CHIKA UNIGWE: On Black Sisters Street

Review by Henry Ozogula

This brilliant novel focuses on prostitution - specifically African women selling themselves in Europe, in this case in Antwerp (Belgium).

In this work four differing African prostitutes find themselves sharing a flat at "Black Sisters' Street". They are Sisi, Joyce, Efe and Ama who sell their bodies in Antwerp's red-light district. 

Although these four women live together in the same house, in many ways they are strangers to each other "living a lie" so to speak; as they are ignorant about each other's life history; Sisi and Joyce even prefer to use patently false names.   

           

It is no surprise that the women find the area where they sell themselves quite repugnant, as can be gleaned from the book. "With sunlight splashing rays on it (it) had a deserted, wind-blown look. It looked almost ashamed, as if the light of the day exposed it in a way it did not want to be seen...the houses looked sad, giving the area a desolate, mournful look".   

The ladies - especially Sisi - indulge in intermittent fantasies and flight of imagination to escape the grim reality of their existence. "Sisi imagined that she was a tourist, some rich woman who could afford to travel the world for leisure, taking in sights and trying the food. Sometimes she dressed for the role... She was somebody else, with a different life. She lived out her fantasies..."

Sisi does seem to find some personal happiness as a Belgian man - boyfriend - enters her life, making her buoyant. She moves into Luc's (the boyfriend) flat. Alas, this leads to disaster, as Sisi's enraged pimp orchestrates her untimely death. 

    

Sisi's death ironically has the effect of binding the other three women together in authentic fashion, and they become "real sisters". The other women turn out to be more fortunate in life, and they return back home (to Africa), independent with bright(er) futures.    

This vibrant, convincing novel successfully portrays the lives of African sex workers in an European city. The author, Unigbe, delineates the reality of such women against the background of such extrinsic societies.