The Nigerian Civil War; the Cold War's Craziest Proxy War

Go to strms.net/hellofresh_se9589250 and use code POGHF93484 for my special HelloFresh discount and to support my channel! #ad
2️⃣ have already claimed this exclusive offer!
Check Out Hello Fresh: strms.net/hellofresh_se9589250
Coupon Code: POGHF93484
Support this channel on Patreon
/ casualhistorian
Try a free month of Skillshare to learn new skills!
skl.sh/MKR302
Try out Workona for your research projects!
workona.com/signup/?ap=2f8884...
Try out Dodoist Pro!
doist.grsm.io/pgergc8e9qsd
Check The Casual Historian Merch Stores
RedBubble: www.redbubble.com/people/gran...
TeeSpring: casual-historian.creator-spri...
Give a one time contribution on PayPal
www.paypal.me/GrantHurst
Buy me a book from my Amazon Wish List
www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...
Twitch: / casualhistorian
Facebook: / casualhistorian
Personal Twitter: / grantghurst
Branded Twitter: / casualhistorian
Check Out the Blog
casualhistorian.com/
Check Out My History of the Modern Middle East Podcast
www.historyofthemodernmiddlee...
Background Music: Background Music: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you

[@SEAZNDragon]

I learn of the Bifarian War recently and it's crazy to see how publicly involved the world was yet it quickly left public memory.

[@KennyNGA]

true but probably got overshadowed by the severel military dictatorship like the one of muhammadu buhari who is president since 8 years

[@alvin4100]

It's as they say. "History is written by the Victors"

[@SEAZNDragon]

@@KennyNGA I hate the phase “why didn’t I learn this in school” as that shows me either you didn’t pay attention in class or didn’t have the curiosity to go to the library. However I can say Africa is fairly over looked in US public schools. And the tangle web of factions probably doesn’t t help.

[@scottkrater2131]

​@@SEAZNDragon Nothing personal, but the US had plenty of it's own history going on in the 50's and 60's, the Korean war, civil rights, the expanding war in Vietnam,the Cold War. Seems like those affected more Americans than post colonial Africa.

[@SEAZNDragon]

@@scottkrater2131 oh I agree. I’m usually accepting of the fact most schools at best an overview of a historical event but I can’t remember going over anything about Africa at all in secondary school.

[@williamthebonquerer9181]

My fav cursed coalition in Africa was France, Charles Taylor and Gaddafi who conspired to overthrow Thomas Sankara

[@aregularperson7573]

Just thinking about it just makes my head spin

[@vexintersect1312]

rest in power to a real one, the rare hidden jem of ML leaders that didn't commit mass human rights violations or cultivate a divine personality cult.

[@williamthebonquerer9181]

@@vexintersect1312 he didn't rule long enough to make an accurate judgement of his character imo.

[@noeenricodomanais2517]

Gaddafi conspired to overthrow Sankara?

[@holyfordus]

@@williamthebonquerer9181 Thats arguably why he’s so loved. Unlike his peers, he didn’t live long enough to screw up his legacy

[@ekusondebango3568]

As a person who saw the events leading up to the coup on 15 January, 1966 and then the civil war in which I participated, your reporting is very good. I want to make a few observations though: 1) The officers who were arrested for participating in that coup were arrested and jailed. Not a single one of them was promoted to a higher rank though. The promotion exercise in the army in particular benefited Northern soldiers as a way of appeasing them for losing some senior officers in that coup. 2) Your video is the very first to point out that Israel actually sold weapons to the Nigerian government in the beginning but stopped after a world outcry over the slaughter of civilians. Israel sold upwards of half a million dollars worth of weapons in a very short period of time before desisting from doing so. 3) Your video made mention of Frederick Forsyth as a BBC reporter. He worked in Biafra as a British military intelligence officer with BBC credentials for cover. He even admitted that much not too long ago. 4) The role of the British government in the war had a lot to do with British oil interests in light of the Arab -Israel conflict of 1967. You pointed this out precisely and I commend you for doing so. 5) You also mentioned that when the Northern People's Congress(NPC) won the most seats in parliament in the 1959 election that set the stage for independence, the leader of that party, Ibrahim Ahmadu Bello was expected to become Prime Minister but he turned it down. Instead he nominated Abubakar Tafawa Balewa for the position. The reason is that Bello did not want to be surrounded by "infidels" at the federal capital in Lagos should he accept that position. Bello remained the most powerful politician though and he always referred to the PM Balewa as "our boy in Lagos". I commend you for the effort you put into the video though.

[@Anedoje]

More like Bello had zero interest in the rest of Nigeria his policies were strictly North first

[@mohammedbalaabdullahi8963]

Yes, North fist!

[@ekusondebango3568]

@@mohammedbalaabdullahi8963 And his North "fist' policy led to backwardness in the North abi.

[@muyiadonri5404]

This is an amazing addendum to the video. However, I believe the primary reason Ahmadu Bello declined the Prime Ministership was because of his North-first agenda. He was far more invested in the political and social autonomy and advancement of the North alone than in the entire Nigerian project.

[@liquidkarim]

It was no secret that Ahmadu Bello's ultimate goal was to become Sultan of Sokoto and he could not do that while being Prime Minister. Your statement on him not wanting to be around 'infidels' is false as I cannot find proof on it online anywhere. Unless you have a source.

[@hkauffman604]

today i learned something new about the civil war. little change though: its pronounced "Lay-gos" not "Lah-gos", nigerians pronounce it as the former. (i am a nigerian, just for disclaimer)

[@stimihendrix3404]

not just that, its eeg-bo not egg-bo, your-uh-buh not your-rue-buh, house-uh not hass-ah

[@futumukafulangenge9863]

Tometo, tomato, does it matter.? Accents.

[@theonlychickensama8353]

@@futumukafulangenge9863 perhaps, but could be helpful for next time as it makes him sound extra competent on the topic . Not that he isn't competent right now of course

[@BasedEngineer]

​@futumukafulangenge9863 The way he pronounces "Lagos" is the original Portuguese pronunciation. The way he pronounced "Yoruba" and "Hausa" is just a matter of accent. However, his pronunciation of "Igbo" was flat out incorrect.

[@stimihendrix3404]

@@futumukafulangenge9863 thats not an accent idiot, its the improper pronunciation.

