Our Kind of People: A Continent's Challenge, A Country's Hope

Uzodinma Iweala

July 10, 2012

Our Kind of People: A Continent’s Challenge, A Country’s Hope is a book written by Uzodinma Iweala. It is an unconventional exploration of a nation facing a multitude of interconnected struggles. Through vivid stories and conversations, the readers get to acknowledge the disparate elements of Nigeria’s past, present, and future.The book is divided into three essential parts that correspond to the nation’s diverse struggles. In the first section, Iweala uses firsthand accounts to depict the dearth in medical facilities and the meager grade of education in Nigeria’s rural areas. He shows how those components are significantly related to the economic disparities that exist among the citizens. The second part relays vivid accounts of citizens in the face of a frequently deprecating political system, with impunity and corruption that endures from the elite down to civil servants and other branches of the government. The third section illustrates the rise of a new era where citizens are expressing their need for change within a non-violent environment.Throughout the book, Iweala uses his vivid storytelling abilities to showcase a plethora of stories, which serve as an emotional embodiment of the struggles that Nigerians are facing. Our Kind of People offers an unfiltered collection of stories and real-life experiences, a powerful compilation that explores the myriad of issues that Nigerians are experiencing. The book functions as a voice, amplifying a society’s hopes and inspirations as a sense of urgency envelops Nigerians to seize control of their future and make a change.