Members may be interested in this new book: "Surviving Biafra: A Nigerwife's Story" (Hurst Publishing 2018). The books takes a personal, non-political look at life in Biafra during the civil war. It can be bought at Amazon or at Hurst, where readers can get a 25% discount by quoting the code BIAFRA25. Link to site: https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/surviving-biafra/#!/

From the publisher's catalog:

"In 1961, Rosina ‘Rose’ Martin married John Umelo, a young Nigerian she met on a London Tube station platform, eventually moving to Nigeria with him and their children. As Rose taught Latin in Enugu, they found themselves caught up in Nigeria’s Civil War, which followed the 1967 secession of Eastern Nigeria—now named Biafra. The family fled to John’s ancestral village, then moved from place to place as the war closed in. When it ended in 1970, up to 2 million had died, most from starvation. Rose (‘worse off than some, better off than many’) had kept notes, capturing the reality of living in Biafra—from excitement in the beginning to despair towards the end.

Immediately after the war, Rose turned her notes into a narrative that described the ingenious ways Biafrans made do, still hoping for victory while their territory shrank and children starved by the thousand. Now anthropologist S. Elizabeth Bird contextualises Rose’s story, providing background on the progress of the war and international reaction to it. Edited and annotated, Rose’s vivid account of life as a Biafran ‘Nigerwife’ offers a fresh, new look at hope and survival through a brutal war."

Some may remember Rosina Umelo as the author of young adult novels, especially in the Pacesetters series.

Reviews

‘Here is a book on Biafra that juxtaposes the dualities: the historical and figurative narratives; history and memory; the complexity and simplicity of politics and warfare; the incredulity and reality of facts; the very essence of life and death; and the personal engagements with plenty and hunger, desire and denial.’ — Toyin Falola, Professor of African Studies, University of Texas

‘A captivating account of Nigeria’s war. Having heard the voices of a cross-section of Igbo and Nigerian women, we welcome the voice of a woman from across the seas who lived through the tragedy with us.’ — Egodi Uchendu, Professor of History, University of Nigeria and author of Women and Conflict in the Nigerian Civil War