[@holyrosery5601]

My husband is Biafara veteran. I was 8 years old during Biafara and Nigeria war. Biafara must go their own way. I am igbo and we are still suffering.

[@masudsaleh5155]

Liberal modernists and feminists will feign outrage, but their moral system is what creates this situation. Liberal principles of individual choice, female empowerment, and destruction of patriarchy create a society of people who have no family to take care of them in their old age. The liberal feminist solution to this problem is to create more welfare programs. What this means is that they want the elderly to live alone in what are essentially pods, their only human interaction being with "care" takers to check if they're still alive once a week. Let me put it like this. The only human solution is for the elderly to be surrounded by loving family in their old age. The only way to get that is patriarchy, gender roles, and other limitations on individual freedom. But the liberal mind cannot allow any of that. So the elderly will continue to suffer and liberal feminists and modernists will continue to pretend like they care about humanity.

[@michaelking4760]

We are still suffering 😭

[@flobekoe]

@@michaelking4760Biafra Kwenu

[@ikechukwuemmanuelezema4295]

U dey suffer how?

[@ikechukwuemmanuelezema4295]

@@michaelking4760 u and who dey suffer?u no dey chop for ur house?anybody hold chain for ur hand?mk una dey well!!ah be igbo but ah no support wetin u talk here!!me no dey suffer!!

[@ifexki]

It's funny how the westerns know more about the history of Nigeria than 99% of Nigerian do. I am Igbo from Enugu state and I haven't left Enugu all my life but this is one of the most informative video or expose I've learnt on the Nigeria civil war

[@mohammedmusa481]

If you’re uninformed just say that. This is a good video, but shallow and sometimes wrong. “Fafawa Balewa” instead of Tafawa, NCNC is national council of Nigeria and the cameroons, not “nigerian citizens” as the video says just to name a few of the errors. The real problem is Nigerians like you waiting for random westerners to tell your stories and ignoring local sources of our history, which are plentiful.

[@ifexki]

@@mohammedmusa481 who said I am uninformed? When Nigeria only pedals a shallow surface narrative. Tell me you knew of that back story he gave before diving into the Igbo massacre by the Hausa/ Falani, Yoruba coalition? There are lots we Nigerian don't know about what led up to the war and what happened after the war and if we don't know that and don't learn from the mistakes of our fathers, we'll end up repeating them. You can't troubleshoot a faulty system if you don't keep records of how they got faulty in the past. Neither can you predict weather if you don't know of its past climate.

[@mohammedmusa481]

@@ifexki Ofcourse I was aware of the back story! That’s why I said if you were uninformed you should just say that and not speak for 99% of Nigerians. No one is arguing about the importance of learning from the past, my complaint is your faulty assumption that Nigerians don’t know about their own. Imagine you, someone who grew up in the former capital of Biafra not knowing your own history? It’s sickening. Imagine believing your people’s fight for self determination was merely a proxy war for western powers? Everything is not about westerners. Anyways I blame the government for removing history from the high school curriculum.

[@ifexki]

@@mohammedmusa481 Sicken yourself too. Please get behind me mumu. What do you? Besides how do I know your claims are real and because you probably watched some few biased documentaries makes you think you know anything? Don't reply my post biko, get away. I made my claim not because I'm not very read read on the topic but because 90% of the real documented events and round table talks are locked up in western archives. Same applies to Majority of African histories. So please shut up and get lost mtcheew. Nwoke bok haram.

[@mohammedmusa481]

@@ifexki your dirty tribalism is showing and I’m not Hausa so your Boko Haram insult no enter. Efulefu

[@beepboop204]

i worked with a dude who survived this and immigrated to Canada. dude had been through some stuff.

[@Mcmotherfuckingrory]

*emigrated to, just so you know.

[@beepboop204]

@@Mcmotherfuckingrory well, NO, just so YOU KNOW im·mi·grate /ˈiməˌɡrāt/ Learn to pronounce verbNorth American past tense: immigrated; past participle: immigrated he immigrated to Canada.

[@beepboop204]

@@Mcmotherfuckingrory i guess you are confused about "emigration FROM" compared to "immigration TO" a country. i know English is a very hard language to master, but im an educated native speaker with an overly large vocabulary, so if you gonna try to "JuSt So YoU kNoW" you better know what you are doing. hopefully others can learn from your ignorance and confusion over the words "emigrated" and "immigrated"

[@ekusondebango3568]

@@beepboop204 I thought it was just me . I was struggling to understand that psychobabble rant myself. Thanks for the clarification. I think that I will be able to sleep very well tonight. Good dreams!

[@LAHFaust]

A very well thought-out and researched video essay about a conflict which is relatively well-known but barely dove into. Subscribed.

[@masudsaleh5155]

Liberal modernists and feminists will feign outrage, but their moral system is what creates this situation. Liberal principles of individual choice, female empowerment, and destruction of patriarchy create a society of people who have no family to take care of them in their old age. The liberal feminist solution to this problem is to create more welfare programs. What this means is that they want the elderly to live alone in what are essentially pods, their only human interaction being with "care" takers to check if they're still alive once a week. Let me put it like this. The only human solution is for the elderly to be surrounded by loving family in their old age. The only way to get that is patriarchy, gender roles, and other limitations on individual freedom. But the liberal mind cannot allow any of that. So the elderly will continue to suffer and liberal feminists and modernists will continue to pretend like they care about humanity.

[@jamescurrier6454]

Love your channel, i hope the best for you keep up the great work

[@F.udemin]

Thank you for covering respectfully. I lost so much family in this war.

[@MrBallofa]

Great Video, Everything was well organized and easy to follow

[@tomassankara5067]

All in all, this was a well researched video. The part I found most interesting was the back and forth on Lagos as FCT. No wonder it finally got relocated to Abuja.

[@xboneava]

The way Nigeria was split is it’s greatest problem right now. The north makes up majority of Nigeria, and the Igbos and Yoruba are so small. There can never be a thing as one Nigeria that’s why there’s constant tussle for power of presidency.

[@windsurfer8824]

You don't know anything, Yoruba land is large and extends to parts of Benin and Togo. And the Yoruba people in Nigeria alone are about 50 million in number, the entire Northern Nigeria is about 100 million, but that's not only the Hausa, but other group like the Kanuri, Fulani and others. It's Igbo land that's small,and even Biafra is a land grabber war because their land is Small

[@joshuaekpe6211]

@@windsurfer8824 He knows what he's saying and he's right, even tho Yoruba and Igbo are the 2nd n 3rd major ethnic group which basically embodies the Southern region, they'll still need to make an alliance with north, we are all at the mercy of the north. and how was Biafra a land grab war?

