Based on the novel The Lekki Headmaster, what does Mr Bepo mean by the term "new slavery"?

Answer Details

This question asks about the meaning of the term "new slavery" as Mr Bepo uses it in the novel.

When Mr Bepo speaks of "new slavery," he is referring to the modern phenomenon of Africans willingly leaving their countries to move abroad in search of better opportunities. Unlike the historical transatlantic slave trade where Africans were forcibly taken from the continent, the "new slavery" involves people choosing to leave on their own, driven by economic hardship, poor governance, and the desire for a better life elsewhere.

Mr Bepo draws a parallel between the old and new forms of departure: in both cases, Africa loses its people, but the mechanism has shifted from force to voluntary migration. The term is his way of critiquing the brain drain and the conditions that push talented young Africans to seek their futures outside the continent. He is not referring to the literal continuation of the slave trade, corporate exploitation, or physical labour abroad.