these

themes to portray the sundry socio-political ills in the society.

 11

Narrative Devices

Narrative devices create the excitement in a story or narrative. The major

narrative devices used in Trafficked are: suspense, flashback, foreshadowing

and humour. Okojie Michael Ighodalo in his book; Complete Works on the

Recommended Texts Literature-in-English, defines suspense as “dealing with

anxiety or uncertainty about what is about to take place in a play”. Flashback,

as a narrative device, is also defined by Okojie as “involving bringing or

recalling events that happened before the point which the work opened”.

Okojie further defines foreshadowing as “a literary device which

provides hint or an idea to the reader or the audience about an action which has

not taken place in a drama”, Chukwunonye Emuka in his project work:

Themes , Language and Style in Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo’s Trafficked, defines

humour as “device that induces laughter in a literary work”.

Figurative Expressions

Figurative expressions are words used in a different way for emphasis,

pondering and deeper meaning. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

defines figurative words or phrases as words “used in a way that is different

from the usual meaning in order to create a particular mental image”. The
 12

figurative expressions we shall consider in this book are metaphor,

personification and simile. The Oxford Advanced Leaner’s Dictionary defines

metaphor as “a word or phrase used to describe somebody or some thing else, in

a way that is different from its normal use, in order to show that the two things

have the same qualities and to make the description more powerful”. Metaphor

makes use of comparison.

Personification is also defined by The Oxford Advanced Learner’s

Dictionary as “the practice of representing objects, qualities, e.t.c. as humans in

art and literature”. In other words, personification is the giving of animate

characteristics to inanimate objects in a story or piece of writing.

Simile, according to the same dictionary, is as “a word or phrase that

compares something to something else, using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ These

figurative expressions mentioned above are copiously used in the novel, and we

shall unfold the various instances where they were used, in the novel.

STYLE

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines style as “the features

of a book, painting, building, e.t.c. that make it typical of a particular author,

artist, historical period”, it also defines it as the particular way in which

 13

something is done”. In this work, we shall look at the style both in writing and

other aspects of narration that the author uses to realise her work.

1.6 Methodology

The method employed in carrying out this research are textual analysis

of the novel, Trafficked, library research, consultation of other related texts to

this field, use of internet materials and journals.

 14

CHAPTER TWO: THEMES

2.0 Introduction

This chapter explores the various themes of the novel. The Oxford

Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines theme as “the subject or main idea in a

talk, piece of writing or work of art”. It can be said to be the pervading

topic/topics in a piece of writing. The major themes of Trafficked are:

Money/quest for riches, prostitution, poverty, love, conflict and oppression. The

author presents these themes in an orderly manner.

2.1 Money/Quest for Riches

Money is a necessary entity and everyone needs it at one point or the

other in our everyday life. A close of reading of the novel discloses the

dominant theme of the novel to be the theme of money or the quest for riches.

Firstly, it is the quest for riches and desire to make money that make the

protagonist, Nneoma to travel out of the country for greener pastures, even if

she had not bargained for prostitution. Coming from a very poor background,

and determined to make it in life by battling poverty in any way she deems fit.

Nneoma falls for the abroad trips. This is displayed, when the author says: “…
 15

As things had stood, she was the only source of relief and hope for a better life

for them…”. (20).

Secondly, we can see that even after she is deported from Europe, she is

enrolled as an apprentice in a tailoring firm to enable her learn a trade, and as

such make some money for herself and for her future academic pursuits. While

she is learning the trade, she is also saving. This is seen when she plans to visit

her parents after spending some time as an apprentice tailor. The author says:

Nneoma postponed going home to see her family

for a few more weeks. She taught that the more

stable she managed to make her life, the more

readily her humiliation would be masked or even

obliterated. She was in the process of reinventing

herself. Her past was her own business. In the

present, she could legitimately claim she had a

job as a professional tailor in the best tailoring

workshop in Lagos and introduce herself as a

prospective undergraduate of the best university

of technology in the country (239).

 16

We also find out that the protagonist wrote the universities matriculation

examination in her quest for survival. She also wanted to go back to school and

make enough money to take care of herself and her family. This is seen when

she announces her JAMB results to her friends. “I made my JAMB exam: I

scored 280, which is way above the cut-off mark for Business Administration,

my first choice to study at university”.(……..)

We find out from the entire story that all the girls who were trafficked

and deported travelled out of the country in a quest for riches coupled with the

desire to make money. The entire story centres on the pathetic state of the

country is economy and how some girls have devised means of survival and

making ends meet.

2.2 Prostitution

The Webster’s Universal Dictionary and Thesaurus defines prostitution

as the activity or act of being a prostitute; having sexual intercourse for money,

e.t.c. Taking the above definition on prostitution we see the various instances of

prostitution in the Trafficked. Firstly, the author narrates how two women

dressed in caftan had said:

“Ah, here are the returnee prostitutes from Italy”.

