Surviving Biafra: Voices from the Nigerian Civil War - BBC Africa Eye Documentary

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:39:05 +0000

Some of the last survivors from Nigeria’s Civil War, also known as the Biafran War, share their memories from the frontline.

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Most survivors of the Biafran War are now in their 70s and 80s.

The trauma of the war has prevented many of them from sharing their stories. Time is running out to record their memories.

This documentary is directed by award-winning Nigerian filmmakers Meji and Leke Alabi, whose grandfather, a senior Federal Army Commando, took part in the war. Between 600,000 and 3 million people died in Biafra amidst allegations of war crimes.

Through deeply emotional testimonies from frontline eyewitnesses, intercut with the BBC’s vast and largely unseen video archives, this programme sheds light on a civil war which impacted the lives of millions and still shapes conversations in Nigeria today. This documentary was produced by BBC Africa Eye with expert support from the BBC Igbo Service. Eyewitness accounts from both sides of the conflict are reflected in the programme.

00:00 Eyewitnesses to the Biafran War
02:22 A family’s story – the directors and their grandfather
07:00 Nigeria gains independence
09:55 1966: the coups
15:36 The birth of Biafra
17:00 Two leaders
18:00 Britain backs the Government
19:31 Biafran rebels prepare for war
22:59 A surprise Biafran attack
25:14 The Government fightback
28:09 Minority groups targeted
29:58 Biafran recruits foreign mercenaries
34:24 Jungle warfare
39:43 The fall of Port Harcourt
41:41 Britain’s source of income
44:35 Air raids on Biafra
50:59 Federal army “war crimes”
53:17 International aid arrives
57:13 Corruption delays the food
58:34 “Thousands are going to starve.”
01:00:00 Protests in Britain
01:01:06 The famine begins
01:07:24 This Civil War “is a disaster.”
01:09:01 Biafra surrenders
01:10:28 Britain “makes a profit”
01:12:16 A generation lost

📽️ Watch this film in HAUSA here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZHQ13rvysU, in SWAHILI here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtBiT8WqEJY, and in FRENCH here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwfVtvugQQ8

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