Sisterhood as Survival Strategy: Overcoming Child-marriage Trauma in Phebe Jatau’s The Hounds, and Maryam Bobi's Bongel

Abstract

Child marriage is a pervasive issue affecting millions of girls globally but more so in developing countries. Africa has one of the highest prevalence of child marriage globally while Nigeria has one of the highest prevalence in the continent. Within Nigeria, the prevalence varies with the north having the highest rate. The practice of child marriage is a violation of the rights of the child and it has negative devastating consequences for the girl child. Victims of child marriage are exposed to intersectional abuse and oppression which leaves them traumatized. Reflecting the social realities in their environment, the pathetic plight of the child bride is reflected by Maryam Bobi and Phebe Jatau in their literary works. However, despite the devastating trauma that the protagonists were subjected to, the authors contend that the victims can be liberated, empowered, and self-actualized. Using Maryam Bobi’s Bongel and Phebe Jatau's The Hound as the critical literary text for the analysis, Obioma Nnaemaka’s Nego feminism with particular emphasis on her sisterhood concept is the theoretical framework. It is discovered that though child marriage is a patriarchal supported practice that constitutes a threat to the girl child emancipation, female friendship offers comfort, support, stability, and healing in addition to helping victims overcome the ravages of child marriage and navigate the victims toward the pursuit of their dreams and eventual elevation. The authors demonstrate and assert the possibility of female friendship and sisterhood support in liberating and empowering victims of child marriage.