[@tyronelorenzovalentio3414]

@@windsurfer8824 what are u talking about the Igbo land is 45 millions in Nigeria alone

[@chikaokafor4022]

@@windsurfer8824 You don't know anything....you think biafra is only Lagos State right?😆🤣

[@ifeoluwaoni7999]

That's not entirely true, Southern Nigeria is not at the mercy of the North, neither is North's populated as our past fraudulent census made us believe. The South, I mean the Igbos, Yorubas, and Niger Delta, have never gone in one direction politically before since Nigerian independence, despite sharing predominantly Christian faith. Greed and internal fighting, and rivalry hasn't made the South united, the day South decides to work together and form ally with the Christian middle belt state, power will be taken completely out of the hands of Northern Muslims.

[@enachioken]

Thanks for this video. I've subscribed.

[@NateBrantley]

I love your channel, thank you 🙏

[@kenedixon5720]

Very interesting and intriguing. Thank you so much

[@zaippiaz]

Thank you for your breakdown

[@willneverstop]

Great video

[@justinfrank7600]

Very interesting and very educational.. as an IGBO Nigerian and African❤

[@t0n0k0]

Great content I didn't know about this on Biafra nation. The history and involvement of UK, France, Russia, Israel, Egypt, Egypt,US, Tanzania, Ivorian Coast, Ghana. 😳

[@Ebi.Adonkie]

Thanks for covering my country 🇳🇬

[@ebukahjoseph8016]

Thank you for doing this justice. As an Igbo myself, I cried watching this.

[@masudsaleh5155]

*_It's a tragedy to the fate of this nation that the Igbo person has been in denial about the problem they created for this country since 1966. Instead, they play the victim._* In May 1966, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria’s first military head of state, promulgated the infamous Decree No. 34 of 1966, the “unification decree.” The decree effectively did away with the federal system of government practiced by Nigeria since its independence from British colonial rule in 1960. In its place, the general instituted a unitary system of government as a way of discouraging “tribal loyalties and activities which promote tribal consciousness and sectional interests and which must give way to the urgent task of national reconstruction.” The decree suspended aspects of the Nigerian constitution and, with it, the military government arrogated to itself wide discretionary powers. Unknown to the general, the effects of this decree would reverberate well into Nigeria’s sixtieth year as an independent nation.

[@vincesega6885]

I fair decision given the fact that 50% of the oil wealth in the east was going to the other regions anyway.

[@Sceptonic]

​@@masudsaleh5155ah yes, one or a few people who happen to be Igbo justifies the atrocities the Nigerian armed forces commited

[@okene]

​@@vincesega6885most of the oil isn't on Igbo land. The coastal regions are all niger-delta and being from there myself, I can tell you that they are the first people to chest beat and denounce any perceived igbo-ness you claim they have. The situation is much more complex, even in Biafra many people were against it and against Igbo domination. Like the video said, Biafran officers were killed by Biafrans primarily

[@nyasputin]

Nigerian here! Great video! My only issue is the pronounciation of Lagos. Its meant to be pronounced kind of like lay - gos.

[@nyasputin]

Also some of the other names like Hausa and Igbo

[@andycockrum1212]

I’m glad a Nigerian says it’s good info, cause I was worried when he kept pronouncing “Igbo” incorrectly

[@nyasputin]

@@andycockrum1212 same haha

[@extragoogleaccount6061]

Hey there, can I ask you a question? In modern Nigeria, do the majority of people identify as "Nigerians" first, or by tribal association first? I guess basically, have the divisions healed any in the time since the war, or is it still culturally "fresh" and many do not feel there is a united "Nigerian" identity? Thanks!

[@nyasputin]

@@extragoogleaccount6061 I think it really depends on the person I think

[@75echo]

The fact that General Gowon was a traitor and switched sides to join the Hausa/fulani north is often ignored. Thank you for pointing out many inportant things in this historical presentation. By the way, currently Gen. Gowons own people in the middle belt are currently experiencing the same discrimination and persecution from the muslim north like the Igbos experienced in the pre-war period.

[@masudsaleh5155]

Liberal modernists and feminists will feign outrage, but their moral system is what creates this situation. Liberal principles of individual choice, female empowerment, and destruction of patriarchy create a society of people who have no family to take care of them in their old age. The liberal feminist solution to this problem is to create more welfare programs. What this means is that they want the elderly to live alone in what are essentially pods, their only human interaction being with "care" takers to check if they're still alive once a week. Let me put it like this. The only human solution is for the elderly to be surrounded by loving family in their old age. The only way to get that is patriarchy, gender roles, and other limitations on individual freedom. But the liberal mind cannot allow any of that. So the elderly will continue to suffer and liberal feminists and modernists will continue to pretend like they care about humanity.

[@johnchioma5302]

I was waiting to hear the Asaba massacre. Kudo to you for this informative article. 😮😮

[@vanessaanddaddy7754]

I’m a Biafran and IPOB member. We are still fighting to restore our beloved nation Biafra. The Lugardian contraption Nigeria must collapse one day. 😅

[@agberodongetinternet8651]

mark my words, you will all die like your fathers before you

[@aSSGoblin1488]

who xares if a bunch of nigerians kill each other

[@kenechukwnemoneharrison2461]

Let this channel talk more of modern day Biafrans struggle nd the true story of what the state is still doing today

[@adebayosanmi1780]

You guys go still die like your heroes if you people refuse to have sense

[@majeedmamah7457]

Nigerians are stronger as one people. Let's not create more division.

[@An_Ian]

Love the CH reference at the start

[@emmanueluzoigwe6385]

Biafra is the last hope of African renaissance

[@akachiikenga617]

Agreed

[@ekusondebango3568]

"The Biafran Research And Production demonstrated the capacity to produce petroleum and fuel oil on a large scale in numerous and widely distributed locations, and without the assistance and supervision of expatriate technicians(aka Europeans)". Source of the above quote: Thomas J. Biersteker, Distortion or Development? Contending Perspectives on the Multinational Corporation, MIT Press, 1978.

