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{{Short description|Nigerian writer}}
{{Short description|Nigerian writer}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox person
[[File:Uwem Akpan Univ of San Francisco.jpg|thumb|alt=Uwem Akpan, image from a reading at the University of San Francisco.|Uwem Akpan, at the ''[[University of San Francisco]]''.]]
| honorific_prefix =
'''Uwem Akpan''' is a Nigerian writer. He is the author of ''[[Say You're One of Them]]'' (2008), a collection of five stories (each set in a different African country) published by Little, Brown & Company.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Maslin|first=Janet|date=2008-06-27|title=As Africa's Horrors Rage, Suffer the Little Children|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/books/27book.html|access-date=2020-05-26|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The book inspired [[Angelique Kidjo]] to write the song "Agbalagba".<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Hit: Angelique Kidjo - Uwem Akpan|url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2008-06-10/global-hit-angelique-kidjo-uwem-akpan|author=Mullins, Lisa|date=2008-06-10|publisher=[[Public Radio International]]|access-date=2021-10-21}}</ref> It made the Best of the Year list at ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', and other places.  ''[[The New York Times]]'' made it the Editor's Choice, and ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' listed it at #27 in their Best of the Decade.  ''Say You're One of Them'' won the [[Commonwealth Writers|Commonwealth Writers Prize]] (Africa Region), the Open Book Prize, and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. A ''New York Times'' and ''Wall Street Journal'' #1 bestseller, it has been translated into 12 languages. It won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dayton Literary Peace Prize - Uwem Akpan, 2009 Fiction Runner-Up|url=https://www.daytonliterarypeaceprize.org/2009-fiction_runner-up.htm|website=Dayton Literary Peace Prize|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> the PEN Open Book Award,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Uwem Akpan, Author Info, Published Books, Bio, Photo, Video, and More|url=https://aalbc.com/authors/author.php?author_name=Uwem+Akpan|website=AALBC.com, the African American Literature Book Club|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> and was picked by the Oprah Winfrey Book Club<ref>{{cite web|title=Oprah Takes Her Show to Central Park|url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/photos/oprah-takes-her-show-to-central-park?image=5|website=[[Gothamist]]|author=Carlson, Jen|date=2009-09-18|access-date=2021-10-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/this-couple-was-married-for-81|title=This Couple Was Married For 81 Years! And Other Reasons I'm No Longer in a Hurry To Find Someone|author=Meanley, Erin|date=2009-09-18|access-date=2021-10-21}}</ref> September 17, 2009, in Central Park.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oprah Chooses 'Say You're One of Them' for her 63rd Book Club Pick|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/oprah-winfrey-picks-short-story-collection-book-club/story?id=8611209|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> Two months later, Oprah interviewed Uwem in Chicago as part of her bookclub event with [[Anderson Cooper]] giving short commentaries on some of the African countries in Uwem's book. The interview was streamed live simultaneously from Oprah.com, Facebook and CNN.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biography of author Uwem Akpan, author of New York, My Village and Say You're One of Them, Oprah Book Club selection |url=https://www.uwemakpan.com/bio.htm |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=www.uwemakpan.com}}</ref>
| name =
| image = Uwem Akpan Univ of San Francisco.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt = Uwem Akpan, reading at the University of San Francisco
| caption = Akpan at the [[University of San Francisco]]
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Akwa Ibom State]], [[Nigeria]]
| othername =
| nationality =
| citizenship =
| alma_mater = [[Creighton University]]; [[Gonzaga University]]; [[Catholic University of Eastern Africa]]; [[University of Michigan]]
| occupation = Writer
| parents =
| relatives =
| yearsactive =
| known for =
| notable_works = ''[[Say You're One of Them]]'' (2008)
| awards = [[Commonwealth Writers|Commonwealth Writers Prize]] (Africa Region); [[PEN International|PEN]] Open Book Prize; [[Hurston/Wright Legacy Award]]


| website =
⚫
Uwem's second book, ''New York, My Village'' was published on Nov 2, 2021 by W. W. Norton. The book was picked by [[Strand Bookstore]] as their Pick of the Month for November 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Strand Pick of the Month|url=https://www.strandbooks.com/pick-of-the-month|date=November 2021|website=Strand Bookstore|access-date=2021-10-22}}</ref>
}}
'''Uwem Akpan''' {{Audio|Ig-Uwem Akpan.ogg|listen|help=no}} is a Nigerian writer. He is known as the author of ''[[Say You're One of Them]]'' (2008), a collection of five stories (each set in a different African country) published by [[Little, Brown & Company]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Maslin|first=Janet|date=2008-06-27|title=As Africa's Horrors Rage, Suffer the Little Children|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/books/27book.html|access-date=2020-05-26|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> His debut book achieved international success.

It won the [[Commonwealth Writers|Commonwealth Writers Prize]] (Africa Region),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dayton Literary Peace Prize - Uwem Akpan, 2009 Fiction Runner-Up|url=https://www.daytonliterarypeaceprize.org/2009-fiction_runner-up.htm|website=Dayton Literary Peace Prize|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> the [[PEN International|PEN]] Open Book Prize,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Uwem Akpan, Author Info, Published Books, Bio, Photo, Video, and More|url=https://aalbc.com/authors/author.php?author_name=Uwem+Akpan|website=AALBC.com, the African American Literature Book Club|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> and the [[Hurston/Wright Legacy Award]], and was picked for the [[Oprah Winfrey Book Club]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Oprah Takes Her Show to Central Park|url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/photos/oprah-takes-her-show-to-central-park?image=5|website=[[Gothamist]]|author=Carlson, Jen|date=2009-09-18|access-date=2021-10-21}}</ref> A ''[[New York Times]]'' and ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' No. 1 bestseller, the book has been translated into 12 languages.<ref name=glamour>{{cite web|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/this-couple-was-married-for-81|title=This Couple Was Married For 81 Years! And Other Reasons I'm No Longer in a Hurry To Find Someone|author=Meanley, Erin|date=2009-09-18|access-date=2021-10-21}}</ref>

⚫
Akpan's second book and debut novel, ''New York, My Village'' (2021), was published by [[W. W. Norton]]. The book was picked by [[Strand Bookstore]] as their Pick of the Month for November 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Strand Pick of the Month|url=https://www.strandbooks.com/pick-of-the-month|date=November 2021|website=Strand Bookstore|access-date=2021-10-22}}</ref>


==Life==
==Life==
Uwem Akpan was born and grew up in an [[Annang]] family in [[Akwa Ibom State]], [[Nigeria]]. These people are one of the minority tribes in this state and southeast Nigeria, where [[Igbo people|Igbo]] are the majority.
He attended Saint Paul's Primary School, Ekparakwa; Methodist Primary School, Usung Ibong; and Saint Anne's Primary School, Ifuho; and his secondary education was at Queen of Apostles, Afaha Obong, all in Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. Uwem grew up listening to Annang folktales from his mom and grandparents and aunties and uncles. The Bible and the horrific experience of the Biafran War provided other avenues for stories. When he learned to read in primary school, he transferred this love for stories to books. When teachers went on strike while he was in Primary Five in the early 80s, it made no difference to him. He even grumbled when the term resumed! After studying humanities and philosophy at Creighton University and Gonzaga University, he received a theology degree from the Catholic University of East Africa in Kenya. In 2003, Akpan was ordained a [[Jesuit priest]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-books-oprah-idUSTRE58J1UZ20090921|title = African author Uwem Akpan says humbled by Oprah pick|newspaper = Reuters|date = 21 September 2009}}</ref> Uwem is also a graduate of the University of Michigan's MFA program.<ref>{{Cite interview|title=Uwem Akpan, Oprah's new favorite writer, got his start in the University's MFA program|url=https://www.michigandaily.com/content/uwem-akpan-interview|interviewer=Andrew Lapin|first=Uwem|last=Akpan|access-date=2021-01-23|website=The Michigan Daily|language=en}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=October 2021}}


Akpan grew up listening to Annang folktales told by his mother and grandparents, aunties and uncles. He was grounded in the Bible and educated in part as Catholic. (This area was overrun during the [[Biafran War]] (1967-1970) and many Annang were killed.)
⚫
In 2009, [[Oprah Winfrey]] recommended Uwem Akpan's ''[[Say You're One of Them]]'' as her 63rd book club selection.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oprah Winfrey Selects Nigerian Author's Story Collection for Book Club {{!}} Voice of America - English|url=https://www.voanews.com/archive/oprah-winfrey-selects-nigerian-authors-story-collection-book-club|website=www.voanews.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> Uwem said he was humbled to learn his debut collection of short stories had caught Winfrey's eye. Oprah said that ''[[Say You're One of Them]]'' "left [her] stunned and profoundly moved."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Amazing Grace|language=en-us|work=Oprah.com|url=https://www.oprah.com/omagazine/say-youre-one-of-them-by-uwem-akpan-book-review-fiction|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> The five short stories and novellas give voice to African children growing up in the face of incredible adversity.<ref>''National Catholic Reporter'', 2 October 2009, 4.</ref>


Akpan attended Saint Paul's Primary School, [[Ekparakwa]]; Methodist Primary School, Usung Ibong; and Saint Anne's Primary School, Ifuho. When he learned to read in primary school, Akpan transferred his love of stories to books. In the early 1980s, his teachers went on strike while he was in Primary Five, but he hardly noticed, as he kept on reading. His secondary education was at Queen of Apostles Seminary, Afaha Obong, Abak, Akwa Ibom State.
⚫
Between 2010 and 2017, Uwem was a Fellow at the Black Mountain Institute (University of Nevada, Las Vegas), Institute for the Humanities (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), Yaddo (Saratoga Springs, New York), the Cullman Center of the New York Public Library (NYC, New York) and the Hank Center for Catholic Heritage (Loyola University Chicago, 2017).{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} In 2015, Akpan left the Catholic priesthood to focus more time on his writing.<ref>https://www.luc.edu/ccih/teilharddechardinsjfellowship/archive/uwemakpan.shtml</ref>


After studying humanities and philosophy at [[Creighton University]] and [[Gonzaga University]] in the United States, Akpan returned to Nigeria. He completed his studies and received a theology degree from the [[Catholic University of Eastern Africa]] in [[Kenya]]. In 2003, Akpan was ordained as a [[Jesuit priest]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-books-oprah-idUSTRE58J1UZ20090921|title = African author Uwem Akpan says humbled by Oprah pick|newspaper = Reuters|date = 21 September 2009}}</ref>
Uwem lives in Gainesville, Florida, and teaches in the University of Florida's writing program.

Akpan returned to the U.S. for graduate study, earning a MFA degree in 2006 at the [[University of Michigan]]. He had already begun to develop the stories he soon published in his first book.<ref>{{Cite interview|title=Uwem Akpan, Oprah's new favorite writer, got his start in the University's MFA program|url=https://www.michigandaily.com/content/uwem-akpan-interview|interviewer=Andrew Lapin|date=December 2, 2009|access-date=2021-01-23|website=The Michigan Daily}}</ref>

By the time his book was published, Akpan had returned to Africa. He was working in [[Zimbabwe]] as a Jesuit priest.<ref name="forna">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/jul/05/saturdayreviewsfeatres.guardianreview10 |last=Forna |first=Aminatta|author-link=Aminatta Forna |title = Fault line| work=[[The Guardian]] |date= 5 July 2008 |access-date= 1 March 2024}}</ref>

==Career==
In 2008, Akpan published a collection of short stories entitled ''[[Say You're One of Them]]''. Each of the stories featured a child and was set in a different African country. The five short stories and novellas give voice to African children growing up in five different nations, in the face of incredible adversity.<ref>''National Catholic Reporter'', 2 October 2009, 4.</ref>

The book was ranked as one of the Best of the Year by ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' (''WSJ''), ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine, and other media. ''[[The New York Times]]'' selected it as the Editor's Choice, and ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' listed it as No. 27 in their "Best of the Decade". It won numerous awards and was nominated for others, as noted in the "Awards" section below. It was a No. 1 bestseller on the lists of both ''The New York Times'' and ''WSJ''.

