Say You’re One of Them | Uwem Akpan | Cliff Note Books
“Say You’re One of Them” is a collection of five interconnected short stories written by Nigerian author Uwem Akpan. The stories are set in various African countries and follow the lives of different children as they navigate through various challenges and experiences.
The first story, “An Ex-Mas Feast,” is set in Kenya and is told from the perspective of a young boy named Jigana, who lives with his siblings and parents in a shack made of corrugated iron sheets. Jigana’s family is extremely poor, and they are forced to resort to begging and stealing in order to survive. As Christmas approaches, Jigana’s mother becomes increasingly desperate, and she resorts to selling Jigana’s sister to a wealthy man in exchange for food and money.
The second story, “Fattening for Gabon,” is set in Nigeria and follows the story of a young girl named Maisha, who is sold by her uncle to be a housemaid in Gabon. Maisha is subjected to physical and emotional abuse by her employer and is ultimately sold into prostitution.
The third story, “What Language is That?” is set in Ethiopia and follows the story of a young girl named Yewa, who is forced to flee her village when it is attacked by religious extremists. Yewa is separated from her family and is forced to navigate through a dangerous and unfamiliar landscape, encountering various dangers along the way.
The fourth story, “Luxurious Hearses,” is set in Rwanda and follows the story of a young boy named Jean, who is a Hutu living in a predominantly Tutsi neighborhood. As ethnic tensions escalate and violence erupts throughout the country, Jean’s family is forced to flee for their lives.
The final story, “My Parent’s Bedroom,” is set in Nigeria and is told from the perspective of a young girl named Monique, whose parents are from different ethnic groups. When violence erupts between the two groups, Monique’s father is killed, and she and her mother must flee their home in order to survive.
Throughout these stories, Akpan explores themes of poverty, violence, displacement, and survival. The stories are powerful and moving, offering a window into the lives of children living in difficult and often dangerous circumstances. At the same time, they also offer a sense of hope and resilience, as the children find ways to survive and thrive in the face of adversity.
QUOTES
“There’s nothing left in me but pain. It’s like a fever. It’s like being consumed by fire.” – From “An Ex-Mas Feast”
“We’re all going to die one day, Maisha. But it’s better to die in a Mercedes than in a dirty village.” – From “Fattening for Gabon”
“I felt as if I was carrying a secret in my head, but it wasn’t mine. It was somebody else’s secret, somebody else’s shame.” – From “What Language is That?”
“Now the murderers were coming to get us. There was no time to tell my mother how much I loved her. I had to save my life.” – From “Luxurious Hearses”
“The world had suddenly become a big, ugly thing that wanted to hurt us for no reason.” – From “My Parents’ Bedroom”
AUTHOR
Uwem Akpan is a Nigerian author and Jesuit priest born on May 19, 1970, in Ikot Akpan Eda, Nigeria. He grew up in a large family of ten children and attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and English. He then went on to earn a Master’s degree in English from the University of Michigan, followed by a Master’s degree in Theology from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya.
As a Jesuit priest, Akpan has worked in various parts of Africa, including Kenya, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, where he has focused on issues of social justice and human rights. His experiences working with marginalized communities in Africa have influenced his writing, which often explores themes of poverty, violence, and social injustice.
Akpan’s debut collection of short stories, “Say You’re One of Them,” was published in 2008 and received widespread critical acclaim. The collection was a finalist for the 2008 National Book Award, and it won numerous other awards, including the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for fiction.
Since the publication of “Say You’re One of Them,” Akpan has continued to write and publish widely. His work has appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies, and he has been recognized with numerous awards and honors for his writing and social activism.
In addition to his writing and social justice work, Akpan also teaches at various universities and institutions around the world. He currently lives in Zimbabwe.
CRITICISMS
While “Say You’re One of Them” by Uwem Akpan received widespread critical acclaim, there were also some criticisms of the book. Here are a few examples:
The stories are too depressing: Some readers and critics felt that the stories in the book were too bleak and depressing, with little hope or redemption for the characters. While the book does deal with difficult themes and circumstances, some readers felt that the overall tone of the stories was too negative.
The stories are too focused on poverty and suffering: Related to the first criticism, some readers felt that the book was too narrowly focused on poverty and suffering in Africa, and that it didn’t offer a more nuanced or balanced view of the continent or its people. Some felt that the stories reinforced negative stereotypes about Africa and its people.
The stories are too heavy-handed: Some critics felt that Akpan’s writing was too heavy-handed or preachy, and that he was too obvious in his attempts to convey a message or moral lesson through his stories. Some felt that this detracted from the quality of the writing or the impact of the stories.
Despite these criticisms, “Say You’re One of Them” continues to be widely regarded as a powerful and important work of fiction, offering a unique perspective on the experiences of children living in difficult and often dangerous circumstances in Africa.
SUMMARIES
The first story in “Say You’re One of Them” is titled “An Ex-Mas Feast” and is set in Nairobi, Kenya. The story is told from the perspective of a young boy named Jigana, who lives with his siblings and parents in a shanty town made of corrugated iron sheets.
Jigana’s family is extremely poor and struggles to find enough food to eat each day. As Christmas approaches, Jigana’s mother becomes increasingly desperate to find a way to provide a feast for her children, but she is unable to find work or any other means of earning money.
