It’s obvious from the first line of “Fattening for Gabon” that this story is about human trafficking. Akpan, writing as an older Kotchikpa, describes how Kotchikpa and his sister, Yewa, were sold into slavery by their uncle. The process in “Fattening in Gabon” appears to be fairly typical of human trafficking cases across the globe. The U.S. Department of State describes a few of these methods of human trafficking. Persuasion is obviously the main factor for selling children into slavery. In a lot of situations, parents/guardians are convinced their children will be better off and are promised monetary compensation for giving up their children. Slave traders promise employment, education, and an all-around better life for those being sold into slavery. Children and young women are particularly susceptible to this ruthless ploy. This is evident in “Fattening for Gabon.” When the slave traders first arrive at Fofo Kpee’s house, they are overly warm and friendly to Kotchikpa and Yewa. Yewa is especially susceptible to the woman’s kind demeanor, as she is only five and very naïve. Kotchikpa, on the other hand, is a little more cautious around the strangers. Although he is glad to have endless amounts of food and attention, he sees several red flags. Kotchikpa and Yewa are asked to change their names and must memorize lies to cover the fact that they’re being sold. Human trafficking exists in many parts of the world and is perpetuated in similar ways as in “Fattening for Gabon.” Will human trafficking ever be stopped? It’s hard to say, but people will always be willing to go to extreme lengths for extra money, which leads me to believe it will always be a concern.
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