carolkenny

Rather than deal with the pain of watching children perish in a torturous life of poverty and perversion, I chose to imagine the future and see the education of Jigana as his path to salvation. I hate to be judgmental, but it's hard for me not to blame these parents, regardless of the torment they faced. No one should ever use a baby to beg for money or use a little girl to bring home money as a prostitute. That is child abuse, and I could never forgive anyone for abusing a child. The moment the mailman delivers my book, I'll dive into the rest of the stories. Based on this one, I foresee great enlightenment for all readers from Uwem Akpan's anthology.

read'n4fun

I am always excited to see a book with a seemingly specific focus cause readers to make connections to parts of their own lives. This happens often in a book club face to face setting, and usually with a well-received book. I am seeing this happen here as I read your comments, Jill, and others as well. That is wonderful.

It is difficult to imagine a positive ending for these characters, given what we know of the present situation. I really hope that Uwem Akpan continues this story. I would like to hear more about Jigana imparticular. He left so suddenly.

Do I blame the parents? Not in this case, and as mom I am so surprised to hear myself express that. I feel that these parents are victims of poverty and ignorance. This is how they were taught to remedy their situation. (In the book a grandfather expresses that the glue is only for the children.) So there is a learned history there. The only way I see anything improving for the parents and any following generations, is if there is serious aid from the outside.

Given the statistics and what we know about the children of the streets in Africa, the odds of their survival are not good. Even if they survive, the damage done to their brain cells from this horrible glue is irreversible.

trhjamaica

What a haunting story! The imagery made me feel I was right there in that shack. I usually read at night before going to bed. I won't be able to do this as I read this book because my dreams after this story were disturbing.

No, I don't blame the parents at all. I'm a single parent and I could easily see myself doing "all things desperate" to make it in this society where money drives EVERYTHING. The difference for me is that I do have education on my side. These parents didn't have that. They only had what they had been taught to do with the street as their home.

I found it amazing that in spite of poverty, they were still thinking in the spirit of Christmas and giving to others. How ironic was that? African customs and protocol were still in effect among this homeless community of folks at a time when one would think they would be wondering who's going to give to them.

I felt it was somewhat of a manhood moment for young Jigana when he chose to "do something" by running away. I assumed he was going to attempt to join a gang so he wouldn't feel like he sat by and did nothing when his sister was doing everything for him. To me, that was another moment of African tradition where the passage into manhood is celebrated in such a high fashion. Even in the poverty-stricken streets, embracing his manhood seemed to become all-important to this young boy as he took on what I hopefully assumed would be a role of provider.

I also found myself just hoping " he lived". I didn't even go so far as to think he would be successful in his education. For some reason, my dream for him just came to a screeching halt once he ran away. And that left me so sad and disturbed about myself. It is very easy for someone to discount folks in bad situations, isn't it? I guess I really understand what it means to folks to "come up" out of a bad situation when they have dreams for themselves, and then someone else takes an interest in their needs and attempts to do something to help them.

Powerful story that will linger with me forever...

producerji

Sep 26, 2009 12:15 PM

  |   in response to: carolkenny

I too, think it's hard not to blame the parents in some way... but then again they were at least trying to send Jigana to school. I hope you get you book soon!

producerji

Sep 26, 2009 12:27 PM

  |   in response to: trhjamaica

I love what you have to say about Jigana's "manhood moment" -- I now see this story, especially the ending, in a completely new way. Thanks for writing and reading! I forward to reading what you have to say about the next story in this collection.

producerji

Sep 26, 2009 12:34 PM

  |   in response to: read'n4fun

i struggle with not being angry at the parents, but your compassion has inspired me to feel more empathy towards the parents given their daily struggle to stay alive on the street. Thanks for writing and I'd love to hear your thoughts on each story as we continue on...

jetyfa

I was thrilled when Oprah chose Say You're One of Them as her book club selection. Having lived in Africa, I can say that the characters in the story An Ex-mas Feast are all too real. My sons and I encountered many like them during our time in Africa, where I was doing research for a novel I wrote titled The Lure of the Lion. It's the story of two African families, one white and the other black, whose lives are affected by the Idi Amin regime. It was inspired by my first visit to Uganda in 1971. Since then, Africa has become a passion of mine.

As Americans, with the many opportunities available to us, it's easy to judge others. Unfortunately, the concept of opportunity is scarce in Africa. In regards to An Ex-mas Feast, a young prostitute like Maisha is simply helping her family survive. And it wasn't surprising to me that Jigana angrily walks away from the opportunity to go to school, when that opportunity came at the price of losing his beloved sister.

