Uwem Akpan's "Parents' Bedroom" and the Rwandan Genocide

Introduction: Bringing Genocide to the Reader

"Parents' Bedroom" brings true-life tragedy to reality with its often shocking, heartbreaking, and detailed story of genocide in Rwanda. Even though readers are safe in their own lives, Uwem Akpan forces them to become part of the Rwandan genocide through the first-person voice of Monique, a nine-year-old girl. In this story, Monique recounts the confusing, horrifying, and immoral acts forced upon her and her family — acts that are representative of the larger genocide and all that was experienced by the Tutsi, Twa, and Hutu peoples.

First-Person Narration and Vivid Imagery

Akpan engages the reader through masterful vivid imagery, character development, and dialogue. He conjures images so disturbing that they make the Rwandan genocide feel real and devastating rather than a distant news event. He brings the tragedy home — to one's own family and friends. One of the most powerful examples is Monique's account of her attack:

"I call out to Tonton Andre, who is pacing in the corridor. He doesn't come. I keep screaming. I'm twisting and holding my knees together. Then I snap at the naked man with my teeth. He hits my face, this way and that, until my saliva is salted with blood. I spit in his face. Twice. He bangs my head on the floor, pinning my neck down, punching my left thigh."

She is helpless against her attacker's strength. Trying to bite or spit on him were the only ways she could attempt to protect herself, as she is small, unprepared, defenseless, and vulnerable — much like the Tutsi population. Her description of each moment expresses confusion, terror, and a desperate will to survive. It paints a vivid image that points to the overarching theme of the genocide, foreshadowing the widespread helplessness felt by the Rwandan people during a brutal period in their history.

Character Development and Portraiture

Akpan also presents characters' appearances through the simple, matter-of-fact voice of a female child, which is remarkably well executed: "My mother is a very beautiful Tutsi woman. She has high cheekbones, a narrow nose, a sweet mouth, slim fingers, big eyes, and a lean frame." He paints Maman's portrait in peaceful, admiring language, making the reader feel the comfort Monique experiences in her mother's presence. Maman is beloved by Monique and thus becomes beloved to the reader. Rather than stating "I love my mother," Akpan gently lays Monique's thoughts on the page, allowing the reader to believe her completely.

Similarly, Akpan paints the Wizard's portrait as a powerful man to be feared — an antagonist to be avoided. The character history he provides is minimal, but it works wonderfully, contributing to the mystery and darkness surrounding him:

"The Wizard is Papa's father's brother. He is a pagan and he is very powerful. If he doesn't like you, unless you're a strong Catholic, he can put his spell on you, until you become useless. The color of his skin is milk with a little coffee. He never married because he says he hates his skin and doesn't want to pass it on."

The contrast between these two portraits — the beloved, serene Maman and the feared, shadowy Wizard — reflects the broader moral tensions at play throughout the story and, by extension, throughout Rwandan society during the genocide.

Conclusion: The Power of Personal Perspective

Akpan's approach is important because it makes the reader personally experience the devastating effects of the Rwandan genocide — the confusion and fracturing of families and a whole nation. Through his masterful narrative, Akpan wove the story into the reader's own life and made it personal. His skill and talent for writing, and his ability to make others see what the wider world could not, are what make "Parents' Bedroom" such a powerful and enduring work of fiction.