Surviving in Biafra: The Story of the Nigerian Civil War: Amazon.ca: Alfred Obiora Uzokwe: Books

Product Description

In 1966, several waves of rioting in northern Nigeria culminated in the brutal massacre of thousands of easterners by their northern Nigerian counterparts. Sensing that their safety could no longer be guaranteed, the easterners fled to the eastern region and established an independent nation called Biafra.

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First Sentence
In 1966, I was just a six-year-old boy living with my family in Lagos, Nigeria. Read the first page

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Concordance

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews

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5.0 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Very insightful, May 31 2005

By

Kemayou (Cameroon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surviving in Biafra: The Story of the Nigerian Civil War (Paperback)

This book is a beautiful account of the Biafran war. I grew up with Nigerian refuges and their children in Cameroon and got first hand accounts of the horrors of that war. Overall, this insightful book is credible and like DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, KING LEOPOLD'S GHOST, SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL, it gives the reader the opportunity to understand African conflicts and the pattern of genocides that have taken place or taking place in the continent. I learned a lot from this book.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Political Book Told Honestly, Oct 12 2003

By

Ana Marrie (San Francisco, CA.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surviving in Biafra: The Story of the Nigerian Civil War (Paperback)

I loved this book because it is similar to reading a personal diary or journal left by a child. It is honest and funny,sad and poignant.

The author, Mr. Uzokwe, doesn't speak as an authoritarian or an analyst. He simply tells the story of what he saw, felt and experienced as a child living in a war torn world. This includes some sorrow but also reminds us of the naiveté and life as usual wanderings of a child's mind. (Not unlike the film "Life is Beautiful" depicting a child's experience in Nazi Germany)

I have read the F. Forsythe book and other material on the subject of the Nigerian Civil War. I recommend those earlier works primarily on historical merit. However in my opinion, Surviving In Biafra is the most heart-felt story telling perhaps because the innocence depicted heightens the senselessness of the nearly 2 million lives lost. Although the subject matter is heavy, many passages are funny and endearing. As a non-African reader I found some ideas and practices presented odd and intriguing. The book is about family relations, community responses and how coping affects everyone differently. A variety of cultural norms are revealed and an overall picture of life in a small war torn village is painted quite beautifully. Many words, phrases and saying and songs are translated into the (then Biafran) native language of Ibo, and a variety of photos are included which adds nice documentation.

Anyone interested in peace will benefit from the truth presented in Surviving In Biafra. For those interested in the holocaust or other genocide attempts it is a must read. Likewise, for those interested in affirming the joy of life and the enduring human spirit this reading is a memorable journey.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, May 16 2003

By

Ugochukwu (Winchester, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surviving in Biafra: The Story of the Nigerian Civil War (Paperback)

A beautifully presented account of the suffering, resilience & ingenuity of the Biafrans; the sheer bravery of its young soldiers. Written in the great Achebe's approach. About time Biafran story is included in the school curriculum.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars "Surviving in Biafra" is a must read!!
From when I picked up the book until I finished reading it, I was simply taken into another world. It was as though the Nigerian civil war had been brought to life again by the... Read more

Published on Mar 10 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BRUTALITY OF NATIONS: THE NIGERIAN-BIAFRAN CIVIL WAR
This book captures the tragedy of a war that the world still knows very little about...the cost in human lives that in the end was about resource control...oil. Read more

Published on Feb 24 2003