Say You're One of Them : Uwem Akpan

                                                   Image Credit: Larry Fire
Have you ever bought a box of the most wonderful, delicious chocolates? But didn't have them immediately? Because you want the pleasure of knowing that you have the most wonderful, delicious chocolates? And then, slowly, after allowing that heady anticipation to build, you reach out and bite into the succulent, gooey goodness of cocoa? Heaven? I am not a chocolate fan, but I do much the same for books.

So, I love African literature. And I had Uwem Akpan's critically acclaimed Say You're One of Them sitting on my bookshelf all these months. I waited in anticipation. Unfortunately, anticipation is a two-timing emotion. It can either reward you or it can leave you with the bitter aftertaste of disappointment. And how disappointed I am! Say You're One of Them is an important book, no doubt about it. Uwem Akpan sets each of the stories in different, chaotic and often violent parts of Africa - Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Benin. He takes on problems one so often associates with these countries - from human trafficking to ethnic violence to starvation and poverty. It's an important lens he shows the world - Africa's problems cannot be wished away, and the despair and horror that afflicts young lives in each one of these stories an indictment to mankind's continued brutality. But, important as these issues are, they need to be read to be understood. Akpan chooses the voice of children to tell these tales and they serve as a stark symbol of the future of Africa.

Yet, I stand so frustrated now because there were vast expanses of this book I couldn't understand because I, unfortunately, can't read French or Swahili. Entire dialogues I just had to skim through, and when you do that, it takes away the story from you. There was no corresponding explanation, no glossary of these terms, and in the end, I was just waiting to throw the book. Think you I exaggerate? Here, a sample:

"Dis Igbo feofle," said another, dis delta feofle, dis Yoruba feofle, de whole menace prm soud, all of dem must die!

And that is an easy sentence! Here's another:

"Who go claim de body sef dis wahala time? Na major crisis we dey now."
"I am sure you be Musrlim," Ijeoma said. "Dat's why you want buly am quick quick."

Or sample this:

"Na my place. N'gan bayi onu de jlo mi. Or you want make I suffocate my children for my house?"

And French!

"Peut-etre, maybe je veux go Gabon aussi." Ah non, il faut que man be strong!"

Shall I rest my case? Local flavor, I am all for it. But please, publishers, editors, translate for poor souls like me who sadly don't know enough languages of the world.


Verdict : Important book. Unreadable book. 


Rating: 1/5