In January 1966, a coup in the Nigerian government was attempted, which was bloody and short-lived. Since mostly Igbo officers in the Nigerian army survived, it was assumed that they had initiated the coup, and in the months of May and September of 1966, Igbo migrants living in northern Nigeria were the targets of mass killings. Most of Nigeria's Igbo people, who were then estimated at 11 million, lived in what was then the Eastern Region of Nigeria, which had as military governor the Igbo Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. He declared the region an independent state with a capital at Enugu. ... The country was named after the Bight of Biafra, the bay of the Atlantic to its south.
-- Biafra
I probably first read about this conflict via The Biafra Story, which was written before it was over, the author best known for political thrillers. This was some years ago, but I have a cloudy idea of Frederick Forsyth writing how the little nation hung on somehow as it seemed as everything was against it. This they did for less than five years, while starvation as much as anything forced them to finally give up. The conflict has shades of a low grade Rwanda terror feel to it, which occurred about twenty-five years later, also a result of colonialist assisted racial divisions that led to horrible violence.
A young Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has a new fictional account inspired by the conflict -- Half of a Yellow Sun (from the symbol of the Biafran flag). Her family's experiences clearly inspired some of the material found therein, including those who lived and fought in the conflict. Her parents are an educated couple that sound a bit like two of the leads. It would be interesting if the white man who falls in love with the wife's sister was based on a real person. The other core character is the lead couple's teenage servant, Ugwu.
I have generally found it hard to get into fiction, but do now and then find fictional works that are truly special. And, sure, some that are just pleasure reading. As the famous African writer Chinua Achebe notes in his blurb, Adichie has a "gift." The story is engrossing, one told through the eyes of three characters -- Ugwu, his madam the beautiful Olanna, and the lover of Olanna's sister, Richard. It starts before the war, and then alternates a couple times with the war years themselves. Thus, we hear about a major plot complication, and then are sent back "before" to learn what happened.
I really enjoyed it, even though its discussions of the horrors of war is particularly forceful. A few things stand out. One, the quick way the enemy becomes an other, "vandals," not people. Two, what can only be said rabid support of a cause, even when a reasonable sort would see it as hopeless or a bit crazy. Three, a certain point -- especially after loss -- when a change comes over one who went through war, which can be useful (a type of purification of one's being and/or realization of what is important) or not so much (basic cruelty). And, sometimes both at the same time.
The author knows her subject though might be said to also write with an American style (in real life, she divides her time between the two places). IOW, one reads the book and it does really sound "foreign." This might also be because the lead characters (other than Ugwu, who eventually "becomes" one of them, transformed from his peasant life) are all educated sorts, who spent sizable amount of times in Great Britain. We see them living among villagers and such, but the book probably would be noticeably different if it was told directly thru that point of view. This is also, again, a result of the author's own upbringing.
Much recommended. Might be possible movie material. I reserved her first novel, Purple Hibiscus. The link on her name provides a taste of her writing as well.