 17

The other woman replied:

“Shameless girls”. “I hear they are Edo girls. I wonder what Governor

Lucky Igbinedion and his wife, Eki Igbinedion, think of all this”. (22)

We also see the pathetic story of Efe, her travails abroad, and how she

was induced into prostitution and sex slavery. She says:

Well, to cut a long story short, we were taken

to Italy and ended up in Palermo. It was terrible.
I was sold to a woman called Madam Gold, a
Nigerian.She was vicious. She used us
shamelessly, made us walk the streets every
night. (99).

Efe continues her story by saying:

Madam Gold sold me to a pimp- a white man-

after four years of slaving for her. I worked for
my ‘new comer’ for two years before I escaped.
Then I fled to Verona and teamed up with a
prostitute I met there and worked independently
for about another year, because I wanted to save
some money to return home…(100).

We also see another sad consequence of prostitution, when Nneoma is

thrown out of her place of work. Chief Amadi says: “Our sins will always catch

up with us. You are a good worker and a talented tailor: no one can deny all
 18

that. But I cannot keep someone with your background here. So I’m terminating

your appointment with immediate effect....” (273).

Prostitution is a dominant issue in our society today, and we have seen

and heard of prostitution, sex slavery and human trafficking. Prostitution is also

a dominant theme in the novel, Trafficked which throws more light on the issue

of prostitution, and the panacea for it.

2.3 Poverty

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines poverty as “the state

of being poor…” we see that the book is replete with the theme of poverty; we

see the author describing how acrid life had been for Nneoma when she says:

“The belief that life is a bittersweet experience is universal, but she often

wondered if she could claim this truism for herself or her family. To them life

had continually been bitter with no sweetness; only brandishing a puff adder’s

deadly fang…” (5)

We also see different scenes in the book that show the degree of poverty

in the life of Nneoma and other girls, that spurred them into their quest to travel

abroad.
 19

In the beginning of this novel, one girl who was being deported made a

remarkable statement, which depicts the poor state of affairs in the country. She

says:

“I’d rather die than return to that country”. (3).

We also find another instance of poverty displayed in the book, when

Efe narrates her background:

“I was born in Benin where my parents had lived all their lives. I assume

they still live there if they are alive. I was out of the country for about seven

years. My family was poor; it was a struggle to put our meals on the table. Only

my elder sister and I went to college…” (98).

The major motivational factor for the plight of the protagonist in the

book, and fate of other deportees from Europe is poverty. The fear of poverty

drives them out of their country and even after deportation, they try to learn a

trade to enable them live and rise above poverty, which had earlier put them in

the situation they find themselves.

We also see different instances of quest against poverty when the

chairperson of oasis says:

 20

“The progress you make here depends on your ability and how seriously

you take the opportunity open to you”. She also goes on to say:

“You will be allowed to choose a trade to learn as part of your

rehabilitation...” (52).

Poverty is a major issue in many countries in Africa. Girls are trafficked

overseas, and promised different mouth -watering jobs, but they eventually end

up becoming sex slaves for their masters.

LOVE

The Webster’s Universal Dictionary and Thesaurus defines love as “a

strong liking for someone or something, a passionate affection for another

person; the object of such affection…”. Love is universal and it exists among

all creatures.

Love is a strong affection, it is the act of desiring something with so

much passion. There is love between parents and children, between opposite

sexes, and also between members of a particular community. In Trafficked, the

dominant characters in whom love is seen are Nneoma, Efe, Ogukwe and

Ofomata.
 21

We see love between Nneoma and Ofomata narrated at different stages

of the novel. We also see Efe falling in love with Nneoma’s ex-boyfriend and

abductor, Baron and finally settling down to married life in Nigeria. We also

see the unique fatherly love that Ogukwue has for his daughter, Nneoma as he

always calls her his mother and is fond of her.

Firstly, we see love between Nneoma and Ofomata expressed during a

conversation between Ofomata and his friend. Ugama Ofomata’s friend says:

“I see. But tell me, what happened to that Ihite Agu girl you were about to

marry before she disappeared?”

He goes on to say: “Did you hear me, Ofo? You had paid her bride price.

Her name has escaped my mind”.

Ofomata was unstable and the writer says “He wished he could steady

the beat of his heart”.

Ofomata finally says:

“Her name is Nneoma. I’ve no idea where she is “. (62)

We also see love when Efe, Nneoma’s friend, falls in love with Baron,

when she says:

 22

“…And guess who came in again?”.

Nneoma says “How could I? Efe replies by sayings: “My new boyfriend!

He wants me to go out with him again”. (124)

We also see the fatherly love between Ogukwe and Nneoma displayed

when he says to his wife: “Don’t you know she is my mother who has come

back to be with me” (10).

