"Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan

Although I haven't finished reading it yet, this book definitely raised my awareness of how war, political upheavel and battles over religion are affecting the lives of families and individuals all over Africa.  It was particularly distressing to read these short stories as told by or from the viewpoint of children.  This book is nothing like watching or reading the news, which fail to show you what is really happening, up close, to the "normal" population, who are now struggling desperately to survive.

The first story, "Ex-Mas Feast" is narrated by a small boy who's family lives in a lean-to shack made of salvaged junk, in an alleyway.  The children are sent begging, and the 12 year-old daughter is a prostitute.  This is how they collect money for food, and to pay for the boy's school uniform and tuition.  On this special holiday, the family celebrates their "good fortune".  The boy realizes what has happened to his sister, and feels guilty for being the benefactor of his sister's sacrifice.  When his sister delivers groceries for the feast and takes her belongings to leave the family, he cannot take part in the celebration and runs away.  I was deeply saddened by this family's deplorable living conditions, and by the unconscionable things they had to resort to for survival.

"What Language is That?" is the story about two little girls, who are best friends.  One is Christian, the other Muslim, and they became friends before war broke out between the two religions.  When their city is bombed, their parents prevent them from seeing or speaking to each other, although they had no problem with them being together prior to this incident.  The girl does not understand why they can no longer be friends, and start to accuse the other of betraying her by becoming best friends with another little girl whom she dislikes.  In the end, the two little girls can see each other from their balconies across the street, and through a simple mime of a "hug", they secure their friendship and love in spite of the wall put between them.  I think of these girls and of my best friends.  Even when our busy lives and distance keep us apart for weeks, months or years, all it takes is a funny word or phrase, in person or in text, and a whole flood of happy memories spill out.  Just knowing that person exists makes me feel less alone.

In the story "Fattening for Gabon", two small children are believed to have been orphaned and are living with their uncle.  They are poor, but appear to be living peacefully together in a small clay hut.  Their luck appears to improve one day, when the uncle comes home on a brand new motorcycle, with an unusual stranger.  The story turns suspicious, when this family starts to receive preferential treatment from strangers.  The children are visited by a wealthy couple from Gabon, whom they are told are going to "adopt" them.  They are generously fed and are prepped with lessons, such as calling the couple "Mama and Papa", changing their names and memorizing a false family lineation.  It became apparent to me that these children were being duped, and were doomed to become slaves.  Eventually, the uncle cracks under the guise and has a change of heart. His attempt to save the two children fails, and the children are imprisoned helplessly in a room of their hut, until they are to be taken to their fate.  The boy devises a plan of escape, and in his attempt, he loses his little sister.  In this last scene, he hears her screaming and knows he can never put the memory of her screams behind him.  I was so touched by the children in this story.  I was angered, knowing what the adults were planning do with them.

I am currently reading "Luxurious Hearses".  In this story, a young boy finds himself escaping from his home town, where fighting has broken out between Muslims and Christians.  The boy is half Muslim and half Christian, but has chosen a Muslim path.  He finds himself stuck on a bus full of Christian refugees, and a Royal Chief.  The boy is trying to hide his identity while they are stuck for hours waiting for a busdriver to arrive with gasoline.  During the wait, he is witness to multiple acts of kindness, and brutality.  He becomes incredibly aware of the diversity of the crowd and somewhat sympathetic towards the individuals, particularly the Chief, who took his seat.  He is forced to endure things that are forbidden in his religion, such as women with their hair uncovered and speaking out, television, etc.  From where I left off in the story, his identity as a Muslim is almost revealed.  I can only imagine how scared this boy must have been, knowing that he was trapped on that bus with a crowd who might very well murder him if they discovered him to be a Muslim.

This book is a disturbing work of art.  It is bleak and sad to read, but there are also glimpses of love, courage, self-sacrifice and humanity.  I know the characters are fictional, but the scenarios are quite real.  I could not take a steady diet of books like this one, because it would drain the joy out of my life, but it does raise my awareness of the suffering in Africa, and makes me appreciate the freedoms and small comforts I am priviledged with in this country.