The presence of the past: youth, memory making and the politics of self-determination in southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

This article focuses on recent reconstructions of Igbo ‘memory’ by the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB). MASSOB is a second-generation Igbo separatist movement that draws on a collection of ‘memory repertoires’ to agitate for the self-determination and exit of the Igbo ethnic group from the Nigerian state into an alternative political and administrative arrangement known as the Republic of Biafra. The core issues relate to dual narratives generated by the Nigerian–Biafran War. While the state shapes the official history, memories and narratives of the war to suit its own vision, interests and politics, MASSOB contests these official views as the sole legitimate framework for remembering and interpreting the war, but still connects to the war as a war of Igbo national liberation. These contestations provide the context for the enactment of memory claims and counterclaims, and their association with political violence in contemporary Nigeria.

Keywords:

• MASSOB
• youth
• memory politics
• self-determination
• Igbo
• Nigeria

Notes

1. The depiction of the war as the ‘Nigerian–Biafran War’ captures the views of those who saw the Republic of Biafra as an independent entity between 1967 and 1970 by virtue of the fact that it had its own institutions of governance (army, territory, currency, flag and anthem) and was officially recognized by other African countries like Ivory Coast, Gabon, Zambia and Tanzania. The ‘Nigerian Civil War’ is the official name recognized by the government and linked to official narratives of the war. The ‘War of National Unity’ was adopted in official circles to align with the pronouncement of the ‘Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction’ programme. The ‘War against Infidels’ was a product of the largely religious dimension of the war as perceived by both the predominantly Muslim North who wanted the Koran to be dipped into sea with the complete conquest of the entire country; and the predominantly Christian East who saw it as a war between David and Goliath (see Walls 1978; interview granted by Paddy Davies on the BBC documentary ‘Biafra: Fighting a War without Guns’ in July 1995. Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00frgy2).

2. In the words of MASSOB's area administrator in Lagos, Mr Emmanuel Onyeme: ‘The realisation of the Biafran dream may not be achieved immediately, but my present engagement with the struggle is meant to ensure that my children will enjoy the fruits of emancipation’ (personal communication, 26 January 2009).

3. Chuks, a Lagos-based member of the movement, reiterated the views of the younger generation of MASSOB members by stating: ‘All we want is Biafra and total independence now’ (personal communication, 19 January 2009).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Godwin Onuoha

GODWIN ONUOHA is African Research Fellow in the Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery Programme of the Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa.