THE DEHUMANIZING EFFECTS OF WAR A STUDY OF SELECTED IGBO PROSE FICTION

ABSTRACT Between July 1967 and January 1970 may be described as the darkest age in the Nigerian history especially in the Biafran area south east Nigeria. It was within this period that the Nigerian civil war was executed. The civil war actually dealt a hard blow on the people of Biafra as the war centered directly on the geographical area of the Biafra (Igbo) land. Up till today, the evil effects of the war are still fresh in the people’s mind. In this study, effort was geared toward portraying the negative effects of the Nigerian/Biafra War not only on the civilian population but also on the military. This is with a view to noting and x-raying the dehumanizing effects of the civil war as portrayed in the two novels, Jxq Obinna and Isi Akwx Dara N’Ala. Based on his mastery of the Igbo language and the style of his writing, many critics have focused on his writing, each focusing on way area or the other. However, despite all the write-ups that have focused on Ubesie’s novels, none to the best of the researcher’s knowledge had focused on the dehumanization effects of war as observed in his literary works. In this study, documentary research was adopted for the collection of data while the descriptive approach was adopted in the analyses of the two novels. Apart from bringing out the unique features of the literary works, the results of the study indicate that there were excessive hunger, financial  problems,  psychological trauma,  and  excessive  use  of  force  by  the Nigeria forces on the Biafrans. The dehumanizing effects of war was evident in the two novels as the people of Biafra were traumatized and in most cases, did the unimaginable just to survive. The dehumanizing effects of the war were evident in different characters and in different communities in Igbo land and as such the two novels could be described as historical novels.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                            INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background of the Study

Literature in the contemporary world is seen not just as the mirror of the society but as a means of projecting what is happening in the society. This must have prompted Nwadike (1992) to affirm that literature is artistic creation which is used to x-ray and portray the world as it is. There is basically a symbolic relationship between language, culture and literature as each reinforces, projects and distills the other (Adedimeji, 2012). Adedimeji goes further to reason that the need for the projection of African culture had informed the development of modern  African  literature which  serves  to  enlighten, educate,  and  showcase African worldview, practices and problems.

Literature, whether oral or  written,  fiction or  real performs  the  above functions that one may not be able to state for example where oral literature begins and ends or where the line between fiction and non-fiction practically exists. As such, Agbedo (2012) states that though fiction presents an imaginary world in the form of narrative, it primarily concerns itself with the imaginative reconstruction of reality.

In the past,  African literature was treated with disdain. When African literature appeared in the literary scene, many scholars, mostly Europeans, received it with suspicion. African literature attracted little or no critical attention because many believed that the writers would soon disappear into thin air (Adewoye, 2002). In a comprehensive manner, Ohale (2010) observes,

A  relatively  short  while  ago,  the  popular  notion  of

Africa  as  an  arid  farmland  with  respect  to  literary

production was sustained by many who truly believed that Africa had contributed nothing of value to world literature. But by the 1980, works of African authors had begun to generate a great deal of interest (p. 1).

The artistic dexterity of leading African icons x-ray and wave African culture into English language in a way that re-constructed and corrected in a compelling manner the subjective portrayal of Africa, the cradle of civilization as a heart of darkness (Adedimeji, 2012). This literature was no longer seen as being fiction or non-fiction but a platform for critically expressing one’s feeling and relaying the culture and the way of life of Africans to the whole world. In the light of the foregoing, it could be said, that,

Contemporary  African  writing  constitutes  a  very significant part of post colonial literary discourse. Many African writers such as Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Ayikwe Armah, Cyprian Ekwensi and many others have come to identify themselves with the socio-political movements as well as with the aspirations of their people and subsequently presented the different facts of African heritage in their writings (Thakur, 2012, p.23).

Through literature, the people’s culture was not only projected but also their socio-political life and aspirations especially during the colonial era came to the fore. It could be stated that while the nationalists like Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa, Julius Nyerere were fighting the colonial regime through political means, the literary giants in Africa

were reaching the ends of the world through their creative works and creating a far more impact that led to the, “de-colonization of African countries”.

Prior to the coming on board of the African literary artist, the Europeans wrote literary works about Africa and this must have propelled some authors of African origin to venture into the literary world. In this respect, Achebe (1989) states,

At the university I read some appalling novels about Africa (eg. Joyce Cary’s much praised Mister Johnson) and decided that the story we had to tell could not be told for us by anyone else no matter how gifted or well intentioned (p. 38).

Yes, this is true but Achebe forgot that for us (Africans) to tell the story well and in its original form, it must be rendered in African language(s). Achebe thus ended up telling the African story in a white man’s language. Some other writers did not only tell the story as it is but did that in indigenous African languages. Tony Ubesie is one of such Africans that told the African story in purely African language. According to Emenyonu (2001), “when one reads Tony Ubesie, one appreciates fully and unmistakably the handicaps of contemporary Nigerian writers who seek to communicate their cultural sensibilities in a foreign medium” (p.33).