From the above quotations, we can see that love pervades the entire

narrative. There are different instances of love in the story between different

people and we can say the book is a miniature of what transcends in the larger

society. We also find out that the novel ends in love as Ofomata finally meets

Nneoma.

CONFLICT

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines conflict as “a

situation in which people, groups or country are involved in a serious

disagreement or argument …”. Conflict can also be said to be a rivalry or fight

between two or more people.

 23

The conflict in Trafficked is clearly visible between different people and

parties. Firstly, we see the government in conflict with the traffickers when the

novel begins, as the girls are being deported from Europe, to stop their illicit

trade.

We also see conflict between Ogukwe’s family and Lebechi. Ogukwe’s

brother had died and Lebechi had lost respect for Ogukwe, and as such there

was a bitter rivalry between both parties.

We also see the conflict between the students union and the school

authorities over the planned privatization of the halls of residence and the

increase in accommodation fees.

Firstly, we see the government in conflict with the traffickers and the

trafficked. The European and Nigerian government are strictly against human

traffickers. The immigration, the air workers, and other security personnel are

very harsh on the girls when they were being deported and this could be seen

when a stewardess said to Nneoma: “Haba go down now” (4).

The narrator goes on to say:

“Nneoma was way of everyone in uniform, whether man or woman. In

her experience they could be unsympathetic,vicious, and implacable…” (14).

 24

The conflict between Ogukwe’s family and Lebechi’s can be seen when

a quarrel ensues between both families.

Lebechi screams: “I will show you that my name is Lebechi” (117).

Ogukwe remarked saying: “She will go mad at the rate she is going”

(117).

We also see another instance when Adaeze rushes out of her house

saying: “What is the mad woman of Ihite-Agu saying this morning?” (181).

Lebechi retorts:

“Ha mother of a tramp. Or should I can you mother of

tramps? Where is your second daughter? All your

daughters are wayward. Who will marry them?”

(181).

The conflict between the school authorities and the student union

president holds a press conference with some representatives of some major

newspapers and magazines in Lagos. The president fumes:

 25

“We are tired of our education and welfare

being trifled with by both the government and

the university authorities” (159).

The president goes on to say:

“Our country is richer than many African

countries, yet their educational institutions are

better funded than the ones here. What is

responsible for this? Corruption, pure and

simple”. (160)

We also see the students chanting:

“Solidarity forever!

Aluta continua!

Solidarity forever!

We are fighting for our rights.

All we are saying is give us our rights” (172)

All these contribute to the various conflicts in the novel.

 26

OPPRESSION

The Webster’s Universal Dictionary and Thesaurus defines oppression as

“the act of oppressing’ the state of being oppressed; persecution; physical or

mental distress”. While The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionarydefines

being oppressed as “treated in a cruel and unfair way and not given the same

freedom, rights, e.t.c. as other people …”

We see different instances and incidents of oppression in the novel.

Firstly, the theme of oppression is seen in the way the girls are shouted at and

talked rudely to by the aircrew and other security personnel when they were

being deported. We also see another incidence of oppression in the way Baron

treats Nneoma. Another case of oppression is seen in the way Mr Amadi asks

Nneomato vacate his establishment, because he had been told she was a

European deportee and an ex-prostitute.

Heralding the story of pretty Nneoma, is the deportation of Nigerian girls

from Europe, and a notable thing we see there is the way the girls were being

humiliated and insulted by members of both the aircrew and the airport security

personnel. The writer narrates the humiliation of the girls when she says:
 27

“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 slaves disembarking from a slave ship.

She looked up and saw the disdainful

expression on the face of one of the

stewardesses, and looked away quickly. The

urge to abuse the stewardess verbally was

strong, but she stifled it. A foolish chicken

overlooked the knife that cut its throat and got

angry with the pot cooking it” (4).

Another typical case of oppression is seen in the way Baron treated

Nneoma, while they were still in Europe. Baron raped her severally and also

dictated her movements. This is seen when the writer says:

“Nneoma relapsed into thought and she

remembered the times Baron had asked her to

plait his thick, glossy hair. Each time she did it,

he would have an erection. After she had

 28

completed the task, he would grab her and rape

her”. (95).

Another incidence of Baron’s maltreatment and oppression is seen when

Nneoma says:

“…Baron is a sadist. He rapes and beats me. I

refuse when customers demand oral or anal sex

and insist that they use condoms and I’m

sometimes assaulted for this. Baron locks me up

in the flat, and does not allow me to go out

except when he takes me with him”. (132)

Another incidence of oppression is seen towards the end of the book,

when Mr. Amadi asks Nneoma to vacate his shop. He says:

“Our sins will always catch up with us. You are

a good worker and a talented tailor; no one can

deny all that. But I cannot keep someone with

your background here. So I’m terminating your

appointment with immediate effect…” (273).

