Destination Biafra by Buchi Emecheta (1982): A Review

Title: Destination Biafra

Author: Buchi Emecheta

Publication Year: 1982

Pages: 256

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: African Literature, Historical Fiction,

Source: Book

Opening Sentence: THE GOVERNOR’S residence stood majestic in its Georgian elegance.

Disclaimer: One of my research interests is trauma fiction, but I sometimes find it difficult to finish watching certain WWII movies or reading related books because they were too intense for me to handle. The book I recently completed exceeds anything I have read in terms of violence. I couldn’t DNF it even due to its level of brutality, as it was part of research. Now that I’ve finished, I feel nauseous. Although I've read historical fiction about war and experienced extreme anxiety from the characters' lives in various conflicts, this time felt different.

I remember two years ago when I had to select one of Buchi Emecheta’s novels to write a paper on for a conference. I reviewed the synopses of her works, and when I reached Destination Biafra, I promised myself not to engage with it at all or read it at any cost. The synopsis was overwhelming by itself. Yet, here I am, having read it, and despite the unsettling effects, I am grateful for the experience. Sometimes, we need to step outside our comfort zones to understand and recognize the suffering of others.

This story follows Debbie, a Nigerian woman from a wealthy and prominent family who is educated at Oxford. She finds herself caught in the midst of a civil war in Nigeria, just as she enlists in the army, hoping to help create an independent Nigeria, free from the corruption of politicians, including her father. This is her story, intertwined with Nigeria’s narrative, detailing how both she and her homeland endure unimaginable atrocities, violence, and horror. All the greedy men involved, from both Nigeria and abroad, are destroying everything, leading to one of the most atrocious genocides in history. Despite this, Debbie remains committed to witnessing her dream come true and to staying, even as all the leaders flee or defect, however naïve it may seem.

I do not recommend reading this book, as it will haunt you. The details are so disturbing that one might question why Emecheta included them. Without such graphic elements, she could have conveyed the same story. However, you come to realize that those details evoke a deep sense of rage in the reader. She doesn’t aim for mere empathy that leads to tears over the collective trauma of a nation, only to have it forgotten. Instead, she ensures that the feelings of anger and nausea linger with you as a reader. Perhaps this awareness could help tell the untold stories of many or prevent future genocides, but then again, could we really?

Now, I am at a loss regarding what book to read next that might make me feel less horrible!