Saturday, 12 August 2017

IN BIAFRA, AFRICA DIED. So wrote the irrepressible Rev Fr Emefiena Ezeani.

I read a review of this book perhaps six years ago and subsequently picked up a bootleg copy on the streets of Lagos. I could tell because of the telltale signs of the quality of production on closer inspection. Since I buy books at about twice the rate at which I can possibly read, this challenge to the developed world by Fr Ezeani has remained on my shelf only partially read. This is understandable since I was "there" and have not been in any particular haste to reaffirm my own strongly held beliefs. I recall that it was Chinua Achebe’s THERE WAS A COUNTRY that forced me to read Kalu Okpi's violent narrative BIAFRA TESTAMENT which I had acquired many years earlier. I have imagined that my library will be the only thing of lasting value that I will leave for my grandchildren in this era of crass materialism and alt-facts.
Here is one review of IN BIAFRA AFRICA DIED which I picked more or less arbitrarily:
VICTOR CHIZI
In Biafra Africa Died by Emefiena Ezeani
Read in May 2017
I must begin by stating how I laughed with scorn on seeing the title of this book "In Biafra Africa Died" A bogus claim to make huh? However, I picked up the book from the vendor glanced through the table of content, It was too straight to the point particularly, each chapter dealt with most of the unanswered questions of the Nigeria-Biafran war.
Though I disagree with some of the statements made in the book given the absence of sufficient evidence to buttress such claims. Arguably, I consider Mr. Emefiena Ezeani work to be one of the best case or argument against the claim that the January 15th, 1966 coup was an Igbo coup.
Subsequently, the claim that Biafran war was due to Ojukwu's over ambitious nature were debunked in this book.
Personally, I must say I'm really fortunate as a Nigerian and youngster to have been taken on a journey back in time to the dark if not the darkest part of our history which is often not talked about in details like Mr. Emefiena Ezeani in-depth work.
In Biafra Africa Died is a book which awakens and ushers a believer in justice and equality especially a young Nigerian into a new level of consciousness of the reality and forces in the past and currently which hold our "union".
It's a must read for every young Nigerian.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for the review. Hope I'll be able to pick up a copy soon, at least for the younger generation.

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