 29

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we find out that these various themes are pervading issues

in Africa today, and they can be seen in our daily lives in this country. The

trafficked girls are spurred into travelling abroad because of various harsh

conditions they find in their home country, Nigeria. The author explores the ills

in Nigeria through these issues.

 30

CHAPTER THREE: NARRATIVE DEVICES

3.0 INTRODUCTION

In the preceding chapter, we discussed Akachi’s themes of quest for

riches, prostitution, poverty, love, conflict and oppression. In this chapter,

attention is focused on Akachi’s use of narrative devices such as suspense,

flashback, foreshadowing and humour, which she employs in her attempt to

give beauity to her novel and an elevated style of narration.

3.1 SUSPENSE

According to M.H. Abrams in his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms,

suspense is ‘a concerned uncertainty about what is going to happen, especially

in those characters whose qualities are such that we have established a bond of

sympathy with them’ (139-140).

An instance of this in the novel is seen when the story begins. The author

says:

“A young woman who had hardly said a word

throughout the flight, stirred and pulled gently

 31

at her seat belt but she did not unbuckle it yet”

(1).

The author describes the protagonist, Nneoma here, but does not tell us

who she is or the fate that awaited her. The author puts us on the edge, and

keeps us wondering who this young woman is, what she was dong on the plane,

and the fate that awaited her.

Another example of where suspense is used in the novel, is when the

author intermittently talks about Ogukwe’s love for Nneoma,and his

desperation about Nneoma’s coming back to see them. This is seen when the

author says:

“Would his little mother, his Nneoma, ever

return to him? What had he done to offend her

so much for her to disappear without a thought

for him and the rest of the family?” (42).

The author keeps us wondering if Nneoma would go back home to her

parents. We also see Nneoma deliberating on whether she would go back to her

parents or not.
 32

Another instance of where suspense is used in the book, is in the way the

author intermittently describes Nneoma’s fear of her former boyfriend, Baron

and the various mightmares she had concerning him. The author keeps the

reader wondering if Baron would come to Nigeria to look for Nneoma, or if he

would eventually, capture Nneoma and take her back to London. An instance of

Nneoma’s fears of Baron returning to look for her is seen when the author says:

“Nneoma stared in front of her. Would she take

up Efe’s invitation? The thought that Baron and

his associates might find her hammered in her

head. She knew he was connected with the

trafficking industry in Nigeria” (135).

We see Nneoma here, bewildered over the fate that awaited her, if Baron

came back to Nigeria to look for her.

Another incidence in the book where we see suspense been created is

when Mr. Amadi asks Nneoma to leave his establishment. The reader wonders

if Nneoma would be able to cope with the trauma that usually accompanies

such an ill-fated incident, and if she would stand on her feet again.
 33

We also find ourselves pondering over the dispute between Lebechi’s

family and Ogukwe;s. The reader wonders if the dispute would ever come to an

end. This is visible when the author says:

“Following the fight between Lebechi and

Adaeze, Umunna the extended family attempted

to settle the quarrel between Ogukwe Eke and

his late brother. This was not the first time they

had tried” (80).

3.2 FLASHBACK

M.H. Abrams in his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms, defines

flashback as “interpolated narratives or scenes (Often justified as a memory, a

revelry, or a confession by one of the characters) which represents events that

happened before the time at which the work opened”.

In Trafficked, through Akachi’s use of flashback, the reader is aware of

some incidents, circumstances and some past evens in the lives of some

characters in the novel. An example of flashback is seen when the author takes

us memory lane to when Nneoma was still a child and how saucy, playful and
 34

outspoken she was. By this, the author tells us the kind of person Nneoma was,

as a child. This is seen when the author says:

“She had been a happy child, avidly exploring

the world around her and finding fun in all she

did. She teased her teachers, annoyed her

classmates and irritated her two sisters and

brother. Even visitors did not escape her

inquisitive questions, some of them

embarrassing to say the least” (7).

The author goes on to narrate how Nneoma had embarrassed a woman

suffering from goitre, when she asked:

“What is that ugly lump in front of your neck and under your jaw?” (7).

From the above extract, Akachi goes back to those days when Nneoma

was still a child.

We also see another use of flashback, when the author takes us back to

the circumstances that led to Nneoma’s deportation from the United Kingdom.

The author says:

 35

“The questioning sessions had been traumatic.

She was sure her responses had been garbled by

fear and panic. The horrors in Rome, the

disorientation and savagery in the London flat,

the humiliation of arrest and detention plagued

her mind” (14).

