There Was a Country: A Memoir
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Diamond, Stanley, 106–7
Dibia (medicine man), 31–32
Dick Tiger. See Ihetu, Richard (Dick Tiger)
Dictatorships, 247
Dike, Kenneth Onwuke, 77, 110–12, 248
Diori, Hamani, 96–97
Drum: A Children’s Story, The, 9
Drummer Boy, The (Ekwensi), 109
Du Bois, W. E. B., 163
Duvalier, François, 99
Eastern Nigeria
Eastern group, 51, 66, 70, 82. See also Igbo people
flight to and Coup of 1966, 83, 91–92, 95, 97
secession. See Biafra secession; Nigeria-Biafra war; Republic of Biafra
Ebo Landing, 167
Echeruo, Joseph, 91
Echeruo, M. J. C., 28
Ecumenical Church Loan Fund, 166
Effiong, General Philip, 153, 225–26
Efik people, 47, 137, 150, 192
Efuru (Nwapa), 112
Egbema people, 150
Egbe Omo Oduduwa, 45
Egbuonu, Dr. Francis, 16, 21
Ejagham people, 192
Ejoor, David, 129, 131
Ejueyitchie, H. E. A., 227
Eke, Dr. Ifegwu, 145
Eket people, 150
Ekoi people, 150, 192
Ekpo, Margaret, 91
Ekukinam-Bassey, 91
Ekwe-Ekwe, Herbert, 229–30
Ekwensi, Cyprian, 53, 109, 167
Ekwolo (rivalries), 123
Ekwueme, Laz, 26
Elias, Taslim, 227
Ellah, Francis, 167
Elliott, Walter, 26
Emenyonu, Ernest, 177
Enahoro, Anthony, 43, 97, 167, 227, 233–34
Endeley, Dr. E. M. L., 26
Enugu (Biafra), 149, 150
Enwonwu, Ben, 25–26
Equaino, Olaudah, 53
Era of purity, 54
Eucheruo, Kevin, 116
Eyadema, Gnassingbé, 257
Ezebuilo (king as enemy), 146
Ezeilo, J. O. C., 29
Ezekwe, Gordian, 156
Fagunwa, D. A., 53
Failed States Index, Nigeria on, 250
Fajuyi, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle, 81–82
Fanon, Frantz, 164
“First Shot, The,” 127
Fisher, Rev. Robert, 25
Flute, The, 9
Foccart, Jacques, 102, 155
Forsyth, Federick, 119, 153
Fountain, Rick, 99–100
France
Africa decolonization by, 98
Nigeria-Biafra war, response to, 101–2, 155
Fulani people, 1, 53
Gandhi, Mohandas, 48
García Márquez, Gabriel, 113
Garrison, Lloyd, 232
Garvey, Marcus, 151, 163
“Generation Gap,” 90
Geneva Convention resolutions, Nigerian disregard for, 212, 235
Genocide, 228–39
British government on, 229, 232
defined, 229
economic blockade as method of, 154, 156, 199–200, 209–11, 229
Geneva Convention, disregard for, 212, 235
Jewish, compared to Igbo, 97, 137, 171
Nigerian justification of, 233–35
supporting arguments, 229–30, 232
Ghana
competition with Nigeria, 41
independence of, 40–41
Godfatherism, 245
Gold, Herbert, 105
Gordimer, Nadine, 113
Government College (Ibadan), 20, 21
Government College (Umuahia), 17, 19–28
African graduates of note, 25–26
Gowon, Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu, 85–88, 120–24
background of, 120–23
and genocide, 233–34
on Igbo situation post-war, 236–39
and Nigeria-Biafra war, 128, 132–33, 134–35, 209–11, 212, 223–24, 227
Ojukwu, relationship with, 122–24, 224–25
Organization of African Unity (OAU) meeting with, 96–98
Great Britain. See also British colonial rule
Nigeria-Biafra war, response to, 99–101, 154, 213–14, 229, 232
Wilson, pro-Nigerian position of, 99–101, 105, 106, 213–14, 229, 232
Griffiths, Gareth, 38
Griots. See Storytelling
Haiti, support of Biafra, 99
Hammarskjöld, Dag, 154, 211
Harrison, Kelsey, 26, 27
Haruna, Ibrahim, 133, 135, 138
Hausa/Fulani people, 47, 82
Islamic, 122
Head, Bessie, 113
Heathens, 11
Heavens Gate (Okigbo), 115
Heinemann, 38, 63
Hendrix, Jimi, 139
Hill, Alan, 38, 112
Hill, Geoffrey, 106
Houphouët-Boigny, Felix, 98, 223
How the Leopard Got His Claws, 9, 177, 185
Hughes, Langston, 67, 164
Humanitarian effort
aid blocked, 101, 230
for Biafra, 154–55, 164–66, 169–71
Hunt, Sir David, 120
Hüssler, Father Georg, 166
Huxley, Julian, 26
Ibeno people, 150
Ibiam, Sir Francis, 91
Ibibio people, 47, 137, 150, 192
Ifeajuna, Emmanuel, 135, 178–79
Ifejike, Samuel, 185
Ife kingdom, 1–2
Ifekwunigwe, Dr. Aaron, 195
Ifemesia, Chieka, 145, 147
Igbo people
Asabe Massacre, 133–35
attacks upon after coup of 1966, 66–67, 69, 76–78, 80–82
in Biafra population, 150
Calabar Massacre, 137–40
educational attainment of, 75–76, 77
extermination attempts against. See Genocide
flaws of, 76
Georgia (U.S.) landing of, 167
