The Slave Girl by Buchi Emecheta
"The Slave Girl" by Buchi Emecheta is a poignant narrative set in early twentieth-century Nigeria, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and the complexities of slavery. The story centers on Ojebeta, a young girl who is cherished by her parents as the only surviving daughter. However, her life takes a tragic turn when both parents die from illness, leading to her sale into slavery by her brother for financial gain. Ojebeta becomes part of a household owned by Ma Palagada, a wealthy market trader who provides her with educational opportunities and the chance to improve her social standing.
As Ojebeta navigates her life as a slave girl, she encounters challenges and aspirations that reflect her longing for freedom and connection to her roots in Ibuza. The narrative reveals the paradox of her situation, where she, despite being enslaved, ultimately achieves a level of prosperity after her return to her homeland. The story also illustrates the broader implications of social mobility among former slaves, highlighting characters who find success in their post-slavery lives. Ultimately, Ojebeta’s journey culminates in her marriage to Jacob Okonji, reflecting the ongoing complexities of ownership and identity that persist even after the formal abolition of slavery. The narrative presents a rich tapestry of cultural and historical insights, inviting readers to engage with the nuanced experiences of its characters.
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The Slave Girl by Buchi Emecheta
Excerpted from an article in Magill’s Survey of World Literature, Revised Edition
First published: 1977
Type of work: Novel
The Work
That The Slave Girl is narrated by a storyteller is apparent through its structure: Its prologue is one of mythical beginnings that relates the founding of Ibuza by a young prince, Umejei. The stage is set for the story, which takes place in the early twentieth century, of Okweukwu and Umeadi Oda, their two sons, Owezim and Okolie, and their daughter, Ojebeta.
Although “only a daughter,” Ojebeta is beloved because she is the only girl child who survives after so many have not. Her specialness is demonstrated through her ogbanje charms, which her father has to travel miles through dangerous territory to obtain, and her intricate facial tattoos, both of which are to ensure that she will not be sold into slavery. However, when Ojebeta’s parents die of “felenza,” the seven-year-old is sold to a relative by her brother, Okolie, for eight pounds, money that he uses to pay for his coming-of-age dance. Ojebeta becomes one of five slave girls and two boys owned by Ma Palagada, a successful market trader.
In Onitsha, Ojebeta lives the life of a slave girl; however, because of Ma Palagada’s wealth and eventual conversion to Christianity, she is allowed to attend school, to learn to sew, and—once Ma Palagada’s son, Clifford, informs his mother of his desire to marry Ojebeta—to receive special, more sophisticated refinement training. When Ma Palagada dies, Clifford becomes preoccupied with taking over the business, and one of Ma’s daughters intends to take Ojebeta as a maid for her children. Remembering her past life in Ibuza and having had dreams of running away, Ojebeta decides to return to her homeland rather than be bought a second time.
The more refined Ojebeta does return home, begins to sell palm oil, and becomes rich based upon the village standards. That the enslaved Ojebeta has fared better than those who have never been enslaved is suggested with her prosperous return. This notion is also reiterated through the fate of some of the other slaves. The oldest slave girl, Chiago, marries Pa Palagada, becomes head of the household, and bears him four sons; Amanna, who encouraged Ojebeta to return home, is a successful business owner; and Jienuaka, one of the male slaves, marries another one of the slave girls, Nwayinuzo, and becomes a successful businessman.
When Ojebeta learns that a relative wishes to sell her for the bride price, she shaves her hair to prevent a lock from being taken. She instead chooses to marry Jacob Okonji, a man from Ibuza who was educated and lived in Lagos. Wanting to adhere to tradition, Ojebeta and Jacob seek approval from her brothers, and Okolie admits that he had sold Ojebeta. The two marry and have two children. When Ojebeta later begins to miscarry, Jacob fears it is a result of the bride price not being paid, for Ojebeta still legally belongs to the Palagadas.
When Ojebeta’s husband and brothers learn that Clifford Palagada is coming to Lagos, they know he is there to collect the bride price. Jacob welcomes him into their home and pays the bride price. The storyteller-narrator concludes that years after having been sold into slavery and years after Britain had outlawed slavery, Ojebeta was once again changing masters.
Bibliography
Emecheta, Buchi. “Feminism with a Small’f’!” In Criticism and Ideology: Second African Writers’ Conference, edited by Kirsten Holst Petersen. Uppsala, Sweden: Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, 1988.
Fishburn, Katherine. Reading Buchi Emecheta: Cross-Cultural Conversations. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1995.
Petersen, Kirsten Holst. “Buchi Emecheta.” In Twentieth-Century Caribbean and Black African Writers, First Series, edited by Bernth Lindfors and Reinhard Sander. Vol. 117 in Dictionary of Literary Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1992.
Umeh, Marie. “Buchi Emecheta.” In Postcolonial African Writers: A Bio-Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook, edited by Pushpa Naidu Parekh and Siga Fatima Jagne. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1998:
Umeh, Marie, ed. Emerging Perspectives on Buchi Emecheta. Trenton, N.J.: Africa World Press, 1996.