Reconciliation and Memory in Postwar Nigeria

Abstract

During the Nigerian civil war of 1966-1970, the government's adoption of a policy of reconciliation halfway through the war was an inducement to bring the fighting to an early end. But the government's reconciliation policy did not address the underlying causes of violence, because it was not coupled with truth, justice, or healing. Rather, it was intended merely to bring a resumption of everyday life. There were no reparations, no public acknowledgement of suffering, no apology, & virtually no accountability. Painful issues of memory & recovery plagued local communities. Moreover, there were serious divisions among the victims: eg, the experience of Biafrans who could re-create community on the basis of the solidarity born of heroic failure differed from that of communities on the margins that were divided by their differential support of Biafra or Nigeria. Moreover, not all communities had the resources to benefit from the state policies of reconciliation, rehabilitation, & reconstruction. 18 References. A. Funderburg