[@muyiwa508]

Well-told. A lot of Nigerians dont even have the full context. Good job!

[@PaulSyp]

you should look into the Madagascar Civil war in recent years. The Mayor of the Capital city, a DJ, overthrew the President of the country. Its a very interesting and very recent history

[@mr.pavone9719]

This video has put the mish-mash of source material for the game FarCry 2 into a much better perspective. While the game takes place in an unnamed African country it is certainly based in real events like this.

[@kwamedabla9726]

Woow the intro is my favourite video from College's Humor

[@chukemmang]

Just like the issues that caused war 1 weren't resolved, which led to a world war 2 and is still brewing a world war 3. The issues that caused the civil war between Biafra and Nigeria, still remains unresolved and might lead to another civil war.

[@MrWaterlionmonkey]

My mum's from Nigeria and I don't know much about its history, so thanks. But I heard one small error immediately. My mum and her people are Hausa and she's talked about the Fulani, and your pronunciation is off. It's pronounced 'how-sah' and 'foo-lan-ee'. Also Yoruba is pronounced more like 'Yer-a-bah' and Igbo is pronounced more like 'eee-bow'

[@isthatso1961]

You're wrong. You already admit to not knowing much about 9ja, so no need for corrections mate. Yo ro ba, eee-gbo

[@MrWaterlionmonkey]

@@isthatso1961 No, you're wrong. I don't know much about the history, but I know what my mum calls her people.

[@anjola173]

As a Yoruba, it's pronounced Yo-ru-bah

[@isthatso1961]

@@MrWaterlionmonkey lol, you never been to Nigeria and you arguing with a Nigerian about Nigerian pronunciation? interesting 😂

[@MrWaterlionmonkey]

@@isthatso1961 Shows what you know. I've been to Nigeria many many times

[@rice8468]

Song in the background is 🔥🔥

[@tinycockjock1967]

God damn what a complicated war!

[@Anedoje]

It’s honestly a lot more complicated than what he said in the vid, extremly more complicated for one the 3 groups are the largest groups but Nigeria has 500+ other groups who were caught in between, Gowan was a Christian and a Northern minority at a time when religion and ethnicity mattered less. The North had actually attempted secession with the coup that brought him etc.. the whole situation is extremely more complicated than this vid makes it out to be

[@SanMon-bc1lc]

@Anedoje 'Alots more complicated' as you said. I need to storyline about Jewish connection to isreal and the cultural activities between isreal n Biafra republic to be more comprehensive.. #freebiafranow..💫🙏

[@tola1526]

Some minor corrections: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, not Fafawa NCNC = National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (some parts of Southern Cameroon were originally part of Nigeria back then) Otherwise, great video

[@anthonyoruovo6733]

Also _Hausa_ not *Halusa*

[@rylancairns5454]

Love the accents lmao Good doc

[@BlackSolutions7532]

I'm going to nigeria next week ✊🏾

[@mukhtarjibril4473]

I had friends of Biafra who told me the Biafra that they want independence from Nigeria 🇳🇬. I think every community must have choice to chose their destiny but let we build single Africa, Africa who has one flag one money strong Africa. I’m from Somalia 🇸🇴 even my country was divided in 5 region 2 independent countries Djibouti 🇩🇯 and Somalia 🇸🇴 and two regions one in Ethiopia 🇪🇹 one in Kenya 🇰🇪 the 5th one is Somaliland who United with Somalia in 1960. After Berlin conference in 1884 European colonizers divided Africa in their own interests regardless of their identities after our independence from Italy 🇮🇹 and Uk 🇬🇧 we fought with Kenya 1964 Ethiopia 🇪🇹 in same year then 1977 with Ethiopia again i think for fighting we loose our people let we open our borders to all Africans I’m sure if every single country except his neighbors allowing entrance with out visa free trade market we’ll move a prosperity.

[@amberlight5830]

Wealth creation and equal distribution is the issue which create injustice which results conflicts. Juts by doing that withoit addressing root cause of it won't be helpful. Rather it will put rich country burden to give to less wepwhr making nations. And that way they won't like to remain in any such union. Secondly, most African nations countries heads are and presidential for life how they will leave their authority on that selective land which I a one reason for harming those countries. The last colonising power may left africa, but they're still controlling it largely by their puppets rulers. How they will allow anything which will strenghen African and dent in their still loot and plunder of African countries.

[@ebubedike6457]

African can not be one without recognition of autonomous ethnic groups.. This group will then join forces together

[@dudeudontknow341]

Sitting here I’m just thinking….I might play some tropico rn

[@igbotimehopper64yearsago46]

The Biafran sun will rise again

[@adewoleadebayo5483]

Never!

[@igbotimehopper64yearsago46]

@@adewoleadebayo5483 why not?

[@adewoleadebayo5483]

@@igbotimehopper64yearsago46 This generation has better visions for a great Nigeria working towards universally accepted values and making progress for all citizens. We are no longer strangers to one another.

[@igbotimehopper64yearsago46]

@@adewoleadebayo5483 is that why igbos are getting harassed in Lagos for voting? Or why fulanis are killing farmers in Yorubaland and the middle belt?

[@mhizummy2091]

@@adewoleadebayo5483 keep dreaming so high no Nigeria flag in Biafra land right now if you don’t know fool

[@jonahs4819]

Imagine if you and 10 other random guys in your hometown were falsely arrested by a corrupt group of police, and you guys were all forced into a jail cell together. After a while you guys end up forming a gang to stay safe, and you grow a relationship based on your shared hatred for the police that put you in jail. Then suddenly one day, a judge decides that you’re all free to go, the charges have been dropped. As you walk out the door of the prison, you try to say goodbye to the 10 other guys you were stuck in there with, because you can’t wait to go back home to your own family. But instead of letting you go, the other 10 guys grab you and force you to stay with them. Even on the outside of the prison walls, they still see themselves as they did in prison. “We’re a gang now, you can’t leave us”. For real, I feel like the final stage of post-colonialism is the decolonization of the European-imposed borders. And we haven’t TRULY gotten to that stage yet, but it is inevitable.

[@UnbekannterSoldat74]

this is so true.

[@morten3465]

I just watched a DAVOS panel where an african journalist flat out said: "I wish for Africa to be one country" and an (African) finance minister flat out told him "that's not gonna happen" (which I agree with). It's wild to me that so many people talk about Africa as one thing, while ignoring that it's a lot like a huge version of Europe under the Renaissance: progress from bad centuries, sure, but factions, faith, nationalism and quite a lot of violence keep it from being anything like ONE country.