Africa is a land of contrasts, and Mr. Akpan has beautifully presented the joys and devastation of an all-too large segment of its society. I look forward to reading his other stories, and continuing in the conversation.

omghb1to3

Oprah,
You seem to always be a step ahead of others when you choose and use your place in life to give back by catching awareness and swinging it by the tail. Christmas, Halloween, Easter; anyday, everyday there is a story to be told of people without power, people with power. Injustice, too much justice. Possibilities. the impossible. It all starts with a word, a story sometimes written sometimes not. The adventure is more in the question we haven't asked yet. Oprah the year 2020. What will she have for us? If by chance I am gone by then, I'll look for the 'heavenly sphereafter version..........'
sydrycalWorks

micarmean

Jill, Oprah does what the prior comment states "catching awareness and swinging it by the tail" vis a vis the MacKenzie Phillips interview: by allowing her story to be told to millions of her viewers. A story told by Emily Dickinson in my book "The Rape and Recovery of Emily Dickinson, In Her Words, Poems of Witness and Worth" (2008). Jerry Stahl, author of "Permanent Midnight and formerly interviewed by Oprah, describes this work as, "a truly haunting, truly beautiful masterpiece of poetic investigation."
Dr. Oliner (his sociological "The Altruistic Personality" was provided a blurb by Elie Weisel) said "This book, 'The Rape and Recovery of Emily Dickinson' is an important addition to the literature for both students of Emily Dickinson and American poetry, and devoted Dickinson readers."
The pertinency and timing of my book and Ms. MacKenzie's disclosure have an enormous synchronicity.

nabear

Sep 29, 2009 10:31 PM

  |   in response to: micarmean

I have worked with children all of my life, and am a mother and grandmother. I was excited to read this book because I love the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a child, and I am intrigued by how different families live their lives. There is always something to learn. I truly believe that most parents are doing the best that they can. I think there are very few parents who harm their children intentionally. Most of the time, given another choice, they would take it. I think this is true of this family.
The parents are trying to better their situation. They are earning money and planning for the future of their family. What a horrifying decision to have to make as a parent. Should you sacrifice one child to save the rest? I am so grateful this is not something I have had to decide.
I see this family doing what they have to in order to survive. If they can send their son to school, he might be able to get an education, get a job and support the rest of them in the future.
I keep thinking of the trunk that Maisha had, and how nobody was allowed to see what was inside it. What was in there? What kinds of treasures would a young prostitute have and hide from her family? Would it be child like things, or would it be womanly things? She has had her childhood stolen but she isn't a woman yet. She has power over her parents but she is still a child. Her family is so dependant on her but she should be relying on them.
I have been thinking about this story ever since I read it, I have no idea what I think would happen next for them. I can't even imagine.

producerji

Sep 30, 2009 11:46 AM

  |   in response to: nabear

I, too, wonder what's in that truck and what it means symbolically. Is it the part of herself that she keeps away from the chaos of her family life? Do we all have a "trunk" as a place to keep our private secrets from others?
Thank you for your comment and I hope you come back to this blog and share what you think about the next story in the collection.

memeyo

I am a little behind in the reading because the first story Ex-mas caught be by surprise since I was not expecting it to be so emotional and so descriptive. At first I put it down then went back again and finished. Beyond what was going on you see the core concept of a family doing what it takes not just to survive but what needs to be done for the love of each other.

ergi1120

The Ex-Mas story was a spiritual awakening for me. A sister goes to a brothel to support herself and send money to her family. What else was there for her. Perhaps she could have become a nun, but no way could she have gained the kind of money she could make in a brothel as prostitute. In spite of poverty, lack of education and hunger Ex Mas was still celebrated and as the family ate their food and said a prayer my heart was lifted that no matter how insignificant or low life may be there are still those who count there blessings in spite of adversity.

Julie

producerji

Oct 3, 2009 10:59 AM

  |   in response to: ergi1120

Thank your for your insight and ability to see the light in all of that darkness on that Nairobi street. I hope you write and share your comments as you read each story.

globalgram

After finishing Xmas Feast last night, I didn't think I could read any further, however important these stories are. I am devastated. And I know all of the stories are likely to be this intense, this bleak. I initially questioned whether it is necessary, and for how long, for us to journey into these dark and wrenching hell-holes to learn about humanity and its suffering before that takes us down to immutable hopelessness and despair from which we cannot recover.

I have always known and felt the magnitude of human suffering, I have never defended myself against it, never ignored it. I spend most of my life actively working hard and directly to alleviate it. Is it wise to immerse myself, once again, in the heart of such overwhelming darkness? How often must we do that before it begins to take us down, and rob us of every scintilla of hope for life and light and healing that will lift us all out of this quagmire human beings are imprisoned in?

I am still reading.

But this is gut wrenching stuff. My heart and spirit feel mauled, chewed up to the point of annihilation. At the same, time, I see the potential in these stories to liberate me from judging the perpetrators I so quickly condemn--by engaging me intimately with the fierce complexity of the life that relentlessly drives them to become perpetrators. As appalled and disgusted as I was by Maisha's mother and father celebrating their immense fortune in having her ride off with the white men in a Jaguar, I also can appreciate how inexorably they came to that.

Akpan is brilliant in showing us how these children are introduced to drug use to cope with hunger so young. The grandfather had said the glue was only for the children. This is a poverty culture solution, short-sighted and deadly, but imminently understandable. We know instantly in reading it that this is multi-generational pattern. The parents are who they are because they themselves were drugged to cope with their childhood hunger, leading to adulthood, and a lifetime, of diminished capacity and initiative with which to address their impoverished circumstances.

patioblog

I just finished this first story and I can't get over how beautiful the writing is: so imaginative but real. Its like a dark, fairy tail-soap opera tapestry! I would put it down and then think "I gotta get back to my stories..." So enjoyable. My jaw would drop and I would gasp out loud after much of it. Such a gifted writer writing about important things from his own experience, I'm lovin' it.

smargaritha

With this book I want to both continue to the next page and find out what happens but at the same time I am scared to what might happen next.

