And Why Uwem Akpan Didn't Disappoint

A critical dialogue seemed to have developed between our own Ikhide and Lisa J Long on Uwem Akpan's collection, Say You're One of Them. Remember, Ikhide argued persuasively that Akpan, while having all good intentions for Africa, while (well, he's a Jesuit priest) hoping and dreaming that Africa would take its human rights seriously, seemed to have taken his missionary instincts rather too far in works of literature. To be honest, I swallowed Ikhide's review hook, line and sinker (I love this cliche). But you must have observed that I tend to accept his opinions on books. He knows what he's talking about. So does Lisa Long in a subtle counter-review. Ha, ha, I love this. This is exactly what African literature needs. A kind of soft gloved punches and counter punches. This explains why her editor draws attention to her piece by beginning with a conjunction, and. There's a lot in this conjunction, friends. Did she deliver? Did she save Akpan from excess misericordia? Make your judgment! And Why Uwem Akpan Didn't Disappoint