World Ark Magazine - January/February 2008 - (Page 15) Uzodinma Iweala Calling Uzodinma Iweala a writer is like call- article in The Washington Post in July 2007 titled ing da Vinci a painter. Yes, the 26-year-old’s first “Stop Trying to ‘Save’ Africa.” In it, he took novel, Beasts of No Nation, was hailed by critics aim at the current spate of “fashionable social everywhere as the debut novel of the year and causes” complete with celebrity endorsers. The showered with every imaginable award. And West, said Iweala, likes to fantasize about its role yes, it did lead to a two-book contract with as savior of civilization and bringer of aid to HarperCollins. But that first novel, a narrative the helpless African, subtly promoting age-old about an African civil war told through the stereotypes. Instead, he argues, we should be voice of a child soldier, was just the tip of the equal global partners. proverbial iceberg. But writing and advocating for reform Iweala, born in Washington, D.C., to were not enough for this powerhouse. Iweala Nigerian parents, was raised between two was soon making another trans-Atlantic move, continents. He continued visiting West Africa this time to begin medical school at Columbia while attending Harvard University, conducting University. Yes, this young writer with a multiresearch for his undergraduate thesis. When he book publishing deal who, in his spare time graduated in 2004, this thesis would become works with the Earth Institute, is also studying his first novel with help from his advisor, novel- to be a doctor. ist Jamaica Kincaid. ★ Born November 5, 1982, in Washington, D.C., And then, in the wake of the awards and to Nigerian parents recognition from Beasts of No Nation, Iweala ★ Graduated from Harvard, 2004 moved to Nigeria. During this time, he began ★ Published Beasts of No Nation, 2005 a relationship with the Columbia University’s ★ Awarded the Sue Kaufman Prize for Earth Institute, the organization headed by First Fiction, 2006 Jeffrey Sachs. Beyond being merely themes in ★ Named one of the 20 best young American novelists his fiction, health and human rights are his by Granta magazine, 2007 life’s work. ★ Entered Columbia University medical school, 2007 Iweala wrote a scathing and much-reprinted PHOTO BY OBANDE PROVIDED BY HARPER COLLINS The West, said Iweala, likes to fantasize about its role as savior of civilization and bringer of aid to the helpless African, subtly promoting age-old stereotypes. Instead, he argues, we should be equal global partners. writer STATS www.heifer.org January/February 2008 | WORLD ARK 15 http://www.heifer.org
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