We also see flashback, been used intermittently when Nneoma goes into

a reverie or has a nightmare of how she was been abused,raped and maltreated

by her former boyfriend and abductor,Baron. The author recounts thus:

“Nneoma relapsed into thought and she

remembered the times Baron had asked her to

plait his thick, glossy hair. Each time she di it,

he would have an erection. After she had

completed the task, he would grab her and rape

her” (95).

Another instance/instances where flashback is copiously used, is in

Nneoma and Efe’s recounting of their experiences before they were deported.
 36

We see Efe telling Nneoma all about her past, and Nneoma also did the same to

her, which cemented their friendship even more.

Efe begins narrating when she said:

“I was born in Benin where my parents had

lived all their lives. I assume they still live there

if they are alive. I was out of the country for

about seven years. My family was poor; it was a

struggle to put our meals on the table. Only my

elder sister and I went to college. My three

brothers dropped out before they finished

primary school. I have a younger sister and I

hope she is still in school. She was only ten

when I left home. I was nearly nineteen” (98).

Nneoma on her part recounts her story when she says:

“For personal reasons, I fled from home one

Friday morning without telling my family. A

friend and classmate had told me some weeks

before that some people had helped her secure a

 37

teaching appointment in the United Kingdom

and she would introduce me to them and I could

come with her” (126).

We see from the story of these two ladies, a copious sue of flashback.

3.3 FORESHADOWING

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines foreshadow as “to

be a sign of something that will happen in the near future”. The British

Advanced Dictionary defines foreshadowing as “a literary device in which an

author drops subtle hints about plot developments to come later in the story”.

Foreshadowing gives an insight into what is obtainable in the story and it

makes us guess most times positively on what to expect in the story.

In Trafficked, through Akachi’s use of foreshadowing, we are aware of

some incidents, upcoming events and the fate of various characters in the story.

In the beginning of the story, the author describes a young woman who

was disembarking from an airplane. The author also talks about her

countenance as she descended from the plane. Through this use of

foreshadowing, the reader has a clue as to what the story is all about. We
 38

envisage a story that centres around a woman and her state of being deported.

The author narrates thus:

“A young woman, who had hardly said a word

throughout the flight, stirred and pulled gently

at her seat belt but she did not unbuckle it yet.

She frowned, thinking that the timing of the

flight was inconsiderate, that flights ought to be

arranged so that passengers reached their

destinations in the morning or evening…” (1)

From the above extract, we see a young woman trying to disembark from

a plane, and we also see her countenance, giving us a clue as to what to expect

in the remaining part of the story.

We also see another use of foreshadowing in the book when Nneoma

was been taken to Oasis by a bus driver who carried her and the other girls. We

see Nneoma asking herself some puzzling questions about her fiancé and other

members of her family. This gives us an insight of what the story is all about

and the people that the protagonist cherishes and keeps us asking if she would

ever meet them again. We see this, when the author says:
 39

“Nneoma cringed at the word ‘trafficked’, and

‘deportees, for both described her situation. She

averted her face, not wanting to be remembered

in days to come by the driver or anyone else.

Her brother, Ohaka, lived in this city as an

apprentice trader under one Mazi Ude, she

thought or had he managed to set up his own

business? In fact, was Ohaka still in Lagos? Her

thoughts sought another target; Ofomata” (13).

From the above, we see the protagonist’s mind wondering on various

incidents and people, and this gives us a clue,, as to what to expect in the story.

Another instance, where the author makes use of foreshadowing is in the

way various people foretold of Lebechi’s impending madness. Though Lebechi

was not mad, but different people pointed to the fact that she would soon go

mad, and this is visible when the author recounts what Adaeze said thus:

“What is the mad woman of Ihite-Agu saying this morning?” (181).

 40

We also see another instance of the author foreshadowing Lebechi’s

madness when an old man from Lebechi’s kindred asked Ogukwe’s entourage

thus;

“Do you think that Lebechi is mad” (216).

3.4 HUMOUR

M.H. Abrams says “humour may be ascribed both to a comic speech and

to a comic appearance or mode of behaviour,

Humour may also be defined as incidents in a story that makes one laugh

and gives relief to the reader. This is seen in various instances in the book,

Trafficked.

Firstly, we see use of humour displayed by the author, when the talks

about Nneoma’s childhood and the naïve questions and juvenile antics she

displayed. Nneoma displays this, when she says:

“Have you come to finish our food? You always come here when we are eating.

Go and eat in your own house” (7).

 41

Nneoma utters the above statement to one of their neigbhours whom her

parents had talked about the previous day. Though the question sounds

embarrassing, it also sounds humourous and funny.

Another instance, where Nneoma displayed her childishness could be

seen when she had a conversation with one adult and the following ensued.

“My name is Neoma” (8), Nneoma answered.

“What’s your father’s name” (8), the adult asked.

“My father’s name is Ogukwe Eke. Do you have a father” (8).

This is also another humours remark, as we see Nneoma been a blunt

and care-free child.