[@UnbekannterSoldat74]

@@morten3465 But I really wish for countries in Africa to find peace through long term, sustainable cooperation. History cannot be forgotten, but it can be reconciliated.

[@olayiwolagiwa8596]

Deep insights

[@olayiwolagiwa8596]

I love your thought pattern. Nigeria, like most post colonial territories are artificial creations of imperialism.

[@chrisstevenson-kuylaars7684]

This shows that no one cares about anybody else, only their own interests. The end. Same as today

[@christianweibrecht6555]

So many times British imperialists favored their Muslim subjects over christians

[@ikengaspirit3063]

How is it surprising?. The Brits and Soviets have always favoured Muslims during their periods of Empire. The soviets persecuted the Orthodox Church in specifics and Christians in General far more than they did Muslims and the Brits always allied with states like Morocco and the Ottomans when they were involved in wars related to them and they officers of Nigeria literally considered the Hausa Kingdoms and Fulani Empire analogous to Anglo-Saxons of the middle ages and as such empowered the spread of Hausa-Fulani islamic courts, installed them as monarchs over ethnicities converting to Christianity and hoped that in time they'll adopt Anglo culture(but not religion). This has always been the operating characteristics of these Empires.

[@ray_light44]

Well this isn’t about religion tho considering the fact that the leader of nigeria during the civil war itself was Yakubu Gowon who was a Christian

[@ikengaspirit3063]

@@ray_light44 While it was more complex than religion, as the docu shows, Yakubu was more of the preferred figure head of the Northern Muslim Soldiers, which is wh they refused a higher ranking non-Igbo military officer to take power. And again, In Nigeria and much of their colonies, the Brits had always favoured the Muslim ethnicities, especially in regards to military affairs.

[@makeytgreatagain6256]

@@ikengaspirit3063 this was because the Hausa were easier to control that’s it. Muslims are generally more collectivistic and easier to control if you rule the leader

[@MrElchav]

Damn! I subscribed straight up! KZbin recommended this channel. My father was twice a POW captured by the Nigerian army. Twice he escaped. My mother barely escaped the pogroms against the Igbos and fled to the east. I hate the entity called Nigeria till this day!

[@masudsaleh5155]

*_It's a tragedy to the fate of this nation that the Igbo person has been in denial about the problem they created for this country since 1966. Instead, they play the victim._* In May 1966, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria’s first military head of state, promulgated the infamous Decree No. 34 of 1966, the “unification decree.” The decree effectively did away with the federal system of government practiced by Nigeria since its independence from British colonial rule in 1960. In its place, the general instituted a unitary system of government as a way of discouraging “tribal loyalties and activities which promote tribal consciousness and sectional interests and which must give way to the urgent task of national reconstruction.” The decree suspended aspects of the Nigerian constitution and, with it, the military government arrogated to itself wide discretionary powers. Unknown to the general, the effects of this decree would reverberate well into Nigeria’s sixtieth year as an independent nation.

[@chikaokafor4022]

@@masudsaleh5155 Let's go our separate ways 🤔

[@badbanner753]

Yo that Nixon impersonation is on point.

[@colin3424]

Was that a voice over by LittlePlatoon at the 7:00 mark?

[@dgk693]

A lot of things were wrong in this video but thank you for the effort

[@completelyunderstood]

Like what? I'm asking to learn not to doubt

[@dgk693]

@@completelyunderstood Such as "the Igbo wanted a centralised government". That is untrue. The Igbo people wanted a very decentralised government but certain Igbo leaders felt it was in their best interests to have a centralised government. Igbo leaders were a lot more isolated from the general population of Igbo people in comparison to Yoruba, Hausa and Fulani people. Next the grouping of the Hausa and the Fulani as one ethnicity (+the EXTREMELY bad pronounciatiom when the actual way is VERY easy). That is what people who haven't studied the Hausa and the Fulani would do. It is important to refer to them separately to get a good perspective here. Else you'd confuse yourself and the viewer. Next the idea that the MidWest region primary reason for splitting from the West was oil. In reality, apart from Itsekiri land maybe, the MidWest had no reason for being with the West. I mean ancestral IGBO land was in the MidWest. Whilst there was no Yoruba groups in the East. I can keep going

[@completelyunderstood]

@@dgk693 yeah I noticed the hausa fulani thing haha, the rest was interesting though, thanks for answering

[@thomas-sinkala]

@@dgk693 True, the biggest difference is that the Igbos tends to "know no king". Which is a blessing and a curse.

[@ray_light44]

@@dgk693 actually grouping Hausa and Fulani especially during that time is a rather good idea Considering the fact that all the leaders ruling the Hausa’s in actuality were Fulani

[@kaloyanradkov8962]

What is the difference between a marketplace and military barracks? I don't know i just fly the bomber...

[@thomas-sinkala]

Said the Egyptian pilots, lol. During the war, the Egyptians were the ones targeting Churches, schools and markets. The goals was to inflict as much civilian casualties as possible.

[@AndreMazi-du3ck]

Excuses they were told to bomb Igbo civilians Look at Arab Palestinians crying now Israel is dealing with them

[@mayaawele5797]

Thanks for your efforts in this regards, however the omission of the southern Nigeria, the Niger delta to be precise has not always been a welcome development for the people of that region. The original plans before Nigeria independence was to establish a four regional government taking into consideration the four cardinal points of the space called Nigeria. Those who represented the various region were Almadu Bello Tafawa Belewa for the northern region , Nnamdi Azikiwe and Michael Okpara for the eastern region, Harold Dapa Biriye and Okoi Arikpo for the southern region and Obafemi Awolowo and Akintola represented the western region. We the Niger delta people are of the opinion that the conspiracy which denied the people the right to start an indigenous government along side other region should not continue as it constantly remind us of injustice.

[@Mr.InbetweenFX]

I love how you didn't post any credit to the music video at the intro. I would like to know the artist and track title please.

[@CasualHistorian]

"America Sucks Less", College Humor

[@theamazing2435]

Do a vedio on the crestaro war

[@dogetaxes8893]

It’s crazy to me that African borders are still intact, most of them were drawn by Europeans and often don’t make sense ethnically or geographically. Africa is an interesting project and I’m not sure how it’ll play out for the next century.

