Quest for Selfhood:

The Slave Girl published in 1977 by Buchi Emecheta is an irony upon Nigerian culture. The title of the novel reflects the burden upon the soldiers of a girl. The word ‘slave’ is a label for the girl. The Slave Girl is a story of Obejeta whose journey starts from girlhood and end with permanent slavehood. Emecheta has not given identity to the girl. The title suggests Emecheta’s quest for selfhood. Being a female novelist she is searching for a place, a place free from gender bias where a woman can be known and respected as a human being. She vainly tries to escape from exploitation. The historical and structural socio-political situations do not guarantee that the subaltern groups will be recognized or their voices will be heard ever. Emecheta tries to define slavery and meaning of slavery in cultural context. In African context its meaning is changing the masters. 

The Slave Girl a story of Ojebeta. She is a dying fish. Ojebeta’s parents died of felenza and she was left alone with no body to look after her. After the death of her parents life became a challenge for Ojebeta and she started a journey, a journey to Onitsha market. She went there with her brother Okolie. She had no idea why she was going there. She had many questions but her questions sounded foolish to Okolie so she started talking with her dead parents. Ojebeta was free in her girlhood. She was treated as a precious jewel by her parents and was very famous because of her charms. As women cannot be free in patriarchal society, Ojebeta had to give up her freedom. She was used as an income source by her brother Okolie. Ojebeta had been sold by Okolie. From the world of freedom Ojebeta was lost in the world of slavery for which a woman is conditioned. Okolie in his rush and self-analysis decided Ojebeta’s fate that she must be sold and so she was sold to Ma Palagada, an upper class woman. It was a strange destination for a child of seven. She married Jacob. As it is in the masculine tradition that every woman, whether slave or free, must marry. In her life she has learnt that a woman always belonged to men. Before marriage a woman is owned by her people, when she is sold she belonged to a new master, and when she grew up the new master would get a bride price and sold her to her would be husband who would control and possess her. Ojebeta wanted to go back to her people. She was firm in her decision without caring that whether her people really wanted her or not. She was sure that at her home she was not going to get meat means luxurious life so she was ready for mushroom. She knew that she could be free after repaying the amount paid by Ma to her brother and for that someone had to come from Ibuza to set her free. The only gate of freedom for Ojebeta was her bride price. Without repaying the amount she could not even think about running away because after that she would be treated like a runaway slave and the tag ‘runaway slave’ will put her in more hostile condition. For her freedom is not free. Ironically her expectation of bride price from her future husband is also a kind of slavery because he would be her new master. Ojebeta wants to cling to her individuality. She still has self-respect for herself and wants to preserve it. Ojebeta got married with Jacob. Clifford came to get money from Jacob because his mother paid to Ojebeta’s brother and as per the tradition Jacob had to pay the bride price. When Clifford came to get the bride price he was dumb with astonishment because he felt the change is Ojebeta. He felt that she had changed completely. Clifford went there to finalize everything with Jacob and her two brothers. Ojebeta’s brothers never did anything for her now they have come for the bargaining. The old Ojebeta- the energetic, laughing one was lost somewhere. Clifford wondered to see the change in Ojebeta but he wanted to end up the business to clear out her life once and for all. Ojebeta wanted to ask several questions but a sharp glace from Jacob sent her back to the kitchen. The men set to finalize the arrangements for her “permanent ownership” (Emecheta, The Slave Girl 177). Clifford had come to get his money only. Jacob paid eight pounds for Ojebeta to become his new owner. Ojebeta was happy to have a new master. The Slave Girl is a story of Ogbanje Ojebeta. Her birth brings joy to her parents. Unfortunately she was sold by her brother. She is forced to become a slave. She remains slave forever.