I picked up the book, Say You’re One of Them because I read that it was authored by a Nigerian priest. I was curious to read the stories – would they be about bread and wine or stirring convent details? The author, Fr. Uwem Akpan cleverly wrote without bias or lavish stereotypes. Perhaps the most … Continue reading The book: ‘Say You’re One of Them’
The knife I so thoroughly dug into the woodThe steel blade through which my hurt flowedThe wooden table wouldn’t take the painIt split its skin like frayed hay, soaked in waterI fought to act out how you tore my spirit Maybe in that I’d find escape With your fingers, your hands, your abilityYou laid hands … Continue reading May Fire Burn Them
Many fathers have spokenBut my father’s words were most profoundMany women have cookedBut my mother’s food was most tastyMany ladies have caredBut my sister’s care was most tenderMany men have lovedBut my brothers’ love was most anointing Many fathers have brought home wineBut my father’s palmy had the taste of his sweatThe taste of his … Continue reading My father’s palmy has the sweet taste of his sweat.
Turai Allah buttered my bread. I was married off to Ayuba Khalifah, the son of the commercial trader Alhaji Jibril Khalifah and his third wife, Alhaja Atikah Khalifah. I was very excited about marrying him because all my friends had been married off before me. I didn’t attend the university because my father did not … Continue reading Am I one of them?