[@tatertot8701]

What was that song at the beginning

[@CasualHistorian]

"America Sucks Less", College Humor

[@oluchieliezer1129]

One thing I know The biafra people must have their freedom

[@DragonwolfoftheSands]

How did you get "Hasau/Hausi/Halusi" from Hausa? Not criticism I'm just confused

[@BasedEngineer]

I think is was an amalgamation of Hausa + Fulani

[@DragonwolfoftheSands]

@@BasedEngineer that kinda makes sense but also makes zero sense like imagine somebody saying Fringlish while talking about the Crimean War Hard to take him serious

[@williaminnes6635]

I knew a dude who had an ex girlfriend who had a late father who had some older buddies due to being a bush pilot who also knew how to fly planes who had stories of having run guns to the Biafrans.

[@thomas-sinkala]

The chain is too long. Would have loved to hear his story.

[@KennyNGA]

i knew a dude he had an girlfriend who happens to be the cousin of another girl who is related to this one guy who once met brad pitt

[@Nothingseen]

I guess the situation in Nigeria really WAS pretty complex.

[@awelechukwuemeka1382]

This is an European take on the civil war it had nothing to do with your cold war it had its own circumstances infact Communist China Russia and Britian were on the Nigerian side while France was the only country aiding Biafra and both Biafra and Nigeria were not fighting for capitalism or communism the Biafrans were fighting against ethnic cleansing and both leaders of Biafra and Nigeria had an economic incentive also oil pls get your facts right had nothing to do with your cold war.

[@ikengaspirit3063]

I think China declared on the Biafran side due to the Sino-Soviet split but everything else is accurate.

[@enachioken]

Ummm, I don't understand your take nwanne. You described exactly what the video said.

[@AndreMazi-du3ck]

​@@ikengaspirit3063Then why was running out of bullets and no tanks or real war planes

[@ikengaspirit3063]

@@AndreMazi-du3ck because China and most other factions that declared for Biafra, provided NO material support for Biafra.

[@Farhan917]

🇫🇷 still have 50 % of 14 countries foreign exchange reserves from the continent to do has they want to while those nations are paying fees to hold those funds in their bank 😰

[@johnmcdonald9295]

Respect to the French,helping out their African friends

[@pippajayson9152]

Thanks for this brief history of Biafra-Nigeria civil war. In my opinion Lt. Yakubu Gowan was the main cause of the civil war in Nigera. He attended the Aburi Accord in Ghana with Lt Odumegwu Ojukwu, signed the agreement which was named ABURI ACCORD, only to return to Nigeria and ditched the Aburi Accord Agreement that he had just signed. He, Yakubu Gowan retracted from the Agreement which he had sighed in Ghana. Where is that done in law? That was a breach of contract or a breach of that Aburi Accord Agreement. Nigeria lost a lot if her citizens on both sides of the war. The effects of that war are still hunting Nigeria till this day. The world's greatest Coloniser is the serpent that causes problems across the world even till today. I think the world will be a better place if this great serpent will have a change of heart to create peace and promote peace across the world.

[@ekusondebango3568]

The video makes mention of how the 1964 election( federal election that is) led to ethnic tension. This was due to the massive rigging perpetrated by the ruling party. There was even more tension in after the October 1965 Western region election which was massively rigged by Akintola's Nigerian National Democratic Party(NNDP) which went into alliance with Ahmadu Bello's North People's Congress( the alliance of these parties was known as the Nigerian National Alliance or NNA for short). It was this alliance that contested the election against another alliance known as the United Progressive Grand Alliance or UPGA. UPGA was made up of Chief Awolowo's Action Group(AG) and a faction of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens( NCNC). The elections were so badly rigged that the political impasse prevented either alliance to agree to seat a new government. Some openly called on the military( army maybe) to take over. The problem was that the General Officer Commanding the Army at this time was a Briton( Major General Sir Christopher Welby-Everard), while the newly formed Airforce was practically headed by a German officer (Colonel W. Timming). Election rigging which was started by the British in the pre-independence election of 1959 is upon us again. The charade of the recent event under the APC government is clearly worse than the situation in 1964/65. It was this event that actually led to the coup in 1966 9 some other events also contributed to the coup such as the manipulation of the 1963 census figures and some violent actions directed at some people in the Middle Belt or Tiv Province and the Western region). Just closely as events unfold in the current dispensation. I do not want to say any more but I suggest that you follow these events closely before some hacks try to rewrite history to suit the purpose. INEC simply violated its own rules and the event in the Lagos state gubernatorial election were marauding APC gangs armed with dangerous weapons and protected by the army and the police stopped people from certain areas to go to their polling station simply smells like 1964 all over.

[@vipulajayasinghe]

Reading the war history of Nigeria, the Economist went record that the both leaders of the civil war were more or less humanitarian towards each other taking into consideration the general outlook in Africa where people kill each other due to tribal nexus ! Gen. Okjukwu the Biafran leader was an Oxford alumni and General Gowon at the end of the Biafran war forbade violence against the vanquished opponents. All in all, both of them were not despots but civilized and educated people as shown by their behavior towards each other !

[@dzemuus]

I don’t understand why people keep calling it ‘The Biafra War’. It was a genocide. The Nigeria military carried out a genocide on the Biafran, the Igbo tribe. Stop misleading people.

[@adb_500]

What happened in 1966

[@ethynjackson8056]

Nothing about this felt like a cold war proxy war. It felt like one of those normal wars, if there ever was one. There's this weird sense that they're in control, and you hope at any moment they works things out. Did the bad guys win?

[@ikengaspirit3063]

Depends on who you consider the closest to the bad guys. Nigerian and International communists and marxists to this day consider Nigeria to be gooder guy that won. But you're correct it isn't a proxy war. Western powers didn't start it and the most invested power in the war were the Brits (that provided between 75 to 90 percent of the weapons used by Nigeria) w

[@stephenmichalski2643]

Does one really have to ask such a question? Let's ask another.....do you think people have the right of self determinization? .....how about another.......do you think that starving people is a good thing?......pretty obvious to me......yes.....the bad guys won.

