What is the meaning of the term "japa" as used in the novel?

Answer Details

This question tests the student's understanding of the term "japa" as it is used in the novel.

"Japa" is a Yoruba word that literally means to run or to flee. In contemporary Nigerian usage, it has come to refer specifically to the act of travelling abroad in search of better opportunities, whether for education, employment, or a higher quality of life. The term captures the widespread phenomenon of young Nigerians emigrating to countries in Europe, North America, and elsewhere.

In the novel, Mr Bepo uses the term in the context of discussing the brain drain affecting Nigeria. He connects it to his concept of "new slavery," where Africans voluntarily leave the continent. The term does not mean the struggle for financial independence at home, resistance to colonial influences, or working as a slave abroad. Its meaning is centred on the decision to emigrate, motivated by the pursuit of better prospects.