Paper short abstract:

The paper attempts an ethnographic analysis of a prominent culture area in pre-colonial West Africa, the Benin Empire of Nigeria and establishes the changing norms in sexual culture among women from this extraction against the backdrop of the pervasiveness of sex trafficking in the region.

Paper long abstract:

Extant literature gives inadequate attention to the use of micro theoretical approaches in examining the phenomenon of cross border sex trade among the Benin of Southern Nigeria, a region described as the hub of sex trafficking in Nigeria. This paper therefore, fills this gap by adopting an ethnographic approach in the socio-cultural and historic milieu in which the phenomenon of international sex trade occurs and the current trajectories it is presently undergoing. Qualitative data were obtained from key informants who are the custodians of Benin culture and relevant archival materials were also engaged in order establish the rationale for the pervasiveness of cross border sex trade in the region. The study found that Benin earlier contact with the Portuguese had fifteenth century culminated in a commercial intercourse between them which then established a prestige structure in the traditional Benin Society. Hence, contact with the Europeans, which entailed overseas travel is still perceived among the Benin People of Southern Nigeria as status symbol, thus explaining the prevailing value structure which deifies "traveling overseas". The paper further revealed that, women of the socio-economic stratum of this Benin extraction accept the option provided by lucrative cross border sex trade overseas. The paper concludes that migration to overseas by Benin women is perceived as a form of social and economic empowerment against the backdrop of apparent cultural discrimination which privileges males over females in the region.