[@Jcaeser187]

The communists won, humanity, Christendom and decency lost

[@MotaLass-vo6jn]

@@stephenmichalski2643two fighting and you expect one to feed the other to have strength and fight them …please explain

[@skeletonkeysproductionskp]

Great video, I covered this in my own video: "What if Biafra Was Independent?", where I explore this history, but then go on to suggest how African history and geopolitics would have been completely transformed! Leave a comment to share your thoughts!

[@BlvckMidas]

Mannnn, as a young Nigerian with many elders that still claim Biafra; Nigerian would be 100000x better if Biafra became independent

[@manniking233]

Drop the link to the video, please.

[@Churrb]

NEW AFRICA VIDEO JUST DROPPED

[@bradleykalinoski99427]

You know your war is whack when the U.S and U.S.S.R are in the same team

[@AndreMazi-du3ck]

Yes it was Biafran leader Ojukwu fault He failed to broker a deal with Russia, they wanted more steak in the oil he should took he deal and get weapons and Russian migs

[@himynameis4701]

The U.S. and üssr set not on the same time. US was neutral. The UK was involved. And this ignores that the French, west Germans and China were on the same side.

[@Rick_Riff]

Is there a shelf life for blaming colonialism? I know there are institutions that continue with monetary "post colonialism" but at some point they must take control if their own sovereignty. It seems like, with very few exceptions, shit really hit the fan after decolonization. Maybe they should reconfigure the borders?

[@Onijiji]

The Igbo icons kind of resembles Eddie Murphy. lol

[@DonVigaDeFierro]

The US and the USSR on one side. "Huh?" West Germany on the other. "The hell?"

[@user-dp5xy1jn3q]

Because of war, my father tells us that fight is the meaning of freedom, freedom must come in Nigeria and baifars today, freedom in the world united African, we want to see the meaning of freedom in Africans today help us with good power..

[@jmagowan12]

Colonialism never really ended, it just evolved into neo-colonialism.

[@nabster9253]

really wish biafra was independent. A democratic capitalist nation in africa. Free Biafra, Free Igbos

[@Football__Junkie]

Every time you mention a coup I immediately think “I wonder who had their hand in that cookie jar? CIA? MI6? Mossad? KGB?”

[@carboncopy4183]

How bout all of the above?

[@dsnodgrass4843]

More like Shell, Elf, BP, or Standard Oil.

[@wiseguy2636]

My father fought in that war. He doesn’t talk about it at all. God bless the Igbo.

[@ekusondebango3568]

I don't talk about it either except to correct certain misconceptions.

[@khalidalali186]

Dude, Dubai probably has more alcohol than the entire state of Nevada.

[@zeik04]

Thats Haram

[@gOgOoGAgA]

bro how tf are we not taught this at least once at school

[@lisamo128]

Oof! I read Half of a yellow sun, and would like to know about about the background of that horrific war. But this was a bit too much about individual little men striving for power, and not enough about economy and sociology of the conflict. I gave up 😢

[@Anedoje]

Trust me it’s a lot more complicated the most annoying thing about the war is that the only narrative out there is that of igbo’s being the sole victims the rest of us that were victimised by them get shut down the north is always painted as the villain yet no one ever talks about how igbos massacared northerners after the first coup , there is a whole lot more that happens more than The north wanting to wipe out igbos or some of the other info the videos talks about

[@paul6618]

I'm Nigerian and this wasn't a proxy cold war. The war happened as a after a coup, Yakubu Gowon became head of state and it made General Ojukwu angry, he felt Gowon was a junior and as such wouldn't take orders from him; this coupled with the tension/hatred the North (Hausa - Fulani, Gowon's tribe) had for the East (Igbo, Ojukwu's tribe) all spiralled into a secession bid led on the basis that the Igbo was being marginalised. The Igbo part of Nigeria had all the oil and as such the other part of Nigeria wouldn't let them go. There was no outside factor determining who and why anyone wanted to secede. The outside factors came in when the war started and it wasn't like the Biafrans were supported by the Russians. Most world power countries played both sides incase anyone won.

[@Anedoje]

You are Nigerian but did not know that Gowoan is Angas not Hausa or Fulani The igbos also did not have the oil they were just the majority in the eastern region most of the oil was in the lands of us minorities who they did not think a second tha ought about when they wanted to massacre us

[@paul6618]

@@Anedoje I know who and where everyone is from, I also do know the Igbos don't have the oil but at that time the south south was classified under the eastern region. I oversimplified it because I don't have the time to start writing a history lesson but my main point of everything is that the Nigerian civil war wasn't and never was a result of the cold war between the US and Russia. It was largely as a result of tribalism and when the war started, big nations happened to get involved and they always played both sides regardless of whatever you read on Wikipedia. That is my main point. Not everything you see on KZbin done by foreigners is well researched. You live in your country, make some research.

[@thespiritualartofwar]

Its a custom for a non-Igbo Nigerian to inherit lies. Gowon was a lower rank than Ojukwu. There were at least 3 men higher ranked than him when Aguiyi-Ironsi was assassinated. Can you name 3 men that were higher rank than Gowon when he took position as head of state? After you find out the names...ask why they were skipped and he chosen. Don't you understand military rank, you are not supposed to take orders from an inferior in rank. A younger brother is not over his older brother in the family. Oil wells are in Igboland. Look at any map of Igboland many were drawn by the British after the amalgamation of 1914. You will notice that eastern side of the Niger Delta is Igbo dominated. Do you know how to look at a map? Go and look at the oil wells...all are not in Ogoni and Ijaw land. Today, they are most impoverished group in the southern region in your beloved "One Nigeria". Lies is a poisonous fruit of a Satanic mind. This is why Nigeria as entity will fail in front of the world soon.

[@AndreMazi-du3ck]

​@@paul6618Your right, Yoruba West, Hausa North, Igbo East Also Igbos have plenty crude oil and natural gas, No surprise Igbo borders South South tribes

[@CyFed_Republic_of_Kaltovar]

They literally had a company called the UAC? Doomguy has entered the chat.

[@norml.hugh-mann]

That's where Roland the Thompson Gunner met his destiny and became Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner

[@decem_sagittae]

25:49 is that Sam Aronov?

[@Onneukbaar]

On pronunciation Igbo is pronounced as Ibo Lagos is pronounced as laigos It’s not halusi it is Hausa and Fulani

[@Astorath_the_Grim]

Someone should tell them diversity is their strength.

