Few major works
of fiction anchored on professional prostitutes/prostitution exist in African
literature. Chika Unigbe’s On Black sisters’ street is already something of a classic,
and some years ago SA's Futhi Ntshingila published Shameless. But Ekwensi published his own work well over 50 books, a
book which acquired a measure of notoriety when it was well known and well distributed.
Jagua Nana is actually a very well written book, as Ekwensi was an acknowledged
dexterous story-teller even if some self-styled critics tended to undermine
him. Here he presents a magnificent picture of a veritable, shameless,
calculating and ruthless African prostitute. Jagua has sunk low - well below
the nether rungs of degeneracy, and she lives within her own rules. A cardinal
rule for her is to regard sex as an easy route to quick money, and the richer
the clients the better; especially "white" clientelle who apparently
hold the keys to lots of money. And local "big men" politicians too.
She sleeps and milks them all, but still has an eye on her own marital and
romantic future - she fastens her claws on young promising Freddie. It does not
matter that he is like 20 years younger than she is. There are plenty of
events, twists and turns, most of it prurient, but what does it matter? Jagua
has set out her stall, and prostitution for her is life. Even when she is forced
back to the rural areas (village) where she continues providing sex for men,
including pertinent aristocracy. At last even at her age, she gets pregnant!
Does it matter that she would not know the biological father of the child?
Sadly (perhaps) she loses the child; but at least by a stroke of great fortune,
she finds out that she has a fantastic unexpected horde of money, and of course
she has no qualms helping herself to it. She can now become a very important
merchant of sorts, and de-emphasize selling her aging body all over the place.
We hope so anyway!
-
- Malome
Eric
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