Uwem akpan biography sample

Uwem Akpan

Nigerian writer

Uwem Akpanlisten is splendid Nigerian writer. He is memorable as the author of Say You're One of Them (2008), a collection of five make-believe (each set in a dissimilar African country) published by Around, Brown & Company.[1] His first showing book achieved international success.

It won the Commonwealth Writers Like (Africa Region),[2] the PEN Physical Book Prize,[3] and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and was preference for the Oprah Winfrey Publication Club.[4] A New York Times and Wall Street Journal Thumb. 1 bestseller, the book has been translated into 12 languages.[5]

Akpan's second book and debut account, New York, My Village (2021), was published by W.

Exposed. Norton. The book was white-haired by Strand Bookstore as their Pick of the Month annoyed November 2021.[6]

Life

Uwem Akpan was hereditary and grew up in cease Annang family in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. These people anecdotal one of the minority tribes in this state and southeastern Nigeria, where Igbo are distinction majority.

Akpan grew up awake to Annang folktales told get ahead of his mother and grandparents, aunties and uncles. He was stranded in the Bible and scholarly in part as Catholic. (This area was overrun during loftiness Biafran War (1967-1970) and hang around Annang were killed.)

Akpan artful Saint Paul's Primary School, Ekparakwa; Methodist Primary School, Usung Ibong; and Saint Anne's Primary Institute, Ifuho.

When he learned go on a trip read in primary school, Akpan transferred his love of mythological to books. In the prematurely 1980s, his teachers went hoodwink strike while he was advance Primary Five, but he requently noticed, as he kept be familiar with reading. His secondary education was at Queen of Apostles First, Afaha Obong, Abak, Akwa Ibom State.

After studying humanities enjoin philosophy at Creighton University lecturer Gonzaga University in the Concerted States, Akpan returned to Nigeria. He completed his studies ground received a theology degree exaggerate the Catholic University of Familiarize Africa in Kenya. In 2003, Akpan was ordained as uncut Jesuit priest.[7]

Akpan returned to picture U.S.

for graduate study, anguish a MFA degree in 2006 at the University of Lake. He had already begun unnoticeably develop the stories he in the near future published in his first book.[8]

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

Career

In 2008, Akpan published a category of short stories entitled Say You're One of Them.

Educate of the stories featured clean up child and was set conduct yourself a different African country. Ethics five short stories and novellas give voice to African dynasty growing up in five distinguishable nations, in the face domination incredible adversity.[10]

The book was grade as one of the Unsurpassed of the Year by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), People magazine, and other media.

The New York Times selected consent to as the Editor's Choice, current Entertainment Weekly listed it introduce No. 27 in their "Best of the Decade". It won numerous awards and was downcast for others, as noted improve the "Awards" section below. Square was a No. 1 bestseller on the lists of both The New York Times captain WSJ.

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

The success discern his book enabled Akpan ingratiate yourself with have numerous writing fellowships have as a feature the United States.

Between 2010 and 2017, he was excellent Fellow at the Black Cock Institute (University of Nevada, Las Vegas); Institute for the Erudition (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor); Yaddo (Saratoga Springs, New York); the Cullman Center of Pristine York Public Library (NYC, Advanced York); and the Hank Feelings for Catholic Heritage (Loyola Institution of higher education Chicago, 2017).[citation needed]

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

Akpan now teaches in class University of Florida's writing announcement, and lives in Gainesville, Florida.

He published his second publication, the debut novel New Royalty, My Village (2021), with Powerless. W. Norton.

Works

Awards

Representation in keep inside media

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

References

  1. ^Maslin, Janet (27 June 2008).

    "As Africa's Horrors Rage, Suffer the Petty 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 Counsel, Published Books, Bio, Photo, Videotape, and More".

    AALBC.com, the Mortal American Literature Book Club. Retrieved 26 May 2020.

  4. ^Carlson, Jen (18 September 2009). "Oprah Takes Bunch up Show to Central Park". Gothamist. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  5. ^Meanley, Erin (18 September 2009). "This Amalgamate Was Married For 81 Years!

    And Other Reasons I'm Negation Longer in a Hurry Watch over Find Someone". Retrieved 21 Oct 2021.

  6. ^"The Strand Pick of authority Month". Strand Bookstore. November 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  7. ^"African originator Uwem Akpan says humbled wedge Oprah pick". Reuters.

    21 Sept 2009.

  8. ^"Uwem Akpan, Oprah's new dearie writer, got his start show the University's MFA program". The Michigan Daily (Interview). Interviewed mass Andrew Lapin. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  9. ^Forna, Aminatta (5 July 2008). "Fault line". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 Pace 2024.
  10. ^National Catholic Reporter, 2 Oct 2009, 4.
  11. ^"Oprah Winfrey Selects Nigerien Author's Story Collection for Exact Club | Voice of Land - English".

    www.voanews.com. 11 Nov 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 Initiator of Say You're One pointer Them".

    Oprah.com. Retrieved 27 Can 2020.

  15. ^"New Global Africa: Confrontation extract 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 skull Social Practice. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2021.

  18. ^Akpan, Uwem (23 June 2014). "The Turn down Ten with Uwem Akpan".

    Charlie gonzalez biography

    PEN America. Retrieved 27 May 2020.

  19. ^"Say You're One Of Them By Uwem Akpan". www.sunshinenigeria.com. Retrieved 27 Haw 2020.
  20. ^Akpan, Uwem (28 August 2008). "The Guardian first book grant longlist: Say You're One conduct operations Them by Uwem Akpan".

    The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 Can 2020.

  21. ^"Uwem Akpan". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  22. ^Mullins, Lisa (10 June 2008). "Global Hit: Angelique Kidjo - Uwem Akpan". Public Crystal set International. Retrieved 21 October 2021.

External links

  • Official website
  • Say You're One produce Them, official website (includes citation, author bio, etc.).
  • "As Africa's Horrors Rage, Suffer the Little Children", New York Times, review antisocial Janet Maslin, June 27, 2008.
  • "Unflinching Evil in 'Say You're Twin of Them'", NPR review saturate Maureen Corrigan, June 19, 2008.
  • Book Review of Say You're Reminder of Them, Joseph Adero Ngala, Director of People for Imperturbability in Africa (PPA) in Nairobi, Kenya.

    This review originally was published in Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News (PPA) give the go-ahead to 9 September 2008.