We also see another incidence where humour was used, when Nneoma’s

parents and siblings had a conversation about Nneoma’ s leaving for Ofomata’s

house, a few days before her flight from Nigeria, Ogukwe, her father began the

conversation, by saying:

“My daughter, my little mother, I have always known you reincarnated

specially to bale me out of my predicament” (20).

 42

Her mother said:

“Nneoma, you have done well, my child” (20).

“Hmm Iyawo!”, mma teased. “in a few weeks Ofomata will carry you

away from this house” (20).

“I hope you’ll become less unpredictable and settle down to normal life”

(20), Hannah her elder sister said.

“And remember to respect your husband always” (2).

“And like you, she’ll become born again” (211), Ohaka said

humourously.

Ohaka further continues with his humour when he says:

“Is that not the best attitude to life?” He continues

“To joke about your troubles and laugh them away” (21).

Though the exploration of this conversation, the author gives some

comic relief through the use of humour to the reader.

We also find another use of humour in the author’s description of the

way Mr. Ogukwe snored while he slept. The author narrates thus:
 43

“She remembered how her father’s snores had infuriated her mother!

“Nnam Ukwu, my lord, lie well!”. She would call out, and then shake him, but

soon after he would begin again and she would give up and leave him to bellow

like a bull” (68).

We also see Efe, as a humorous character in the book. She was a jovial,

lovely and happy-go-lucky girl. We see an incidence of her use of humour

when she says:

“Have you ever been undressed by a man, his

hands trembling, his eyes on your face all the

time, telling you that you’re special, telling you

much more than words ever could? You adore

this man-the feeling is mutual-and you are not

just a passive observer, for you too are exploring

just like him. You watch a part of his body near

like a cobra…’’

Now close your eyes as I say the rest…” (236).

This is a good use of humour in a narrative as it offers a form of comic

relief to the reader.

 44

3.5 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we find out that the author makes use of various narrative

devices to achieve his themes. The author makes use of suspense, flashback,

foreshadowing and humour to narrate a story so captivating and touching.

 45

CHAPTER FOUR: FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONS AND STYLE

4.0 INTRODUCTION

In the preceding chapters, we saw the themes of the novel, as those that

focused on the socio-political ills in the society. We also discussed the society.

We also discussed the narrative devices used by the author to achieve the

themes in the book. In this chapter, we are going to focus on the figurative

expressions and style used by the author.

Akachi used personification, metaphor and simile copiously in this book

to add beauty to the story and to present an elevated style of narration, in the

book, Trafficked.

4.1 PERSONIFICATION

M.H. Abrams in his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms defines

personification as “that in which either an inanimate object or an abstract object

or an abstract concept is spoken of as though it were endowed with life or with

human attributes or feelings”.

We notice that personification is copiously used in the book as a

figurative expression, for emphasis and to add beauty to the story. An example
 46

of this is at the beginning of the story, where the author calls the aeroplane

descending, a slivery mechanical bird. The author describes it thus:

“The plane descended gently, a silvery mechanical bird in the afternoon

glare” (1).

In this way, the author describes the plane which is an inanimate object

as a bird, which is animate and has flesh and blood.

We see another use of personification when the writer says:

“To them, life had continually been bitter with no sweetness; only

brandishing a puff adder’s deadly fang” (5).

From the above statement, the writer compares life to a puff adder and at

the same time gives life an animate characteristic of having a fang like a puff

adder. This is a good use of personification.

We also see another use of personification, towards the middle of the

book, and this is seen when Ofomata complains in the wake of another strike by

bankers in the country. He says:

“Damn! Another strike?” (104)

 47

He continues:

“Just what do they want us to do?” (104). The author goes further to say;

“A faceless cabal which sucked the country’s blood”? (104).

From the above statement, we can see that the author makes a good use

of personification. He compares the country to a human being and the faceless

cabal to a mosquito which sucked the country’s blood. In this way, he gave the

country which is inanimate, an animate quality which is blood.

We also see another use of personification, when the author describes the

strength of the thunderstorm. She says:

“The thunderstorms broke and pounded the earth with fists of steel”

(115).

From the above, the author makes use of personification by giving the

thunderstorm, a human characteristic of having fists. This is a good use of

personification, as fists are interposed with the strength of the thunderstorm.

We also see another use of personification, when the author describes the

strength of the wind. The author says:

“Trees swayed in submission to the power of the angry wind” (115-116).

 48

From the above, we see that the author makes use of personification by

giving a human characteristic of been angry to the wind. The author says that

the wind is angry, meaning that the strength of the wind was so strong that it

shook houses and swayed trees. This is a good use of personification.

We also see another use of personification, when the author describes

how “the skies goaded the night into coming early”

The author says:

“The storm had darkened the skies and goaded the night into coming

early” (116).

