Understanding Nigerian Civil War in 10 books

Fictional and non-fictional books have explored the subject of the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), sometimes called the Biafran War, from various angles. In recent times, a crop of writers have beamed their searchlights on the topic, revealing heightened curiosity on the historical event. Late Odumegwu Ojukwu was said to have declared secession of Eastern Nigeria […]

Fictional and non-fictional books have explored the subject of the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), sometimes called the Biafran War, from various angles. In recent times, a crop of writers have beamed their searchlights on the topic, revealing heightened curiosity on the historical event.
Late Odumegwu Ojukwu was said to have declared secession of Eastern Nigeria after a series of tragic incidents, and the then Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon had given orders to recapture the lost part of the Nigerian nation – It was the only major attempt by a people to disengage from the country called Nigeria. In that war, child-soldiers were said to have fought, atrocities of rape committed, while about a million Nigerians perished on both sides. Perhaps this may suffice as reason for the curiosity.
Forsyth’s ‘The Biafra Story’
This work, published in 1969 by Hutchinson, is one of the earliest accounts of the Nigerian Civil War and was written by Frederick Forsyth, a British journalist. The reader is thrown into an intriguing narrative carefully put together by a witness who spent over two years covering the war. And like a human interest report, the author does not hide the disparity between Biafran soldiers and the Nigerian army. It shows how the former were ill-equipped for the war, yet willing to fight for their sovereignty. It features the 1966 coups that set the country on edge. This is one book to read when it comes to understanding the Nigerian Civil War.         
Ekwensi’s ‘Divided We Stand’
This book is one of those treasures not easily found in Nigerian bookshops today. Cyprian Ekwensi builds the happenings during the civil war around a fictitious character. Written during the war, but published in 1980, it focuses on events during and after the war. Arthur E.E. Smith, a senior lecturer of English in Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone, in An article titled ‘Social Consciousness in the Writings of Cyprian Ekwensi,’ published by ‘ChickenBones: A Journal,’ says: “It reverses the received wisdom that unity is strength, showing how ethnicity, division, and hatred bring about distrust, displacement, and war itself.”
Adichie’s ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’
This is one of Nigeria’s most recent and arresting writings about the war. With a combination of characters, such as the English journalist, two sisters, a professor and a houseboy, Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie, shows the state of Nigeria before the war, the wave of suspicion and violence that led to it and the hardship it brought to the Igbos. Published in 2006, this work has the capacity to expose to an otherwise naïve mind, the intensity of such an event in explosions and persistent gun-fire. One begins to understand the plight of today’s North-East and empathise with the people.
Iroh’s ‘Toads of War’
This exciting novel centres on the recapture of Owerri during the civil war. Amidst the fighting, Eddie Iroh injects love relationships in an unbalanced eastern Nigerian town where fear is the order of the day. But even at such a period, the story seems to say the heart still flutters and never dies, except when it stops beating. Aside, love is the intensity of hate and vengeance as Kalu Udim seeks out his former employer, the man responsible for sending him to war where he lost an arm.
Isama’s ‘Tragedy of Victory’
It is described as ‘on the spot account of Nigeria-Biafra Civil War in the Atlantic Theatre.’ This is not a surprise, it is written by Brigadier General Alabi-Isama. Published in 2013, it is a memoir chronicling the events of the war from an insider perspective with about 500 photographs and maps. Unlike many other works on the subject, it beams its searchlight on the Nigerian military, specifically the Third Marine Commandoes earlier commanded by Col. Benjamin Adekunle who had controlled the Atlantic coast from Bonny Island to Calabar before then Col. Olusegun Obasanjo’s arrival as new commander.   
Achebe’s ‘There Was a Country’
Like most easterners, hostilities forced Chinua Achebe to leave Lagos during the war. In this book, published in 2013 and the last he wrote before his death, he recounts series of experiences where he was closely involved and played the role of emissary for Biafra. In this historical work, also a memoir, the literary icon bares his heart on a subject he is said to have only mentioned in his works.        
Okpewho’s ‘The Last Duty’
Isidore Okpewho was born in 1941 and may be assumed to be a reliable source – like some writers on the subject – when it comes to the civil war experience, but he was said to be abroad when it happened. This work was borne of personal research into an event that became a burden to him. Again, like other writers, it became the springboard for a novel where the coming of the federal troops is used as an advantage by a business man, Toje Onovwakpo over his competitor. So far, other works of fiction have explored romance in the time of war. For Okpewho, it is the world of business.
Ademoyega’s ‘Why We Struck’
The author is said to be among the trio that masterminded the January 15, 1966 coup, the first military intervention which culminated in the Nigerian Civil War. Adewale Ademoyega’s historical account is an indispensible work in understanding what led to the tragic event. The author himself wrote:
“Everything has been done to ensure that this book is accurate and that it depicts the revolution and all that followed it exactly as they were seen from the centre of that great event, which has proved to be the first major milestone in the history of the political development of Nigeria since independence was attained.
“My gratitude goes to my friends, who have encouraged me to write this book. I do hope that they and the entire reading public will be enriched in their knowledge of the truth, which is herein depicted.”
The book was published in 1981 by Evans Publishers, Ibadan.
Amadi’s ‘Sunset in Biafra’       
Published in 1973, ‘Sunset in Biafra’ is Elechi Amadi’s only work of non-fiction and recounts his experiences as a soldier and civilian during the Biafran conflict. Like many other publications, this book does not leave out the 1966 coup.
Uzokwe’s ‘Surviving in Biafra’   
This non-fiction is an account of Alfred Uzokwe’s experiences and observations as a child of six. In ‘Surviving in Biafra: The story of the Nigerian Civil War,’ published in 2003, he begins telling the story from things he heard from his father, mainly, the killing of easterners and his prediction of a full-blown war. This soon became a reality, beginning with the migration of Igbo’s to the east and then the declaration of Biafra as a nation. It is an intriguing narrative by a primary source.