To mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, recognised by the United Nations on 30 July, African films such as ‘Oloture’ and ‘Mvera’ stand out for using compelling storytelling to expose the harsh realities of modern slavery and inspire action.
Human trafficking is the illegal practice of transporting or coercing people for the purpose of exploiting their labor or services, often through forced labor or sexual exploitation. It comes in a variety of forms, including commercial sex, organ trafficking, forced labor, forced marriage, and domestic servitude, among others.
Statistics from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) reveal that more than 24.9 million people are forced to work worldwide, with many of the victims coming from African countries. It is noteworthy that 72 per cent of these victims are women and girls.
Films have become a powerful medium to raise awareness and inspire action to combat this issue. Notable among them are the Nigerian films Òlòtūré (2024), Shanty Town (2023) and Glamour Girls (2022), as well as the Kenyan film Mvera (2023) and the South African film I Am All Girls (2021).
These films offer compelling narratives and crucial tools to educate and inform the public about human trafficking in Africa.
'Olòtūré' 'Olòtūré'
Initially released in 2020 by Ebonylife, it tells the harrowing story of a journalist who goes undercover to expose the sex trafficking industry. Based on true events, this film highlights the dark realities faced by many women in Nigeria, particularly those in Edo State, a major hub for irregular migration and human trafficking. The series stars Chidi Mokeme, Ini Edo, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Sola Sobowale, Nancy Isime, Shaffy Bello, Ali Nuhu, etc.
This film focuses more on the sex trade while also shedding more light on the dark horrors of illegal migration.
Article page with promotion of financial support
Netflix recently released a sequel, Òlòtūré: The Journey, which premiered in June and continues the story and delves deeper into the world of human trafficking and modern slavery. This miniseries paints a grim picture of exploitation and the dangers suffered by victims.
'Slum' Shantytown
'Shanty Town' is a Nigerian crime thriller television series created by Xavier Ighorodje and Chichi Nworah and produced by Chinenye Nworah.
This six-part series was released on Netflix on January 20, 2023, and stars Chidi Mokeme, Ini Edo, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Sola Sobowale, Nancy Isime, Shaffy Bello, Ali Nuhu, among others.
'Shanty Town' follows the story of a ruthless leader named Scar (Chidi Mokeme), who dominates a crime-ridden community known for its drug dealers, prostitutes, and thugs. Scar is considered the king of Shanty Town and is in charge of numerous illicit activities. However, when some of the Lagos hustlers he and his associates have been holding captive discover that those who have supposedly been released are always missing, they band together to wage war against him.
The series briefly addresses prostitution, the sex trade and forced labor.
'Glamour Girls' Glamour Girls
Glamour Girls is a 2022 Nigerian film directed by Bunmi Adesoye and produced by Abimbola Craig. Released on Netflix, it stars Nse Ikpe-Etim, Sharon Ooja, Joselyn Dumas, Toke Makinwa, and Segilola Ogidan as women who embark on glamorous and luxurious lifestyles through escorting.
The film explores a narrative around prostitution and forced labor.
Glamour Girls was initially promoted as a remake, but later became a reconstruction of the original story with a completely different plot and characters, and also featured some actors from the 1994 film.
'I'm all the girls' I'm all the girls
'I Am All Girls' is a 2021 South African mystery thriller directed by Donovan Marsh and written by Emile Leuvennink and Marcell Greeff, with additional contributions from Jarrod de Jong, Wayne Fitzjohn, and Donovan Marsh.
Based on real events with fictional elements, the film stars Erica Wessels, Hlubi Mboya and Masasa Mbangeni.
Follows Detective Jodie Snyman and her colleague Ntombizonke Bapai as they race to track down members of an apartheid-era sex trafficking syndicate who are being murdered one by one by an unknown serial killer.
READ ALSO: Oloture: The Journey, Savage Beauty: Season 2, other Netflix titles this June 'Mvera' Mvera
After being caught in an organ trafficking ring, a woman tries to return to her community to warn them of the dangers that are sold to them as new opportunities.
The film depicts young girls from a poor village who are lured by a supposed benefactor into forced labour and prostitution, where they face unimaginable horrors.
The film stars Linah Sande, Patrick Owino, Hillary Namanje, Kibibi Salim, Susan Kadid and Carolyn Rita Mutua.