To goad according to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionarymeans

to keep irritating or annoying someboby until they react’ the skies here are

given an animate characteristic, and are seen as humans, who irritate or annoy

their fellow humans until they are angry.

4.2 METAPHOR

M.H Abrams in his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms, quotes

Aristotle’s definition of metaphor, and it states that ‘’a metaphor involves an

 49

implicit comparison or similarity between a literal object and a metaphoric

object;in this view a metaphor is an elliptical form of simile.

The oxford advanced learner’s dictionary defines metaphor as “a word or

phrase used to describe somebody or something else, in a way that is different

from it’s normal use in order to show that the two things have same qualities

and to make the description more powerful”.

We can deduce from these two definitions, that metaphor is a form of

figurative expression that makes use of comparison between two things.

We find out that the author of the book, Trafficked makes a copious use

of metaphor in her style of narration in the story. Firstly, we find out that the

author makes use of metaphor, when she describes the humiliating treatment

Ofomata was getting from lecturers in his department. She says:

“He was trying, but the sharks in his department were making life a

misery for him” (34).

From the above statement, we see that the author compares the lecturers

in Ofomata’s department to sharks, who were slowly eating him up.

 50

We also see another metaphorical statement made in a proverb, when

Ogukwe lamented his ill-fatedness concerning his two daughters. He says:

“A cricket hides in a corner when a bigger creature invades its hole”

(44).

From the above proverb, we see that the speaker, Ogukwe compares

himself to a cricket and the bigger creature to the problems tormenting him.

We also see the use of metaphor, when the author describes Fola’s

snores, while she slept. She says:

“meanwhile Fola changed gear and zoomed off again, her snores filling

the whole room” (73).

From the above statement, we see that the author compares Fola’s snores

to the movement of a car, and the way a car changes gear, Fola here, is been

compared directly to a car, and it’s movements.

We also see another use of metaphor in the book, when the elders gather

to settle the quarrels between Ogukwe and Lebechi’s family. Here, the author

compares the quarrels to Nsi meaning excreta, that was pulling the families

apart. The author says:

 51

“What we do not know is the man or woman that brewed this Nsi that is

destroying the family” (81).

The above statement is a good use of metaphor.

Another use of metaphor is in the way Ezike, Lebechi’s son describes

Mma as a mad-dog. Here, there is a direct comparison between Mma and a

dog.. Ezike says:

“So what you elders came to do is to stick the blame on my mother and

me? What about the bruises on my mother’s face? What about the mark on my

thigh where this mad dog bit me?” (82).

This is a metaphorical statement, , as Mma is compared to a mad dog.

Another use of metaphor in the book was when Okike, one of the elders

settling the dispute between Ogukwe and Lebechi’s family said:

“The day has assumed two faces” (114).

Here, the author compares the day to a human being having a face. The

author says the day has assumed two faces because they couldn’t understand the

weather.
 52

4.3 SIMILE

M.H. Abrams in his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms describes simile

as “a comparison between two distinctly different things indicated by the word

“like” or “as”.

Simile is extensively used in the book, Trafficked. We see the author

describing sundry events and incidents through the use of simile in the book.

Firstly, we see the use of simile, when the author describes the manner

Ogukwe gnashes his teeth. The author says:

“After Alagbogu had left him, Ogukwe leaned back on the wall thinking.

More than once he gnashed his teeth, Like a goat chewing the cud” (41).

We see the simile been used in the statement above by the way the

author describes Ogukwe’s gnashing using the word ‘like’.

We also see another use of simile, when the author describes the way

Lebechi pounced on Adaeze before they started fighting. The author says:

“Lebechi flew at her like a hen defending her chicks against a predator”

(46).

The author describes Lebechi’s actions using the word ‘like’.

 53

We also see another use of simile in the book, when the author describes

Fola’s snores. The author says:

“That night Nneoma lay wide awake in bed listening to Fola’s snores,

which sounded like a car with a broken exhaust”. (68)

The above statement is a good use of simile as the author compares

Fola’s snores to a car using the word ‘like’.

We also see another use of simile in the book, when the author describes

Ofomata’s woes in the hands of Dr. Komolafe, his lecturer The author says:

“He squirmed like a rat in the claws of a cat and chewed cheerlessly on

his dry biscuit” (103).

The above statement is a good use of simile, as the author compares

Ofomata to a rat using the word ‘like’.

We also see another use of simile in the book, when the author compares

Hannah to a ghost using the word ‘like’. The author says:

“For three days, Adaeze did not speak to her once. Hannah glided about

the hut like a ghost” (180).

 54

The above is a good use of simile, as comparison is made using the word

‘like’. We also see another use of simile in the book, when the author describes

the state of silence in Lebechi’s family house, when a delegation led by Okike

went to visit her natal homeland. The author says:

“Silence, dripping like a leaking roof”(261).