⚫
In 2009, [[Oprah Winfrey]] selected Akpan's work as her 63rd book club choice.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oprah Winfrey Selects Nigerian Author's Story Collection for Book Club {{!}} Voice of America - English|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2009-10-01-voa10/414245.html|website=www.voanews.com|language=en|date=November 11, 2009|access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref> Oprah said that ''[[Say You're One of Them]]'' "left [her] stunned and profoundly moved."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Amazing Grace|first=Vince |last=Passaro|language=en-us|work=Oprah.com|url=https://www.oprah.com/omagazine/say-youre-one-of-them-by-uwem-akpan-book-review-fiction|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>

⚫
The success of his book enabled Akpan to have numerous writing fellowships in the United States. Between 2010 and 2017, he was a Fellow at the [[Black Mountain Institute]] ([[University of Nevada]], [[Las Vegas]]); [[Institute for the Humanities]] ([[University of Michigan, Ann Arbor]]); [[Yaddo]] ([[Saratoga Springs, New York]]); the [[New York Public Library for the Performing Arts|Cullman Center of New York Public Library]] (NYC, New York); and the [[Hank Center for Catholic Heritage]] ([[Loyola University Chicago]], 2017).{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

In 2015, Akpan left the Catholic priesthood to focus more time on his writing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.luc.edu/ccih/teilharddechardinsjfellowship/archive/|title=archive: Uwem Akpan: Center for Catholic Intellectual Heritage: Loyola University Chicago|website=www.luc.edu|access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref>

Akpan now teaches in the [[University of Florida]]'s writing program, and lives in [[Gainesville, Florida]]. He published his second book, the debut novel ''New York, My Village'' (2021), with W. W. Norton.


==Works==
==Works==
Line 20: Line 62:


== Awards ==
== Awards ==
* [[Commonwealth Writers' Prize]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=About the Author of ''Say You're One of Them''|language=en-us|work=Oprah.com|url=http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/author-uwem-akpans-biography|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>

* Winner of the [[Commonwealth Writers' Prize]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=About the Author of ''Say You're One of Them''|language=en-us|work=Oprah.com|url=http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/author-uwem-akpans-biography|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>
* [[PEN Open Book Award]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Global Africa: Confrontation and Connections {{!}} Literary Arts Program|url=https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/events/new-global-africa-confrontation-and-connections|website=www.brown.edu|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>
* Winner of the [[PEN Open Book Award]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Global Africa: Confrontation and Connections {{!}} Literary Arts Program|url=https://www.brown.edu/academics/literary-arts/events/new-global-africa-confrontation-and-connections|website=www.brown.edu|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>
*[[Hurston/Wright Legacy Award]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hurston/Wright Foundation {{!}} Uwem Akpan|url=https://www.hurstonwright.org/authors/uwem-akpan/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>
*Winner of the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hurston/Wright Foundation {{!}} Uwem Akpan|url=https://www.hurstonwright.org/authors/uwem-akpan/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>
*Finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize in the Fiction Category<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-01-19|title=Uwem Akpan, SJ|url=https://lannan.georgetown.edu/past-guests/uwem-akpan/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice|language=en-US}}</ref>
*Finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize in the Fiction Category<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-01-19|title=Uwem Akpan, SJ|url=https://lannan.georgetown.edu/past-guests/uwem-akpan/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice|language=en-US}}</ref>
*Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction<ref>{{Cite web|title=The PEN Ten with Uwem Akpan|url=https://pen.org/the-pen-ten-with-uwem-akpan/|last=Akpan|first=Uwem|date=2014-06-23|website=PEN America|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>
*Finalist for the ''Los Angeles Times'' Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction<ref>{{Cite web|title=The PEN Ten with Uwem Akpan|url=https://pen.org/the-pen-ten-with-uwem-akpan/|last=Akpan|first=Uwem|date=2014-06-23|website=PEN America|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>
*Nominated for the Guardian First Book Award<ref>{{Cite web|title=Say You're One Of Them By Uwem Akpan|url=https://www.sunshinenigeria.com/say-youre-one-of-them-by-uwem-akpan|website=www.sunshinenigeria.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>
*Nominated for the [[Guardian First Book Award]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Say You're One Of Them By Uwem Akpan|url=https://www.sunshinenigeria.com/say-youre-one-of-them-by-uwem-akpan|website=www.sunshinenigeria.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Akpan|first=Uwem|date=2008-08-28|title=The Guardian first book award longlist: Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/aug/28/guardianfirstbookaward.awardsandprizes8|access-date=2020-05-27|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
*Nominated for the Caine Prize for African Writing<ref>{{Cite web|title=Uwem Akpan|url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1033445.Uwem_Akpan|website=www.goodreads.com|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>
*Nominated for the [[Caine Prize for African Writing]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Uwem Akpan|url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1033445.Uwem_Akpan|website=www.goodreads.com|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>