Gowon interview on, 236–39
Igbo Town Union, 75
leadership positions in Nigeria, 66–67, 71, 74–78, 88
Nigerian jihad against, 229–30
personality traits of, 74, 75
pogroms, 67, 82–83, 92, 95, 123
post-war economic restrictions on, 234–39
Igbo traditions
art and creation, approach to, 59
and Chinua as writer, 39, 55
Chinua’s early exposure to, 8–10, 12–13, 18–19
democratic ideals, 246
mbari (art as celebration), 18–19, 56
Nnokwa (village) in, 192
Ihetu, Richard (Dick Tiger), 158–59
Ijaw people, 47, 150
Ike, Vincent Chukwuemeka, 25, 28, 156
Ikejiani, Dr. Okechukwu, 67, 69, 99, 119, 216
Ikoku, Dr. Alvan, 91
Ikom people, 150
Ikwerre people, 150
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 247
Indigenization Decree (1974), 234, 236–37
Innes, Catherine Lynnette, 38
Intellectual community
of African writers. See African literature
Nigeria-Biafra war, response to, 105–14, 157–58, 176–77
and Republic of Biafra founding, 105–14
> as warriors of peace, 109
Interethnic tensions (Nigeria), 74–78. See also Nigeria-Biafra war
ekwolo (rivalries), 123
pre-independence era, 46–47
International Red Cross, humanitarian aid blocked, 101, 230
Interpreters, The (Soyinka), 109
Inyang, Ekpo Etien, 24, 26
Irele, Abiola, 28
Iroaganachi, John, 177
Isang people, 47
Islam
Hausa/Fulani people, 122
jihad against Igbo, 229–30
terrorism, in Nigeria, 250–51
Itsekiri people, 47
Iyalla people, 150
Jacobs, Dan, 230
Jagua Nana (Ekwensi), 109
Jalo, Gibson Sanda, 217
James, C. L. R., 163
Jega, Attahiru Muhammadu, 247
Jews, genocide, compared to Igbo, 97, 137, 171
Jihad, against Igbo, 229–30
Johnson, Lyndon, 103
Justice Opunta Panel, 135
Kana people, 150
Kano, Aminu, 46, 167, 244
Kanuri people, 47
Katsina, Hassan, 81, 227
Kaunda, Kenneth, 98
Kenem-Bornu kingdom, 1
Kennedy, Edward M., 221
Kenyatta, Jomo, 163
Killam, Douglas, 106
Killam, G. D., 38
King, Martin Luther, Jr., 103, 139
King’s College (Lagos), 20, 21
Kissinger, Henry, 140
Kola nut incident, 10
Kwale incident, 218–20
Kwashiorkor, 195, 210, 226
Labyrinths (Okigbo), 115
Lagos, 63
and coup of 1966, 67–68, 70–71
Lambo, Dr. T. A., 111
“Lament of the Deer,” 177
Larson, Charles, 38
Lasekan, Akinola, 43
Laurence, Jean Margaret, 38
Laye, Camara, 53
Leapman, Michael, 99
Legum, Colin, 82
Lennon, John, 139
Leventhal, Robert S., 229
Lincoln University (United States), 42
Lindfors, Bernth, 38
Lindt, Dr. August, 101
Lion and the Jewel, The (Soyinka), 109
Luce, Henry, 121
Lumumba, Patrice, 146, 163
Macauley, Herbert, 44
MacDonald, David, 231–32
McRae, Donald, 38
Madiebo, Alexander, 120–21
Mailer, Norman, 110
Malinke people, 53
Mandela, Nelson, 113, 163, 258
“Mango Seedling,” 186–87
Man of the People, A, 52, 63, 67, 161
Marasmus, 210
“Marriage Is a Private Affair,” 33
Mauriac, François, 139
Mauricheau-Beaupré, Jean, 155
Mayer, Jean, 213
Mayrock, Bruce, 140
Mazrui, Ali, 56
Mbadiwe, K. O., 91
Mbakwe, Samuel, 91
Mbanefo, Sir Louis, 91, 167, 210, 225–26
Mbari (art as celebration), 18–19, 56
Mbari Club, 115
Mbembe people, 150
Mbu, M. T., 227
Media, during Nigeria-Biafra war, 199–200, 210–11, 221
Mental illness, war-related, 195
Mercenaries, 222
Merchants of Light (Oba), 29–30
Mid-Western Region, invasion of, 128–32, 259–65
Ministry of Information (Biafra), 143–44
Mmuo, Mgboye Matilda, 31
Mofolo, Samuel, 53
Momah, Chike, 16, 21–22, 24, 25, 27, 115
Mqhayi, Samuel, 53
Mugabe, Robert, 258
Muhammed, Murtala, 122, 133, 135, 172–73
My Father’s Daughter (Segun), 114
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (Tutuola), 113
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 103–4
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), 45
National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), 45–46
National Guidance Committee (Biafra), Ahiara Declaration, 144–49
National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), 88
Ndem, Eyo Bassey, 145
Ndu, Pol, 116
Négritude, 163–64
Neogy, Rajat, 105
Nigeria
Aburi Accord (1967), 85–87
Anambra state destabilization, 248–49
area boys/rent-a-crowd, 69, 248