The above is a good use of simile, as silence is been compared to a

leaking roof, using the word ‘like’.

Another instance where the writer uses simile in the book is when

Ofomata went to Nneoma’s parents’ home to visit. The author describes

Ogukwe’s reactions when he heard that prophet Elias was dead. The author

says:

“Ogukwe sat immobile like an anthill but his heart was thumping like an

ikoro drum” (224).

We see that the author uses simile here twice. First she compares

Ogukwe’s sitting posture to an anthill using ‘like’. Secondly, she compares

Ogukwe’s heartbeat to the beating of a drum. This is a good use of simile.

 55

From the various quotations above, we see that the book makes an

extensive use of simile in comparison, and this adds beauty to the book, and

makes it the work of a well crafted writer.

4.4 STYLE

M.H. Abrams in his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms, defines style

thus:

“Style is the manner of linguistic expression in prose or verse-it is how

speakers or writers say whatever it is that they say”.

We shall look at the kind of language the author uses, the point of view

of the narrative, and make a brief comment on the proverbs and figurative

expressions used in the book.

The author writes the book in English using good vocabularies,

figurative expressions and proverbs, but there were a few instances where she

used pidgin English, and this is seen when Nneomam converses with Kolade,

the elderly security man who worked at oasis. Nneoma begins the conversation

by saying;
 56

“Good morning” (88)

“Good morning o”, replied kolade.

Kolade continues the conversation by asking:

“you no go church?” (88).

This is a pidgin English expressoina nd the security man was asking

Nneoma if she didn’t go to church.

The conversation continues when Nneoma hears the sound of a mango

falling, and she rushes up to pick it. She finally picks it up, and kolade says:

“You too fast for me” (89). He continues:

“You dey run like deer” (89). Nneoma asks:

“Do you want it?” (89).

“Take am, na your luck”, Kolade replies (89).

From the above conversation, wee see that the author uses Pidgin

English vividly in the book.

 57

The point of view from which the author narrates the story, is the third

person omniscient point of view. We see that the narrator, tells the story about

characters in the book, revealing actions. thoughts and feeling .

We shall also consider the proverbs, which are copiously used by the

author to give beauty to her style of narration. Firstly, we see the author stating

one proverb at the beginning of the book, when she says:

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

with the pot cooking it” (4).

This is a good style of narration, as the chicken represented Nneoma, the

knife, the government that repatriated her, and the pot represented the

stewardess in the proverb.

We also see another proverb, when the author describes Adaeze’s

laments about her two daughters, when she says:

“I fare like the unfortunate Onyike, who had two useless knives the one

with a handle was blunt and the sharp one had no handle at all” (40).

She uses the two knives to represent her two daughters who were useless

to her.
 58

Figurative language also adds to the style of narration in this book, and

this I have discussed earlier in this chapter. The author makes use of

personification, metaphor and simile in the book.

4.5 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we find out that the author makes use of various figurative

expressions to add beauty to the novel. Notable amongst these figurative

expressions are personification, metaphor and simile. We also see that the

author makes use of the Pidgin English, the third person point of views,

proverbs and figurative expressions, in her style of narration in the book.

 59

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION

In this novel, Trafficked, Akachi has portrayed the socio-political ills

and the state of poverty in an independent African society using Nigeria, her

country as an example.

In this work, I have examined the author’s biography and her works. I

have also discussed my justification of the topic as well as the scope of study.

In this work, I have tried to examine the themes, narrative devices,

figurative expressions and style. Although, the author condemns a dominant ill

in the society, she also offers a panacea for it.

Akachi shows a society where corruption, human trafficking and poverty

is rampant. This the author does, by focusing on the dominant themes of quest

for riches and prostitution. She achieves this by talking about the state of

poverty in the country, and why girls are taken abroad for prostitution.

Though the use of different narrative devices such as suspense,

flashbvack and foreshadowing, the author distinguishes herself as a high class

novelist.
 60

Through the themes, narrative devices, figurative expressions and style,

Akachi realizes what she wants to communicate to the readers, and that is that

human trafficking and poverty should be fought against in the society.

We see that the quest for riches, prostitution, e.t.c. are the basic things

that spurred the girls into been trafficked in the first place, and the author makes

use of these themes to drive home her point.

 61

WORKS CITED

Abrams M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Chicago: Holt, 1941. Print.

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. 7th Edition. Print.

Ezeigbo, Akachi, Trafficked, Lagos: Lantern 2008, Print.

British Advanced Dictionary, London 5th Edition, print.

Mowah, Frank Uche. Eating by the Flesh. Ibadan: Kraft, 1995.

Okojie Ighodalo. Complete Works on the recommended texts literature in

English. Benin. PEMVHM, 2008.