Author
Iyabode Baliquis Fadiora, PhD
Department of Linguistics and African Languages,
Faculty of Arts,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan,
Nigeria.
alagaiyabodebaliquis@gmail.com; ib.fadiora@ui.edu.ng
+2347032566464
Abstract
This paper examines the recurring issue of hard labour
and violence against a child in the Nigerian society
drawing evidences from the Yoruba novelists’
perspectives and societal experiences. Although there are
existing studies on various forms of violence in the
society even against children, yet there is still need for a
research on how various forms of violence against
children have been depicted in Yor˘b· novels, causes of
these violence and preventive measures suggested by the
novelists, to eradicate or reduce to minimal level in the
society. This is the focus of this paper. Six Yor˘b·
Novels were purposively selected that depict one form of
violence or another against a child, relating to the current
happenings in the Nigerian society. Attachment theory
was used to validate the findings of this research. Three
major forms of violence against a child were identified:
physical, sexual, and psychological violence. This violence was then reflected in forms of beating a child,
child hard labour, prevention from education, child
hawking during school hours, emotional manipulation,
and rape. The research discovers that the main
perpetrators of child violence are mostly adults who have
attached themselves to the child as sole provider or
caregiver. In conclusion, the paper, as suggested by the
novelists, submits that there is an urgent need for
continuous counseling of children, parents and the
society at large on the issue of violence against children
about the provision of the Nigerian child Act of 2003 for
the protection of each child. There is also a need of a
grave punishment for pedophiles beyond prison
sentencing but should be incarcerated immediately.
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