*Longlisted for the Story Prize<ref>{{Cite news|last=Akpan|first=Uwem|date=2008-08-28|title=The guardian first book award longlist: Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/aug/28/guardianfirstbookaward.awardsandprizes8|access-date=2020-05-27|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
==Representation in other media==
Singer/songwriter [[Angélique Kidjo]] was inspired by Akpan's first book to write the song "Agbalagba". It became a global hit.<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Hit: Angelique Kidjo - Uwem Akpan|url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2008-06-10/global-hit-angelique-kidjo-uwem-akpan|author=Mullins, Lisa|date=2008-06-10|publisher=[[Public Radio International]]|access-date=2021-10-21}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
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[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
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[[Category:University of Michigan alumni]]
[[Category:Creighton University alumni]]
[[Category:Creighton University alumni]]
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[[Category:Nigerian writers]]
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[[Category:Nigerian male short story writers]]
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[[Category:Nigerian short story writers]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:Nigerian expatriates in the United States]]
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[[Category:Nigerian male short story writers]]
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[[Category:Nigerian writers]]
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[[Category:University of Michigan alumni]]

Latest revision as of 18:40, 18 October 2024

Uwem Akpan
Uwem Akpan, reading at the University of San Francisco
Akpan at the University of San Francisco
Born
Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Alma materCreighton University; Gonzaga University; Catholic University of Eastern Africa; University of Michigan
OccupationWriter
Notable workSay You're One of Them (2008)
AwardsCommonwealth Writers Prize (Africa Region); PEN Open Book Prize; Hurston/Wright Legacy Award

Uwem Akpan listenⓘ is a Nigerian writer. He is known as the author of Say You're One of Them (2008), a collection of five stories (each set in a different African country) published by Little, Brown & Company.[1] His debut book achieved international success.

It won the Commonwealth Writers Prize (Africa Region),[2] the PEN Open Book Prize,[3] and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and was picked for the Oprah Winfrey Book Club.[4] A New York Times and Wall Street Journal No. 1 bestseller, the book has been translated into 12 languages.[5]

Akpan's second book and debut novel, New York, My Village (2021), was published by W. W. Norton. The book was picked by Strand Bookstore as their Pick of the Month for November 2021.[6]

Life

[edit]

Uwem Akpan was born and grew up in an Annang family in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. These people are one of the minority tribes in this state and southeast Nigeria, where Igbo are the majority.

Akpan grew up listening to Annang folktales told by his mother and grandparents, aunties and uncles. He was grounded in the Bible and educated in part as Catholic. (This area was overrun during the Biafran War (1967-1970) and many Annang were killed.)

Akpan attended Saint Paul's Primary School, Ekparakwa; Methodist Primary School, Usung Ibong; and Saint Anne's Primary School, Ifuho. When he learned to read in primary school, Akpan transferred his love of stories to books. In the early 1980s, his teachers went on strike while he was in Primary Five, but he hardly noticed, as he kept on reading. His secondary education was at Queen of Apostles Seminary, Afaha Obong, Abak, Akwa Ibom State.

