1. Quotes
  2. Authors
  3. Uwem Akpan

Uwem Akpan Quotes

Uwem Akpan is a Nigerian writer. He is the author of Say You're One of Them , a collection of five stories published by Little, Brown & Company. The book inspired Angélique Kidjo to write the song "Agbalagba". It made the Best of the Year list at 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 No. 27 in their Best of the Decade. Say You're One of Them won the Commonwealth Writers Prize , the Open Book Prize, and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. A New York Times and Wall Street Journal No. 1 bestseller, the book has been translated into 12 languages. It won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, the PEN Open Book Award, and was picked by the Oprah Winfrey Book Club September 17, 2009, in Central Park. 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.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.



Wikipedia  

✵ 19. May 1971
Uwem Akpan photo
Uwem Akpan: 4   quotes 0   likes

Famous Uwem Akpan Quotes

“My continent is in distress and has been since the beginning of slavery. Leadership is a big problem. My hope is that things will change in Africa. Europe fought endlessly with itself in past centuries; now they have a European Union, not just in name, like the African Union. I hope that someday all the stupid wars on the African continent will end. I am amazed at the endurance of people, whether in Asia or Latin America or Africa, caught up in harsh situations.”

Uwem Akpan

On his hopes for Africa in “Uwem Akpan” https://www.bookbrowse.com/author_interviews/full/index.cfm/author_number/1576/uwem-akpan in Book Browse

“The rhythm of life here is different from that of Nigeria. I really liked the efficiency and accessibility of things here, the educational opportunities. And I was touched by the beauty and tolerance it has taken to fashion America. But, for instance, the thing about old people staying in "homes" away from home blew my mind. As did how little Americans know or want to know about life elsewhere…”

Uwem Akpan

On the differences between living in Nigeria and the United States in “Uwem Akpan” https://www.bookbrowse.com/author_interviews/full/index.cfm/author_number/1576/uwem-akpan in Book Browse

“For me, research is very important. But I do not begin with research. I begin with writing the story, which for me is the relationship between the characters. It is after I have written or pretty much have a sense of the story that I go and do research. I am conscious that I am writing about poor people for the most part. They don’t have much other than their space or dirt. I want to do my best to represent that well. I am also conscious that I am writing about other countries. I want to make sure I understand those cultures as best as possible and represent them well…”

Uwem Akpan

On the secondary nature of historical research in his writing process in “UWEM AKPAN | INTERVIEW” https://granta.com/interview-uwem-akpan/ in Granta (2008 Nov 14)

“I’m fascinated with the process of creating a character and the freedom of the creative process. I’m discovering as well, learning myself. Since I only realized I had the gift ten years ago, I felt I needed to develop this. I also like fiction because it is not doctrinaire. It is exploratory and you are invited to come and see, just like Jesus first invited would-be disciples to ‘come and see’. What you do after seeing is left to you.”

Uwem Akpan

On choosing fiction to communicate about heavy topics in “UWEM AKPAN | INTERVIEW” https://granta.com/interview-uwem-akpan/ in Granta (2008 Nov 14)

Similar authors

Patrick Rothfuss photo
Patrick Rothfuss 236
American fantasy writer
Gerard Way photo
Gerard Way 1
American musician and comic book writer
Markus Zusak photo
Markus Zusak 214
Australian author
Laurell K. Hamilton photo
Laurell K. Hamilton 261
Novelist
Rick Riordan photo
Rick Riordan 1402
American writer
P. C. Cast photo
P. C. Cast 136
American writer
Carlos Ruiz Zafón photo
Carlos Ruiz Zafón 149
Spanish writer
Jenny Han photo
Jenny Han 226
American writer
Sherrilyn Kenyon photo
Sherrilyn Kenyon 752
Novelist
Jimmy Carr photo
Jimmy Carr 20
British comedian and humourist