Review by Choice Review
Korieh (Marquette Univ.), a well-known historian of Biafra and colonial Nigeria, offers a collection of 18 chapters on the history and memory of the war over the Republic of Biafra's secession from Nigeria (1967--70). Sections on war events, including internal tensions, the experience of ordinary Biafrans in wartime (especially children), and the long legacy of the war mix history, memoir, and polemic, producing a book that will interest both historians and casual readers with a stake in Biafra's past and present. Social history is emphasized throughout, with occasional forays into diplomatic history, humanitarianism, and the operational history of the conflict. A section on artistic and literary representations of the war by Biafrans offers particular insight, bringing several little-known artists to the attention of the wider world. Representing many voices and methodological approaches, this collection enriches readers' understanding of this crucial episode in 20th-century African history. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers through faculty. --Samuel Fury Childs Daly, Duke University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