Biafra secession from. See Biafra secession; Republic of Biafra
-Biafra War. See Nigeria-Biafra war
British governor general (James Robertson), 49–51
British interests after independence, 49–52, 124
competition with Ghana, 41
corruption
election-related, 245–46
first election, rigging by British, 50, 51–52
godfatherism, 245
national funds, theft of, 249–50
perpetuation, reasons for, 249–52
post-independence period, 51–52
countercoup of 1966, 80–82
coup of 1966, 63–72, 78–80
Decree 8 (1967), 86–87
Decree No. 34 (1966), 80–81
democracy negated in, 245–48
Eastern group, 51, 66, 70, 82. See also Igbo people
Eastern region succession. See Biafra secession
ethnic groups, number of, 25
exports/revenues from, 47
on Failed States Index, 250
Fourth Republic (2004), 248–49
independence, transition to, 48–51
independence fiasco, artists’ reaction to, 52–53
Indigenization Decree (1974), 234, 236–37
interethnic tensions, 46–47, 74–78, 123
Islamist terrorism in, 250–51
majority groups of, 47. See also Igbo people; Yoruba people
military
and coup of 1966, 78–82
versus political class, 71–72
minorities, regions of, 47
nationalists, 44–48
National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), 88
Northern dominance, 46–47, 50–52, 65, 69
Northern group, 51. See also Hausa/Fulani people
oil industry. See Oil production
People’s Redemption Party, 244
post-independence crises, 64
post-war status of, 243–53
prime minister, first, 50, 51–52
questions for better future, 252–53
sedition, British penalties for, 47
Southern group, 46–47
Sovereign National Conference, 252–53
university educated, position of, 25–26, 48–49
Western group, 44–45, 47, 52, 72
Nigeria-Biafra war
Abagana ambush, 173–74
Asabe Massacre, 133–35
Azikiwe withdraws support for Biafra, 215–17
Banjo broadcast to Mid-West (1967), 259–65
Biafran military and armaments, 153–60
Biafran towns, attacks on, 132–33
Biafra s
urrender, 226–27
Calabar Massacre, 137–40
casualties of, 227
children, impact on, 195, 199, 210, 213, 226
and Chinua
Biafran Organization of Freedom Fighters (BOFF), 159–60
Citadel Press, 176–79, 185
as envoy to Biafran people, 160–62, 164–67, 180
home in Enugu bombed, 181–83
as refugee, 188–94
residences during war, 170–73, 179–80, 188–94, 200–201
diseases during, 195, 210, 226
economic blockade of Biafra, 104, 154, 156, 199–200, 209–11, 229
Geneva Convention, disregard for, 212, 235
genocide issue, 228–39
and Gowon, 128, 132–33, 134–35, 209–11, 212, 223–24
hospitals, makeshift, 194–95
humanitarian emergency, 169–71, 189, 194–95, 199–200, 209–11
information blockade of present, 228
intellectuals/writers’ response to, 105–14, 157–58, 176–77
international demonstrations against, 139–40
international response to, 99–105, 154–55, 210–11, 219–22
Kwale incident, 218–20
media presence in, 199–200, 210–11, 221
mental illness caused by, 195
mercenaries in, 222
Mid-Western Region, invasion of, 128–32, 259–65
military executions during, 135, 178
Nigerians, foreign arms to, 154
Nzeogwu, death of, 184
Ogbunigwe bomb, 156–57
oil, foreign interest in, 99–100, 102
and Ojukwu (Emeka), 122–25, 128–32, 135, 210–11, 213, 223–24
Ojukwu (Emeka) departure, events after, 223–28
Okigbo, Christopher, death of, 184–85
Organization of African Unity (OAU) position on, 96–99, 136–37
Owerri, recapture of, 217–18, 223
and Paul VI, 219–21, 230–31
radio broadcasts during, 183, 259–65
Red Cross aid blocked, 101, 230
refugees, 103, 169, 171, 174, 188
relief efforts, 154–55, 164–66, 169–71, 194
starvation, 195, 199, 209–10, 226, 231
and United Nations neglect, 211–13
Nigerian Broadcasting Company (NBC), 33, 35–37, 65, 70
Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS), Chinua’s job at, 30–31
Nigerian Coal Corporation, 67
Nigerian Foreign Service, 77
Nigerian military
and coup of 1966, 78–82
versus political class, 71–72
Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC), 79
Nigerian National Archives, 111
Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), 44
Nigerian Ports Authority, 77
Nigerian Produce Traders’ Association, 45