“There Was A Country”: The Reminiscence of Nigeria-Biafra Civil War And Elites’ Perception of Nation and Nationalism in Nigeria

Abstract

Much debates and controversy surround the Nigerian civil war. The most recent could be described as an intellectual war and ethnocentrism. These were characteristics of the responses and reactions to the book, “THERE WAS A COUNTRY…” by Chinua Achebe. Over the years, scholars and political analysts have written books narrating different versions of the civil war, from the remote to immediate causes of the bloody thirty months war. To some, these efforts are exaggerated accounts of the war; hence, they promote ethnic bigotry.  The question is how national integration can be achieved amidst continued ethnic dichotomy in Nigeria. Chinua Achebe has used his literary prowess to express in varying degree; the quantum of disappointment experienced by Nigerians due to ethnic cleavages. It is conspicuous that ethnic diversity has spurred criticisms to and underplayed the clarion call for nationalism of Achebe’s memoir. This paper uses historical analysis with a synopsis of the book, “THERE WAS A COUNTRY”, in the discussion of Chinua Achebe’s conception of nationalism on account of the civil war. In this paper, I argue that the memories of the Nigeria-Biafra civil war disenchant the spirit of nationalism in Nigerians. They (the Nigerian masses) relying on perception of their ethnic political elite are lead to pursue ethnic nationalism. The malaise of ethnicity is detrimental to nation building, which is a common nostalgia. Hence, the understanding of nationalism by the followers is based on the definition the political leaders give it.