“Baby factories” are illegal medical facilities where babies are harvested and sold-out. These clandestine facilities are mostly found in the southeastern states—Abia, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu— of Nigeria, as well as Lagos. These facilities prey on vulnerable girls who are r*ped, physically abused, and held captive in these facilities. Several of these illegal sites have been discovered all over the country, but these dark enterprises continue to grow. “Baby Farm,” a poignant new limited series from Netflix, explores the brutal reality of these ‘baby factories’ in Nigeria.
Plot
Directed by Walter ‘Taylaur’ Banger and Kayode Kasum, and written by South African columnist, Darrel Bristow-Bovey, this five-episode series confronts a deeply troubling subject with unflinching clarity. “Baby Farm” deftly delves into the sinister underbelly of human trafficking on yet-to-be-born humans, exploring the unfiltered reality and experience of pregnant girls, while shedding light on the sombre side of non-governmental organizations. The series is a social commentary and critique of Nigeria’s socio-economic reality.
Story
The series opens with Adanna (Oyinye Odokoro) breaking the news of her pregnancy to her boyfriend, who only pretends to be happy about it. And when Adanna informs her parents, they react as one would expect any parents to react when their daughter gets pregnant out of wedlock. When she goes to meet her boyfriend, she learns that he relocated to Lagos. So Adanna departs to Lagos, where she has no relatives. Desperate to find him, she travels there only to be met with further disillusionment when the address she’s given turns out to be a dead end. Forced to fend for herself, she takes a job as a maid, only to be dismissed when her pregnancy becomes apparent. With no means to pay her rent, she ends up living on the streets. It is then that she hears of the Evans Foundation, an NGO that provides shelter and support to pregnant young women at no cost. Seeking refuge, she chooses to accept their offer, marking a turning point in her journey.
Adanna befriends Ebun (Genovive Umeh), the eldest of the ‘Makers’ (expectant women) in the maternity unit at the Evans Foundation. However, Adanna quickly learns that the foundation is a baby factory that keeps expectant mothers against their will in order to reproduce and sell their offspring, and that it is nothing more than a philanthropic façade. Adanna is stuck, much like all the other girls there. Adanna, however, tries to flee but is apprehended.
Performances
Rita Dominic plays the role of Cherise Uko, an international actress, a mother at heart, but has difficulty in conceiving. Her emotional struggle is further complicated by relentless scrutiny from a gossip blogger, Joy (Folun Storms). As Joy digs deeper into the Evans Foundation’s activities, she uncovers a disturbing secret while collaborating with Ify (Kiki Omeili), whose sister mysteriously disappeared after entering the hospital’s premises.
Two primary factors contribute to the growth of the baby factories business in Nigeria. The first is poverty. Economic hardship is the leading cause that pushes young and vulnerable women, even couples, to make a tragic decision to sell their infants as a means of survival. The second significant factor why this illegal venture thrives is the deeply ingrained belief that the sole and ultimate purpose of life and marriage is reproduction, and as such, leading to societal pressure in most African countries, especially in Nigeria, where childless couples, especially the women, face stigmatization and public humiliation.
“Baby Farm” explores the latter issue through the role of Rita Dominic, who, despite being a successful actor, still feels incomplete and inadequate as a human because she has no child of her own. But the series misses the opportunity to implicitly delve into the dire financial situations of the victims who resort to selling out their baby. Adanna and Ebun, the two main characters, were mostly out on the streets because they got pregnant out of wedlock and not because of their financial needs. So maybe other Makers could have had that as their stories. This lack of focus on economic hardship weakens the broader social commentary the show could have explored.
Baby factories are usually private and clandestine set-up, but the writer, Darel Bristow-Bovey’s, decision to instead incorporate a non-governmental organization adds a layer of complexity. It highlights the dark side of NGOs in Nigeria while suggesting the complicity of Nigerian officials in the perpetuation of this criminal venture.
At the centre of “Baby Farm” is a theme about motherhood. Cherise Uko, a successful actor, is ready to sacrifice everything, her fame and money, to experience the joy of motherhood. Similarly, Sister Barbara (Jenny Stead) is protective of Ebun, who Dr. Evans felt is expendable because of her repeated cases of stillbirths. Sister Barbara sees in Ebun the child she’s never had. Meanwhile, Adanna is determined to have and keep her baby, even at the cost of severe emotional and physical strain on those around her. The series poignantly explores the lengths individuals will go to in pursuit of motherhood.
Langley Kirkwood’s role as Dr. Evans is brilliant; she’s mastered the art of villainy and fiendishness with subtle undertones of racial prejudice towards the makers (heck, he treats his own like an object) that you’d crave to see him die agonizingly. Genovive Umeh’s role as Ebun is remarkable as she brings a complex psychological layer to the narrative. And Oyinye Odokoro’s character as Adanna is equally compelling, offering an evocative and emotionally charged performance.
Final Thought
“Baby Farm” is an earnest and thought-provoking social commentary that delves into the stark realities of child trafficking and the growth of baby factories in Nigeria. The series boldly sheds light on this burgeoning and deeply troubling industry, offering a harrowing exploration of its human costs.
Rating: 6/10
