Through the first half of "Fattening for Gabon" the most disturbing part has been the adults manipulation of the children and religion. Kotchikpa and Yewa are both prepubescent and orphans of the AIDS epidemic. They are surrounded by a "Christian" consumer culture that despises the meek and praises the wealthy as heirs to Earth and God's favorites. The pastors use God as a pedestal to stand above the community to receive goods and adoration. By reversing the Beatitudes the leaders of the community grow closer to paganism and reshape the ideals of the people, especially the children.
The adults play upon the naivety and fickle emotions of Kotchikpa and Yewa. The gifts the protagonist receive not only fatten them physically but also emotionally. The children are in awe of the excess and only understand it as a result of the adults being in God's good graces. Under the influence of the culture the brother and sister are swayed by goods to love their "godparents" even more then their biological ones. "Mama" even persuades them to change their names to Pascal and Mary and urges them to forget about their old ones in an attempt to remove their identities.
Kotchikpa and Yewa have not been physically abused at this point but the adults are still predators because they are using the most vulnerable for their own gain.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7226411.stm
This short article shares a story of two child slaves that is very similar to "Fattening for Gabon." It's unfortunate that the experience of human trafficking seems common.
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