About this story, I do not blame the parents for the situation they are in nor for being proud that their daughter is a prostitute. Just like someone else commented for the most part they are victims of poverty. But nowhere in the story do I see them actively doing things to better their lives. The children go begging and prostitute themselves but it feels like the father was sleeping on his bed throughout the whole story. I guess part of me do blame them for not doing much.

....
On to the next ==>>

darline.ha

Oct 15, 2009 5:24 PM

  |   in response to: smargaritha

This is one of the most profoundly disturbing books I have ever read and I have read a lot of books. The thing that disturbed me the most about "An Ex-mas Feast is the utter desolation of the parents. How can children rise above circumstances when parents see no way out? The entire families¿ day was spent sniffing glue to avert hunger and sleeping. Habits of depression that were repeated day after day. The filth and hunger alone paint a bleak future devoid of hope. Without hope there is no future.

shadow1986

I started reading the book ¿say you are on of them ¿yesterday. I actually recorded a video discussing the first story ¿an ex-mas feast¿ and some of the second story fattening for Gabon but I met some technical problem with the website.
At the beginning ,I was really confused I did not know the reason why the author used the African local language in the story ,and I thought that he certainly could of used a colored English literature but I eventually realized that Akpan wanted us to feel and to live the story as it was lived, he wanted to report the voices as they were said ,and I also realized that it wasn¿t about literature it was about reporting a voice, I felt it was more powerful than reading some fancy English literature book. I felt myself in the story sitting on a carton full of dust looking at these children whispering their voices to us, to me.
I finished the first story and went flipping the pages trying to find out what happened to Maisha and jigana then I realized the second story was a different story and the wonder of what happened to the kids still in my head!
It was really fascinating to see this 12 years old prostitute who knew much about the human rights, child abuse even that she was a child herself, she refused to use her baby brother to attract clients ,she had to grow up fast because of the circumstances ,she knew her rights but she couldn¿t change ,she had dreams and did not want to live the life of the street. the other thing that got my attention is that when she was teaching her sister naema the life of street ,she mentioned to run away from abusive men even if they offer her a lot of money or also when she asked her sister not to sleep with a guy who doesn¿t use a condom, I¿ve never thought of a prostitute would¿ve think to make her safety first I just thought that we just see that in Julia¿s Robert movie pretty woman !!!!she had a big heart, she chose to help her parent even that her father did not deserve it ,buying gifts for her twin brother, paying school fee ect .when you go further in your reading you realize how eager this family was for the meal more than their 12 and 10 daughter that they sent to the street¿poverty has spoken here ;how far it can change humans ,how many lives it can take, even the innocent ones, poverty doesn¿t have pity . it was heart breaking to read it ¿I was also disgust by those tourists who were encouraging the child abuse /prostitution ,I am sure wherever they come from they knew that it wasn¿t right but they did it, especially the monkey story ----they really went far¿.
I haven¿t finished the second story yet, but it was really easy to read more than the first one, the author used French /English/and some local African language and because I am familiar with the French language I found it easy to read , it was like reading French/English book .you can feel the love between kotchipa and yewa ,and the description of the life style was more fascinating you see how simple their life was! How their life was free of materials sometimes our ignorance make us forget the others who suffer! They did not even have the basics like electricity ¿ect it was really sad to find out that their parents let their children go with their uncle when they got sick ,an uncle that they trusted, I did not finish the story I arrived at the scene when the children meet their godparents(NGO),but I felt that here was something that their uncle is not telling them, just from the description ,and I can not wait until I finish the book before the web cast on November 9th!

eptswana

the author has highlighted one of the major causes of children ending up in the streets and indulging in the unthinkable. poverty plays a huge part. it is a harsh reality in Africa at the moment. i live in Zimbabwe but have been staying in south Africa for the past 6months. i have noted that girl children are more vulnerable in poor countries.
in Zimbabwe for instance, there have been instances where girls are married off due to poverty and the lobola payment is outrageously high. it is supposed to be a token of appreciation by the in laws. but the father of the bride now takes advantage of this tradition due to poverty.
sniffing glue is real and happens a lot due to stress of being poor. children on the streets indulge in this in order to momentarily forget the desperate struggles they face.
people are no longer as generous as they used to be. one rarely trusts a child living on the streets. one does not trust the money donated will be put to good use and people fear being robbed. unfortunately those who give money do not realise it is not enough to buy food at times, especially in Zimbabwe.
it is true that poor families will use their children to hussle for money on the streets.
child traffickers and pimps also take advantage of children on the streets. it is something to tale note of as the FIFA 2010 is coming up.
i am privileged to be working with a former street kid in our org. he is actually the founder of the org and is passionate about orphaned an dvuknerbale children. his name is tendai sean joe