There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra (36 page)

See also: BBC News, “President’s son buys $35m US home,” November 8, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.Uk/2/hi/africa/6129992.stm;
“A Murderous Dictator, His Rapper Son and a $700m-a-Year Oil Boom,”
The Independent
, March 16, 2004, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/a-murderous-dictator-his-rapper-son-and-a-700mayear-oil-boom-6172555.html.

Appendix: Brigadier Banjo’s Broadcast to Mid-West

1.
www.dawodu.com/banjo.htm.

INDEX

The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. To find
the corresponding locations in the text of this digital version, please use the “search”
function on your e-reader. Note that not all terms may be searchable.

Abimbola, Wande, 27

Abrahams, Peter, 53

Abubakar, Iya, 27

Aburi Accord (1967), 85–87

Achebe, Augustine (brother), 8, 29, 172, 183, 188

Achebe, Chidi (son), 88–89, 190

Achebe, Chinelo (daughter), 65, 68, 69, 200–201

Achebe, Chinua.
See also
specific topics

on African literature, 53–61

on Biafran new-nation committees, 143–49

and Biafra war.
See
Nigeria-Biafra war

children of, 65, 68, 88–89

children’s books of, 9

Christian background of, 7–8, 10–14

on Christianity versus ancestral religion, 11–14

and Christopher Okigbo.
See
Okigbo, Christopher

on cultural crossroads, 8–10

early stories, publication of, 33

education of, 15–29, 33–35

family background, 7–14

flees after 1966 coup, 67–72

Igbo traditions, early exposure to, 8–10, 12–13, 18–19

Igbo traditions and writing, 39, 55

London, first trip, 37

Man of the People, A
, 52, 63, 161

meets Christie Okoli Achebe (wife), 31–32

on moral obligation as writer, 53, 55, 58–59

on Nigeria in present, 243–53

at Nigerian Broadcasting Company (NBC), 33, 35–37, 65, 67, 70

at Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS), 30–31

political activities post-war, 244

on post-war Nigeria, 243–53

siblings, 8

and storytelling, 8–9

as teacher, 29–30

Things Fall Apart
, 35–39

transformative books read by, 10, 25

Trouble with Nigeria, The
, 74, 249

West African religions, study of, 33–34

as writer, observations on, 34–35, 39, 53–57

Achebe, Christie Okoli (wife)

children of, 65, 68, 88–89

education of, 16, 28

family background, 31–33

flees after 1966 coup, 69

hometown of, 31

on market bombing, 189

meets Chinua, 31–32

school led by, 193

Achebe, Frank (brother), 8, 148–49, 172, 183

Achebe, Grace (sister), 8

Achebe, Ike (son), 68, 69, 181, 184

Achebe, Isaiah Okafo (father)

as Christian evangelist, 7–8, 10–14

education, importance to, 10–11

personality traits of, 10, 12–13

Achebe, Janet Anaenechi Iloegbunam (mother)

