Global Concerns about Biafran Secession
The goal for those studying the global concerns during the Biafran secession era is to try to assess what people outside of Biafra--including England, the former colonial power over Nigeria--thought of the conflict and what they proposed should be done about it. Other voices come from outside England and from Biafrans.
First, you can get an orientation to this issue by reviewing the following internet links.
What is the focus of each link?
What conclusions does the person developing each site hope you will draw from the site?
Philip Emeagwali has developed an extensive website which includes a photo essay on Biafra. This link includes pictures of some of the political leaders of the First Nigerian Republic and of Biafra including the cover photo of a Life magazine issue on Biafra. Pictures like these provided the first impressions that non-Nigerians received about the conflict.
One of the most noted voices on Biafra and on subsequent African and Nigerian politics is Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. This link details some of his experience in the Biafran war as well as some information about Biafra.
This reprint of a news release about Biafra from 1968 captures some of the emotionalism of the era. This statement is from a web site for a press that deals in anarchist issues.
"British Interests, Nigerian Tragedy" is a short statement of the human costs and the economic interests involved in the war with reference to the extent of starvation.
Statements of Global Concern about Biafra
Now look at some short individual statements from 1968 made from Europe. Each one has some questions associated with it that you should make a few notes about.
What were the issues in Biafra/Nigeria from the perspectives of people outside the country. What did Biafra "mean" to these outsiders? What did they understand about the actual events in the country?
In collaborative discussions compare the principles and stories told by all of the different documents you have looked at for Biafra. What things can you say you feel certain did occur because everyone seems to agree in their statements? What things are mentioned by only some or even one of the participants? Are their any issues that seem left out? How do these findings match up statements about the causes of the secession movement?