Page 94 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 10

COMMUNITY

college sweetheart Penny Rose gathered among the traditionalists she be Liberian, in the next months
crumbled because of race reasons, who are termed “unbelievers” as she would be other things. Other
makes him the dupe for Ricardo’s Ike’s mother tells him that “light and people”. To show their powerless-
scam. Yesenia, who he is supposed darkness has nothing in common”. ness and their new fringe’ existence
to marry in order to obtain his green This creates social segregation in in Belgium, Madam instructs the
card, never shows up, while Ricardo Ukonki village as well as Africa in four ladies that until their debts
continues to obtain money from general. However, Osuakwu who is to Dele have been liquidated, they
him on her behest. This is also a a chief-priest of Ngene ostracizes remain his property. She demands
demonstration of assumption in the himself from Christians whom he their ‘silence and total obedience’
novel. Corruption is thus not appli- sees as a threat to the gods of their and this innocuous oath to secrecy
cable to Africa alone but worldwide. land. Their respective ideologies redefines each one of the ladies.
create sub-plots in the novel as their
There are ideological differences individual ideologies are carried out The assumption of false identity
between the Christian and African in its terrain. This shows that there ensures the strong grip of their
traditional religions which create is disconnection among people who pimp; they not only become anony-
a vacuum in the social rapport ought to have associated as a family mous, they are rendered faceless and
between the individuals. Most im- or community. devoid of any legal rights. Eventu-
portantly is the issue of supremacy ally, Sisi is murdered and this goes
between their respective beliefs. The Quest for Identity and Survival un-investigated because of her ille-
Christians label African traditional in Chika Unigwe’s On Black gal status and she is thereby denied
religion as fetish, barbaric and evil. Sisters Street. justice. Joyce, who is not Nigerian, is
This is seen in the characters of Pas- Identity alterations occur in the four used by the author to reinforce the
tor Uka, Ike’s mother and his sister female protagonists of Unigwe’s global dimensions of sex trafficking.
as they reject and try to indoctrinate ‘On Black Sisters Street’. This oc- Joyce is born Alek has been a victim
Ike into their Christian ideology and curs at very profound, visceral levels of civil war and rape in her native
to convince him never to associ- in a harsh and hostile environment. Sudan. Alek’s name is changed to
ate with his uncle Osuakwu who Sisi, whose story turns tragic as she Joyce at the whim of Senghor Dele
is a traditionalist. Pastor Uka says: gets murdered for trying to escape before she is sent to Belgium, a
“Your uncle and grandmother are slavery and the grip of her pimp, is name he considers more fanciful
grandmasters in the demonic world. born in Chisom, but she is forced than the former.
Your uncle is like Ahab and your to change her name. On landing The protagonists of ‘On Black
grandmother is like Jezebel. Both in Belgium, Sisi is shocked when Sisters Street’ are all strong char-
of them are worshippers of Baal. her supposed guardian and chaper- acters with tragic back stories in
God has given me the prophetic one tells her “Ah, hand over your Africa, which have forced them into
power of Elijah. A ball of fire will passport. From now until your debt accepting Dele’s offer of trading in
descend from on high and consume is paid I am in charge of it”. She their bodies. Their identities be-
Baal and all its worshipers. That is is first made to assume the identity come so altered that they become
why Osuakwu and your grandma are of a Liberian fleeing the civil war reduced to commodities and are
terrified of me.” in her home country and with this displayed behind windows in the
contrived story, she files for asylum red light district for the delight and
However, the above excerpt is in the Belgian Ministry of Foreign preying eyes of men - their clients.
to sensitize Ike of the dangers Affairs. In the words of Madam, her Their full objectification does not
in associating with his uncle and chaperone: “White people enjoy sob end with their display at the win-
grandmother who the Christians stories. They love to hear about us dows; they are always subjected to
term evil. Pastor Uka also tries to killing each other, about us hacking close scrutiny of their chaperone,
convince Ike never to go near or each other’s heads off in senseless Madam, who ensures they dress and
associate with Osuakwu and his ethnic conflicts”. look attractive as if they were wares.
grandma. “If you go to see either Daily on their job posts, they have
of them, you’ll die. I receive that This begins the process of psycho- to haggle constantly for fees to be
message this morning. If not for my logical alienation in Chisom as she paid by their prospective clients.
fasting and prayer you would have transforms to become an anony- For the four protagonists in this
been finished months ago.” The mous “Sisi” in a foreign land. Sisi re- novel, the Belgian environment has
Christians are never seen around or alizes too late that “Not only would rendered them without a genuine

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