LITERARY REPRESENTATIONS OF FEMALE TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION IN ON BLACK SISTERS’ STREET AND SARAH’S HOUSE

Abstract

This paper explores the literary representations of female trafficking and exploitation in Chika Unigwe’s On Black Sisters’ Street and Ifeanyi Ajaegbo’s Sarah House. Anchored in radical feminist theory, the study examines how both novels portray the commodification of the female body, the psychological trauma of trafficked women, and the socio-economic systems that enable gendered oppression. Unigwe and Ajaegbo present vivid narratives of women lured or coerced into sex work under pretences, exposing the intersection of poverty, patriarchy, and neocolonial capitalism as driving forces behind human trafficking. The characters of Sisi and Nita, among others, illustrate the moral and physical degradation trafficked women endure while also reflecting the resilience and resistance that persist amid systemic abuse. By analysing character development, narrative structure, and symbolic motifs, the paper argues that both authors critique not only the act of trafficking but also the societal conditions that normalise female exploitation. Ultimately, the study contributes to the ongoing discourse on gender, agency, and the literary role in illuminating hidden crises affecting African women.