[@thebestcentaur]

"a mixture of feudalism and Sharia law" Dear God. This sounds horrifying today

[@floydlooney6837]

Federating makes more sense than centralized governments, leaving each other alone should be a top policy.

[@okene]

We are unequally endowed. A federation would allow some regions to greatly surpass others(more than they already do)

[@chigoziemichael8865]

I always ask those who kept on insisting of one Nigeria, 'how market? '. God no go fail to give everyone their reward in full. Igbos should learn to mind their business. We have bled enough for Nigeria... No matter the who is blamed!Britain have blood on their hands with their conspirators. It has always been about oil and resources.

[@sjappiyah4071]

Excellent breakdown, this is what sucks about the decolonization process, they just stuck a bunch of rival tribes together and expected it to work our perfectly lol. Europe at least at 2,000 of uninterrupted history (brief exception the moors and ottomans) for Europeans to battle amongst themselves to come to the modern borders they have.

[@gosroth5465]

You are forgetting the main invader of Europe, who colonized, looted, raped, pillaged, enslaved and demanded tribute for hundreds of years: the mongols. Yes, this largely only affected eastern parts of Europe, but it left a legacy of violence and oppression to this day. They Kevian Rus and Muscowy where both colonized by mongols - today, their modern sucessor states battle for the borders.

[@sjappiyah4071]

@@gosroth5465 Good point, I completely forgot the mongols

[@drybokes7055]

The Moors occupied Spain for 800 years. Hardly brief.

[@sjappiyah4071]

@Swarmpope Those tribes prior to colonization had their own separate territorial domains , language, histories and cultures. What I meant is that the European powers decided to put all these separate tribes with their separate territorial entities into ONE territory/nation. So no I wasn’t saying Europeans where shuffling the position of tribes around but rather they were shuffling the territorial domains. This is what continues ethnic strides and tensions in Africa today as you have competing tribes vying for power and influence on the same land.

[@malkomalkavian]

Did tribes not have conflict before being placed in nations? Do nations actually increase conflict between constituent tribes, or do they decrease conflict? Are European tribes that are artificially placed into nations along side their rivals more or less likely to engage them in armed conflict? The nation is the model of organisation which defeated the tribe. The defeat was not total, and was nowhere achieved without struggle.

[@JoseFlores-xc7wu]

What happen around 21:14 that had to repeat the sentence

[@Prototheria]

A lot of Nigerians commenting here, so I'm hoping one of you can explain something to me. Starting at 1:55 we see a girl at the bottom off the screen looking directly at the camera or at someone just behind it. Then at the very end of that clip, she flashes money. Is there any significance to that, or is that just some random thing she's doing? It strikes me as noteworthy, hence why I asked.

[@ikengaspirit3063]

I don't know if it means anything either. Just seems like a "look mum, i'm on TV" moment.

[@jolantad7971]

Which side YOU gonna take?

[@hopedealer9102]

@casualhistorian It’s pronounced (Yo-Row-Bah) NOT (Yo-Rue-Ba)

[@davidogundipe808]

As a Nigerian, the country is yet to heal from both colonial, and civil war griefs

[@zeik04]

How? Normal country's bounce back in couple years. African countries never recover from anything.

[@Mr.Universe]

@@zeik04 "How? Normal country's bounce back in couple years. African countries never recover from anything." I don't know what planet you're from but that isn't true. First off there are plenty of African nations that have "recovered" or are recovering like Rwanda and Botswana...secondly wtf is a normal country? is your head stuck in your asshole? I can name a bucket full of nations outside of the ones in Africa currently reeling from strife set on by things that occurred decades ago like much of the middle east for example...also given the circumstance, nuance and continual interference from old colonial powers some countries understandably struggle to develop. maybe learn some current events and leave vapid comments aside or touch grass.

[@Invictus_Mithra]

@@zeik04 That's simply not true. Look at the issues that the middle east is having or the issues between India and Pakistan or Pakistan and Bangladesh

[@MJ-fj9yv]

@@Invictus_Mithra you are 💯 wrong…colonialism uncovered petty rivalries, hate and ignorance in many cultures. Colonials knew they would leave sooner or later, but the technology and education is too much for these ethnic groups to handle. Proof- Japan was nuked, Germany firebombed, Spain multiple civil wars, China wars and famine over centuries….all are civilized and continue to positively develop. Even India is a regional power it improved its education system and truly became a secular country. Your comment highlights nothing but excuses for ethnic group still living in the 19th century. BTW Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indian conflict was 1975, long time ago.

[@Invictus_Mithra]

@@MJ-fj9yv I know the Bangladesh conflict is over but it was meant to highlight how other countries have had issues with colonial borders and their colonial past. It's still an issue with Pakistan and India for example. The first paragraph of your comment is viewing all colonial powers as if they are one single entity. France for example certainly did not want to leave out of Algeria. Portugal did not want leave out of Goa, etc. What is your proof supposed to mean? Japan was industrializing pretty quickly before the nukes were even dropped and had incredible support from America to develop an electronics industry after the war. The countries you listed weren't even colonized besides India. They had a lot of factors going for them that let them spring back. Of course colonization and the random borders they bring are going to bring about ethnic tension...

[@jonathanchester5916]

After reading so much about the sad tales of all African countries after the end of colonialism I have a question. What would have happened in N America had all the native tribes been handed the keys to the kingdom. Because, you know, I see nothing more than tribalism ruining these great nations. And I have to wonder how well the American tribes would have gotten along if they had the same responsibilities. I don't see how you can skip 100's of years of natural evolution and go from a tribe to a country without progressing through every larger kingdoms, which is exactly what happened in N Europe, Asia, and even India to an extent. It's the same problem facing the middle east, where their tribes were pulled out of a local world and forced to think internationally. It wasn't their choice or doing. It was forced on them, the same way it was forced upon African leaders. Now I make no excuses for corruption, but the big picture ain't looking too great here...

[@emanuelandersson8510]

6:52 HAHAHAHAHAHA I IM DYING LAUGHTING OMFG

[@gidi3250]

2:40 and then you have South Africa, was it a former capital of some renown during the second freedom war, it's a capital city now.

[@thescarletandgrey2505]

Also the Bifrazulian war which began with the overthrow of Pres. Paul Anka

[@kewebcoach]

Correction. Good narrative but just a small correction. The idea that is there somebody somewhere running around giving people " independence" must be considered the joke of the century. A thief was just relinquishing what they had stolen.