Nigerians Honour and Recognise their History with #BiafraRemembranceDay

File Photo. Pro-Biafra Protesters

It’s been 52 years since the Biafra was declared a republic, leading to the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafra War, and Nigerians all over are remembering their history today, named the Biafra Remembrance Day.

Sharing through the hashtag #BiafraRemembranceDay, Nigerians are honouring the lives lost, telling stories and recognising the effect of a people’s history on their present.

People are asking that Biafra be kept in the consciousness of Nigerians, and that those gone are never forgotten.

Check out the tweets below:

Today is the 52nd anniversary of a very dark day in Nigeria’s history. We must talk about Biafra in order to pave way for a better Nigeria, we must console the Ndi Igbos that lost everything, for their children starved to death and their women raped #BiafraRemembranceDay

— . (@FakhuusHashim) May 30, 2019

Born April 1963 I was 4 when the civil war started in July 1967. From that age to when I turned 7 at the end of the war in 1970, my childhood and that of many of my generation who survived deprivation, diseases and killings was overtaken by adulthood. #BiafraRemembranceDay

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) May 30, 2019

Today marks the anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Biafra. May 30, 1967. I keep two framed Biafran pounds on my desk to remind me every day. #BiafraRemembranceDay pic.twitter.com/hUicjg0Ldu

— Nnedi Okorafor, PhD (@Nnedi) May 30, 2019

I remember a few years ago when people would try to shut down the May 30 #Biafra remembrance and conversations on SM.

Today, it looks like many have realised it’s a part of our history we can’t runaway from!#BiafraHeroesDay2019 #biafraremembranceday #Ozoemena

— Changing Faces (@nornnie) May 30, 2019

As a nation we must not #forget our history.
We must tell our #stories
we must be open to dialogue, for that is the only way to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. #Ozoemena #biafraremembranceday #NigeriaMourns #notjustnumbers @julietkego @KANAYO_OAP @LazarusObinna pic.twitter.com/a9hYFJw71y

— NigeriaMourns (@NigeriaMourns) May 30, 2019

To the Nigerian Civil war we say NEVER AGAIN #Ozoemena
NEVER AGAIN should children died of Starvation
NEVER AGAIN should children take up arms
NEVER AGAIN should we repeat the sins of the past. #biafraremembranceday #NigeriaMourns #notjustnumbers @cotezeks @DK07528407 pic.twitter.com/0k2Kef0a2s

— NigeriaMourns (@NigeriaMourns) May 30, 2019

“Memory is a shrine; those who come to worship must come with a peace offering..The journey of memory is a difficult one, you don’t know what you will encounter.” –@chidiodinkalu #CentreForMemories #BiafraRemembranceDay
A society without memories will likely repeat past errors

— Juliet ‘Kego | #Poetry4Change (@julietkego) May 30, 2019

A country without knowledge of its history, or denies its history ( addition) is like a tree without Roots.

May we study, reflect and understand our history including the ugliest aspects, so we may never repeat them.
#BiafraRemembranceDay
Ozoemena

— Nwakaego Boyo ?? (@OfficialEgoBoyo) May 30, 2019

On this #BiafraRemembranceDay
I join millions of my fellow Igbos in remembering the fallen heroes and the millions of women and children who were starved to death.

“On Aburi we Stand”

— Dr Aloy Chife (@ChifeDr) May 30, 2019

For all the children who starved, women who were raped, men who bravely stood for what they believe in and and all those who died in the Biafran Genocide, today we remember you because your sacrifices can never be forgotten. #BiafraHeroesDay2019 #BiafraRemembranceDay pic.twitter.com/fukEOsPOVS

— Umeh and 99 others (@UMEHoma) May 30, 2019

I come from a family of soldiers and commanders in the Biafran Army. Though born and raised American, a week hardly passed w/out receiving a war story. Refugee treks across great distances, bombs dropped on market places, civilians supporting frontlines.#BiafraRemembranceDay

— Obinna J. Ukwuani (@Oukwuani) May 30, 2019

Today is #BiafraRemembranceDay

We remember and mourn our fallen heroes, brothers, women and children who lost their lives in the Biafra civil war and progroms.

You’re unforgettable!

— Ebube The Statesman (@akaebube) May 30, 2019

Some died during the war, others starved to death.
We may not like it but the Biafra war is a part of our history and today, we remember. ?
Eastern & S/S States have come a long way since the war and are thriving both in Education and in Business. #BiafraRemembranceDay

— Ada Campbell (@Adacampbell) May 30, 2019

Today is the 52nd anniversary of a very dark day in Nigeria’s history. We must talk about Biafra in order to pave way for a better Nigeria, we must console the Ndi Igbos that lost everything, for their children starved to death and their women raped #BiafraRemembranceDay

— . (@FakhuusHashim) May 30, 2019

Today I join millions of my fellow Igbos in remembering the fallen heroes and the millions of women and children starved to death. Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory there would be no civilization, no future. Anyị ga-ebili ọzọ. #BIAFRARemembranceDay pic.twitter.com/7YOXpuqoeN

— Stan König (@Travelbrothers_) May 30, 2019

My family talked about Biafra a lot growing up, because both parents left Nigeria for Ghana during the war, and so it was very impactful to their lives and the relationship with their family left behind that had to be resuscitated because of the distance sustained.

— Doreen C?⚡ (@DoreenGLM) May 30, 2019

I thought everyone was aware of what happened, but quickly realized while schooling in Lagos that no one was aware, but were comfortable anyway with being biased against igbos because their parents didn’t “trust them”.
The common idea about Biafra, was purely revisionist.

— Doreen C?⚡ (@DoreenGLM) May 30, 2019

Because Igbo people got the shorter end of the stick, it followed that we must have done something wrong in the first place, and deserved our loathing and criticism.
All that existed anyway at the time, was our word against theirs.
So like my parents & many other Igbo people in

— Doreen C?⚡ (@DoreenGLM) May 30, 2019

Areas where we were the minority, we just allowed the discrimination, jokes, and politicized restrictions to be what it was publicly, while discussing the unfairness at home.
Being angry but being silent about it.
And it’s a pity, because being taught about this history, could

— Doreen C?⚡ (@DoreenGLM) May 30, 2019

Have helped Nigerians be so much less ignorant.
I am pretty sure some of you who grew up in Lagos, who today are now more informed about Biafra, had regurgitated some fucked up shit about Igbo people, before you even knew what it meant, and why you were saying it.

— Doreen C?⚡ (@DoreenGLM) May 30, 2019

It took me leaving Nigeria, to become really angry at myself for being silent when I would hear people around me, including my friends say fucked up things about Igbo people.
At home, I would be enraged, but in school, I had been taught by my parents who really were so

— Doreen C?⚡ (@DoreenGLM) May 30, 2019

Traumatized by the shits, that they insisted we keep quiet and not fight back any time anybody said something dumb about Igbo people.
My older sister had gotten into trouble, when a teacher went on a random tirade about Igbo women bleaching their skin, and accused my

— Doreen C?⚡ (@DoreenGLM) May 30, 2019

Sister of doing the same, then said my mother and my aunties also must have done the same, and probably wears clip on earrings, which honestly I have no idea till today why that mattered. Also my mother till today wears clip on earrings.
Anyway when your sister comes back

— Doreen C?⚡ (@DoreenGLM) May 30, 2019

Home in tears, and everyone is gathered around her and telling her to not have cursed out the teacher for insulting your mother, you kinda learn that you are supposed to not react to things that you find infuriating.
Curious to know if Lagos is still as biased in that way today.

— Doreen C?⚡ (@DoreenGLM) May 30, 2019