Uwem Akpan

The news from Africa can sound as old and hard as time.

But what if you were a child, in the midst of it? In the midst of loving and hoping, and seeing and growing up ... and living fresh through hunger and killing, genocide in your parents' bedroom, glue-sniffing with your mom on Christmas Day.

Nigerian writer and Jesuit priest Uwem Akpan's new short story collection brings us Africa, shatteringly, through the eyes of children facing slavery, fear, death. It is a revelation.

This hour, On Point: A new voice from Africa. Uwem Akpan and "Say You're One of Them."Guest:

Uwem Akpan, Nigerian-born writer, author of the new short story collection "Say You're One of Them." You can read and listen to an excerpt from the book at NPR.org. And you can listen to the song "Agbalagba," by Grammy Award-winning world music star Angelique Kidjo, inspired by "Say You're One of Them."