The Discourse of Girl-Child Abuse from the Prism of Nigerian Drama: Julie Okoh’s Edewede and The Mannequins as Paradigms
The Discourse of Girl-Child Abuse from the Prism of Nigerian Drama: Julie Okoh’s Edewede and The Mannequins as Paradigms

Summary/Abstract: The study examines the engaging and topical discourse of girl-child human rights abuse and violations from the lenses of contemporary Nigerian drama. It utilizes drama as a tool for advocacy in the global fight against the infringements on the fundamental human rights of girl-children in such developing countries as Nigeria. The primary source materials are drawn from Julie Okoh’s plays namely: Edewede and The Mannequins. The study adopts the qualitative approach to research whereby the two plays under study are used to represent other contempo- rary Nigerian plays that address the same subject. Among others, the study observes that women (whether as adults or girl-children) are endangered species in Nigeria when it comes to exercising their fundamental human rights. The study also notes, regrettably that girl-children in Nigeria, suffer incessant and severe sexual abuses, violations and domestic violence by the hands of their parents, extended relatives and acquaintances yet the perpetrators of these crimes hardly face justice. The study is significant to the extent that it serves as a clarion call for the protection of the fundamental human rights of girl-children in Nigeria. The study also recommends capital punish- ment for perpetrators of girl-child’s sexual molestation and domestic abuse. The study beckons on the Nigerian government, at all levels, to implement laws and decrees that protect girl-children from serial abusers.

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