After studying humanities and philosophy at Creighton University and Gonzaga University in the United States, Akpan returned to Nigeria. He completed his studies and received a theology degree from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Kenya. In 2003, Akpan was ordained as a Jesuit priest.[7]

Akpan returned to the U.S. for graduate study, earning a MFA degree in 2006 at the University of Michigan. He had already begun to develop the stories he soon published in his first book.[8]

By the time his book was published, Akpan had returned to Africa. He was working in Zimbabwe as a Jesuit priest.[9]

Career

[edit]

In 2008, Akpan published a collection of short stories entitled Say You're One of Them. Each of the stories featured a child and was set in a different African country. The five short stories and novellas give voice to African children growing up in five different nations, in the face of incredible adversity.[10]

The book was ranked as one of the Best of the Year by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), People magazine, and other media. The New York Times selected it as the Editor's Choice, and Entertainment Weekly listed it as No. 27 in their "Best of the Decade". It won numerous awards and was nominated for others, as noted in the "Awards" section below. It was a No. 1 bestseller on the lists of both The New York Times and WSJ.

In 2009, Oprah Winfrey selected Akpan's work as her 63rd book club choice.[11] Oprah said that Say You're One of Them "left [her] stunned and profoundly moved."[12]

The success of his book enabled Akpan to have numerous writing fellowships in the United States. Between 2010 and 2017, he was a Fellow at the Black Mountain Institute (University of Nevada, Las Vegas); Institute for the Humanities (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor); Yaddo (Saratoga Springs, New York); the Cullman Center of New York Public Library (NYC, New York); and the Hank Center for Catholic Heritage (Loyola University Chicago, 2017).[citation needed]

In 2015, Akpan left the Catholic priesthood to focus more time on his writing.[13]

Akpan now teaches in the University of Florida's writing program, and lives in Gainesville, Florida. He published his second book, the debut novel New York, My Village (2021), with W. W. Norton.

Works

[edit]
  • Say You're One of Them. Hachette. 2008. ISBN 978-0-316-11378-6.
  • New York, My Village. W. W. Norton, Nov 2021. ISBN 978-0-393-88142-4

Awards

[edit]

Representation in other media

[edit]

Singer/songwriter Angélique Kidjo was inspired by Akpan's first book to write the song "Agbalagba". It became a global hit.[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Maslin, Janet (27 June 2008). "As Africa's Horrors Rage, Suffer the Little Children". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Dayton Literary Peace Prize - Uwem Akpan, 2009 Fiction Runner-Up". Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Uwem Akpan, Author Info, Published Books, Bio, Photo, Video, and More". AALBC.com, the African American Literature Book Club. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  4. ^ Carlson, Jen (18 September 2009). "Oprah Takes Her Show to Central Park". Gothamist. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  5. ^ Meanley, Erin (18 September 2009). "This Couple Was Married For 81 Years! And Other Reasons I'm No Longer in a Hurry To Find Someone". Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  6. ^ "The Strand Pick of the Month". Strand Bookstore. November 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  7. ^ "African author Uwem Akpan says humbled by Oprah pick". Reuters. 21 September 2009.
  8. ^ "Uwem Akpan, Oprah's new favorite writer, got his start in the University's MFA program". The Michigan Daily (Interview). Interviewed by Andrew Lapin. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  9. ^ Forna, Aminatta (5 July 2008). "Fault line". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  10. ^ National Catholic Reporter, 2 October 2009, 4.
  11. ^ "Oprah Winfrey Selects Nigerian Author's Story Collection for Book Club | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  12. ^ Passaro, Vince. "Amazing Grace". Oprah.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  13. ^ "archive: Uwem Akpan: Center for Catholic Intellectual Heritage: Loyola University Chicago". www.luc.edu. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  14. ^ "About the Author of Say You're One of Them". Oprah.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  15. ^ "New Global Africa: Confrontation and Connections | Literary Arts Program". www.brown.edu. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Hurston/Wright Foundation | Uwem Akpan". Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Uwem Akpan, SJ". Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  18. ^ Akpan, Uwem (23 June 2014). "The PEN Ten with Uwem Akpan". PEN America. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Say You're One Of Them By Uwem Akpan". www.sunshinenigeria.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  20. ^ Akpan, Uwem (28 August 2008). "The Guardian first book award longlist: Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Uwem Akpan". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  22. ^ Mullins, Lisa (10 June 2008). "Global Hit: Angelique Kidjo - Uwem Akpan". Public Radio International. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
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