and Christianity, 8

illness and death of, 181, 183

personality traits of, 9–10

Achebe, John (brother), 8, 17–20, 188

Achebe, Uche (nephew), 191–92

Achebe, Zinobia (sister), 8–9

Achukwe, Willy, 156

Achuzia, Colonel “Air Raid,” 172–73, 217–18

Action Group, 45–46, 51

Adekunle, Benjamin, 133, 137–38

Afigbo, Adiele, 27

Africa.
See
West Africa

colonial rule.
See
British colonial rule

leadership, Mandela as model, 258

African Americans, Nigeria-Biafra war, response to, 103–4

African Continental Bank, 42–43

African culture

denigration by colonizers, 54

elements of, 54

African independence

Azikiwe as father of, 41–43, 45

Ghana, 40–41

Mandela as model leader, 258

Nigeria, 48–51

African literature, 53–61

Achebe on moral obligation, 53, 55, 58–59

creating, elements of, 54–55

Négritude, 163–64

and new writers, 59–61

objectives of, 53

oral tradition.
See
Igbo traditions; Storytelling

past, great works of, 53

politics of representation in, 55

as protest literature, 58–59

Society of Nigerian Authors (SONA), 57, 63

writers/works, 53, 56–57, 109–15

African Night’s Entertainment, The
(Ekwensi), 109

African Writers Series, 112

“After a War,” 254–55

Agbam, Sam, 160–61

Agbamuche, Sam, 135

Agbo people, 150

Aghanya, Colonel Ejike Obumneme, 159

Aguiyi-Ironsi, Major General, 80–82, 121, 123

Ahiara Declaration, 143–49

Ahmadu Bello University, 69

“Air Raid,” 175

Aja-Nwachukwu, Igwe, 27

Ajaokuta Steel Mill, 104

Ajayi, Ade, 114

Akintola, Samuel, 64

Akinyele, Theophilus Adeleke, 27

Akpan, N. U., 26, 91

Alale, Phillip, 135

Allen, Walter, 38

Amadi, Elechi, 25, 28

Amharic writings, 53

Anambra State University of Technology (ASUTECH), 112

Anang people, 47, 192

Anber, Paul, 74

Andoni people, 150

Ani (earth goddess), 18

Aniagolu, Justice A. N., 145

Aniebo, I. N. C., 25

Ankrah, Joseph Arthur, 136

Anyaoku, Emeka, 28

Area boys, 69, 248

Arikpo, Okoi, 26

Armah, Ayi Kwei, 112–13

Arusha Declaration, 145–46

Asabe Massacre, 133–35

Ashcroft, Bill, 38

Asika, Ukpabi, 235–36

Awe, Bolanle, 114

Awka (Anambra capital), 31

Awolowo, Obafemi, 45–46, 51, 227

genocide, justification of, 233

Ayida, Allison Akene, 233–34

Azikiwe, Chukwuma, 99

Azikiwe, Nnamdi, 41–43, 45, 52, 72, 91, 119, 152, 163, 248

withdraws support for Biafra, 215–17

Badejo, Victor, 70

Baez, Joan, 139

Balewa, Abubakar Tafawa, 50, 51–52

Balewa, Alhaji Tafewa, 46

Bamana people, 53

Bamgbose, Ayo, 28

Banda, Kamuzu, 258

Banjo, Victor, 109, 129–32, 135–36

broadcast to Mid-West (1967), 259–65

Bank of Biafra, 150

Beattie, Angela, 36–37

Before the Blackout
(Soyinka), 52

Beier, Ulli, 115

Bello, Mohammed, 28, 53

Bello, Sir Ahmadu, 46–47, 64, 79

Benin City, 71

Benin kingdom, 2

“Benin Road,” 73

Berlin Conference (1885), 1, 2

Beti, Mongo, 53

“Biafra, 1969,” 141–42

“Biafra: A People Betrayed” (Vonnegut), 106

“Biafra Explains Its Case,” 111

Biafra: Fighting a War Without Guns
(documentary film), 153–54

Biafran Organization of Freedom Fighters (BOFF), 159–60

Biafran Research and Production, 156

Biafra secession

declaration of, 91–92, 128

new republic formed.
See
Republic of Biafra

Nigerian position on, 96–97

and Ojukwu (Emeka), 91–92, 128

supporters of, 91, 97–98

war following.
See
Nigeria-Biafra war

Biko, Steve, 163, 258

Bisalla, Iliya, 217

Blake, Eugene Carson, 166

Blum, Jeffrey D., 212–13

Boko Haram, 250–51

Bongo, Omar, 98

Brevin, Andrew, 231–32

British colonial rule

administrative functions, excellence of, 36, 43–44

African culture, denigration of, 54

Africans in military, 44

beginning of, 1–2

exports/revenues from Africa, 44, 47

independent Nigeria, indirect rule, 49–52, 124

Indian independence, 40, 48

Brutality of Nations, The
(Jacobs), 230

Bureau of External Publicity, 109

Burning Grass
(Ekwensi), 109

Cadle, E. A., 28, 114–15

Calabar kingdom, 2

Calabar Massacre, 137–40

Cambridge School Certificate exam, 26

Canada

on Biafran genocide, 231–32

Chinua as Biafran envoy to, 165–66, 222

Canadian Council of Churches, 166

Caritas International, 166, 194

Cawson, Frank, 68

Central School (Nekede), 17–18

Césaire, Aimé, 163, 164

Chike and the River
, 9

China, Nigeria-Biafra war, response to, 105, 107

Christianity

in Chinua’s family background, 7–8, 10–14

missionary schools, 20

Christiansen, Per, 185

Chukwuemeka, Vincent, 112

Churchill, Winston, 247

Church Mission Society, 19–20, 75–76

Citadel Press, 176–79, 185

Clark, J. P., 28, 63, 74, 115

Cookey, S. J., 114

Corruption.
See
Nigeria

Coup of 1966, 63–72

Chinua and family flight, 67–71

Chinua hunted during, 67–68, 70

climate on the street after, 64–66

countercoup, 80–82, 95

Eastern Nigerians, flight to East, 83, 95, 97

Igbo, attacks upon after, 66–67, 69, 76–78, 80–82

in Lagos, failure of, 79–80

leaders of, 65, 79–80

and
Man of the People, A
, 63–64, 67

military governance following, 80

murders during/after, 64, 67, 68, 70, 71, 79, 81–83

Nigerian military, role in, 78–80

Cozens, A. B., 25

Cricket, 22–23

Cullen, Countee, 164

Currey, James, 112

Damas, Léon Gontran, 163

Dance of the Forest, A
(Soyinka), 109

Danjuma, Theophilus Y., 81, 136

“Dead Men’s Path,” 33

Decree 8 (1967), 86–87

Decree No. 34 (1966), 80–81

De Gaulle, Charles, 101–2

Degema people, 150

Delauney, Maurice, 155

Democracy

Igbo ideal of, 246

lack of in Nigeria, 245–48

Dennis Memorial Grammar School (Onitsha), 19–20

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