Scope and Contents
Scrapbooks of newscuttings from the British press regarding the Nigerian civil war with a few loose cuttings and other papers extracted from the albums. Volumes VI-VIII are missing.
Dates
- 1967 - 1972
Conditions Governing Access
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Biographical / Historical
In January 1966 the civil government of Nigeria was overthrown by army officers belonging to the Igbo ethnic group and replaced by a military government under Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi. In July a second coup by Hausa officers of the Northern Region removed the government, prompting the murder of Igbos in the north and the mass migration of their numbers to Nigeria's Eastern Region. Following the failure of negotations, Lt. Col. Chukuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu proclaimed the secession of the Eastern Region on 30 May 1967 and its establishment as the Republic of Biafra. In response, the federal government declared war and imposed economic sanctions. After initial successes in the war the Biafran army suffered heavy losses and severe food shortages. In October 1967 the capitial Enugu fell to Nigerian forces. Ojukwu fled the country on 11 January 1970, and Biafra formally surrendered on 15 January.
Extent
1 archive box(es) (1 box) : paper
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The provenance of the collection is unknown. The items in RCMS 328/13 indicate that the previous owner may have been Marjorie Jolly.
General
This collection level description was created by RAS.
Originator(s)
Unknown
- Date
- 2004-03-19 12:48:34+00:00
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository
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Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom
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