In a moment of desperation, Jigana’s mother comes up with a plan to sell his older sister, Maman, to a wealthy man in exchange for money and food. Although Jigana is initially horrified by the idea, he eventually agrees to go along with the plan in order to help his family.
The story follows Jigana as he accompanies his sister to the man’s house and witnesses her being taken away. Despite the trauma of this experience, Jigana is ultimately able to find some solace in the love and support of his remaining family members.
“An Ex-Mas Feast” is a powerful and emotionally charged story that offers a stark portrayal of the devastating impact of poverty and desperation on families living in slums and shanty towns in Africa. The story is told from the perspective of a child, highlighting the vulnerability and helplessness of young people in these circumstances.
The second story in “Say You’re One of Them” is titled “Fattening for Gabon” and is set in Nigeria. The story follows the life of a young girl named Maisha, who lives with her grandfather and younger brother in a small village.
When Maisha’s grandfather dies, her uncle sells her into domestic servitude to a family in Gabon. Maisha is initially excited to go, believing that she will be able to make enough money to help support her family. However, once she arrives in Gabon, she quickly realizes that her situation is much worse than she had anticipated.
Maisha is subjected to physical and emotional abuse by her employer, who forces her to work long hours without pay and denies her access to adequate food and shelter. She is eventually sold into prostitution by her employer, and she is forced to endure a life of further abuse and degradation.
Throughout the story, Maisha struggles to maintain her dignity and sense of self-worth, even as she is subjected to unspeakable cruelty and exploitation. She longs to return home to her family, but she knows that doing so would mean facing more poverty and hardship.
“Fattening for Gabon” is a harrowing and emotionally charged story that shines a light on the issues of human trafficking and exploitation in Africa. The story highlights the vulnerability of young girls and women who are forced to leave their homes and families in search of a better life, only to be subjected to abuse and exploitation in far-off lands.
The third story in “Say You’re One of Them” is titled “What Language is That?” and is set in Ethiopia. The story is told from the perspective of a young girl named Yewa, who belongs to a tribe of Oromo people.
When religious extremists attack Yewa’s village and kill her father, she is forced to flee with her mother and siblings. The family sets out on a dangerous journey through the Ethiopian countryside, seeking refuge and safety from the violence and persecution.
As they travel, Yewa struggles to make sense of the world around her. She is forced to confront the realities of ethnic conflict and political violence, as well as the language barriers that prevent her from communicating with people from different tribes and regions.
Despite the challenges they face, Yewa and her family continue to move forward, driven by a fierce determination to survive and protect each other. Along the way, they encounter both kindness and cruelty, and they are forced to rely on their own resourcefulness and resilience in order to make it through.
“What Language is That?” is a poignant and powerful story that explores themes of displacement, violence, and the search for identity and belonging. The story offers a glimpse into the experiences of people who are forced to flee their homes and communities in the face of conflict and persecution, highlighting the resilience and courage of those who continue to fight for their survival and dignity.
The fourth story in “Say You’re One of Them” is titled “Luxurious Hearses” and is set in Rwanda. The story follows the life of a young boy named Jean, who is a Hutu living in a predominantly Tutsi neighborhood.
As ethnic tensions begin to escalate in Rwanda, Jean’s family becomes increasingly isolated and vulnerable. When violence erupts throughout the country and the government begins targeting Tutsi people for extermination, Jean’s family is forced to flee for their lives.
The family sets out on a dangerous journey through the countryside, encountering various obstacles and dangers along the way. As they travel, they witness firsthand the devastation and horror of the genocide that is sweeping through the country.
Despite the trauma and hardship they endure, Jean and his family remain determined to survive and protect each other. They are forced to rely on their own resourcefulness and resilience in order to make it through each day, facing constant danger and uncertainty at every turn.
“Luxurious Hearses” is a haunting and powerful story that offers a visceral portrayal of the horrors of the Rwandan genocide. The story highlights the devastating impact of ethnic conflict and political violence on individuals and families, emphasizing the importance of compassion, resilience, and courage in the face of unimaginable trauma and suffering.
The fifth story in “Say You’re One of Them” is titled “My Parents’ Bedroom” and is set in Nigeria. The story follows the experiences of a young girl named Monique, who lives with her parents in a small village.
When violence erupts between Christians and Muslims in the area, Monique’s parents are forced to flee their home and seek refuge in a nearby town. As they travel, Monique witnesses firsthand the devastation and horror of the conflict, seeing homes and churches burned to the ground and people killed in the streets.
As the family settles into their new surroundings, Monique becomes increasingly aware of the tension and distrust between Christians and Muslims. She is particularly troubled by the fact that her parents’ bedroom is situated on the boundary between the Christian and Muslim sections of town, leading to a sense of isolation and vulnerability.
Throughout the story, Monique grapples with complex emotions of fear, anger, and confusion, struggling to make sense of the violence and hatred that surrounds her. She also confronts the realities of prejudice and intolerance, recognizing the ways in which religious differences can be used to justify violence and division.
“My Parents’ Bedroom” is a powerful and emotionally charged story that offers a searing portrayal of the impact of religious conflict on ordinary people. The story highlights the importance of compassion and empathy in the face of hatred and intolerance, emphasizing the need for individuals and communities to come together in the pursuit of peace and understanding.