While commenting on his writing, Nwadike (2001) observes that what distinguishes Ubesie from his counterparts and contemporaries is not only that he uses the Igbo language but that he writes in such impeccable Standard Igbo that it is difficult to know his locality. His fame thus, according to him as a novelist derives from his mastery of the Igbo language.

But then despite his mastery of the Igbo language, Nwadike (2001), states that non author writes in a vacuum. Thus, Ubesie’s experiences in the Nigeria / Biafra war as a solider and as a member of the society prepared him adequately for his work. Ubesie was abreast with events in Igbo land and wrote in the Igbo language. Though many authors believe that his writing in the Igbo language is a plus  for  him,  others  think  otherwise. The  latter  is  the  stand  of  the  present researcher, and that is why some authors believe that he is one of the best literary artists of African extraction   (Emenyonu, 2001) as he did not only produce a worthwhile African literature but also rendered same in African language. Ubesie wrote many novels, but only two of the novels focus on the Nigeria/Biafra War. According to Uzochukwu (2001),

In his handling of the war novels, Isi Akwx Dara N’ala and Jxq Obinna, Ubesie shows how to some extent, the life of an author can be reflected in his work . . . He intimately writes on the ravages caused by the war but from different perspectives. He portrays the  life of a married woman of easy virtue in Isi Akwx Dara N’ala and that of a straggler in Jxq Obinna. The war novels of Ubesie mark him out as  historical novelist who  uses historical events to create works of fiction (p.21).

The civil war actually dealt a hard blow to the people of Biafra due to the way the war was executed and these were captured in the two novels. This attests to the fact that literature paints a picture of real and imaginary life (Abonyi 2012) and by so doing x-rays the happenings in the society. Even till today, the evil effect of the war is still fresh in the people’s mind, and according to Achebe (2012), there were a lot of human right violations and deprivations during the war.

In this study, effort was geared toward portraying the negative effects of the Nigerian/Biafra War not only on the  civilian population but also on the military. This is with a view to noting and x-raying the dehumanizing effects of the civil war as portrayed in the two novels, Jxq Obinna and Isi Akwx Dara N’Ala.

1.2    Statement of Problem

Literary appreciation is a concept used whenever a literary work is being assessed. In it, one’s work is evaluated to bring out the unique features in the persons work (Ossai, 2012). At the inception of African literature, many Europeans and even some Africans with European mentality thought that within a short while, African literature would disappear into oblivion (Adewoye, 2004). Even their appreciations of literary works produced by African writers were that of apprehension and suspicion, and thus, they viewed African literature as being sub-standard.

On the view above, Olafioye (1989: 1) observes that “the manner in which some critics express their idea is sometimes polluted with verbiage, esotericism, bias, misinterpretation, ignorance and ideological intolerance. This actually captures the way European critics view African literature. In furtherance of this line of thought, Okebalama, (2001) states,

Tony Ubesie does  not  quite belong to  the  class  of universal famous literary artists. This is not because he lacks the greatness of a creative artist . . . the only reason we believe Tony Ubesie is not known is that he wrote in Igbo unlike the Achebes and the Soyinkas. Tony Ubesie is not internationally known, he is only known within a very narrow circle in Igbo (p.137).

Ubesie was thus perceived as being inferior to other great writers just because he wrote in the Igbo language. But if one may ask, when has it become a crime for someone to write in his native language, be it the Igbo language or any other language? A writer’s choice of language should be guided by the message he wants to pass on and the target population he wants to address and not necessarily the language of communication. After-all Culler (1961), affirms that what makes a work great is the powerful and beautiful applications of ideas to life. In this latter stand, many scholars believe that Tony Ubesie is not only a great writer but is rated among the foremost novelists, of African literature in African languages, and as such is ahead of others who wrote African literature in foreign languages. While towing the last line of thought, Okebalama (2001) states that Ubesie is a great mind and as such, his works deserve attention. For Emenajo (2001), Ubesie is the best literary artist of Igbo extraction who wrote all his works in the Igbo language.

Specifically, Nwaozuzu, (2001) observes,

Ubesie’s ability as a skilled novelist does not stop with his creative handling of themes and plots. In terms of the other aspects of style, his novels are in a class apart, especially, the artistic manner in which he weaves in such linguistic elements as proverbs and anecdotes (p. 90) .

Based on his mastery of the Igbo language and the style of his writing, many critics have focused on his writing. While Emenyonu (2001) looks at Tony as a new and exciting Nigerian novelist, Ezikeojiaku (2001), focuses on the themes  of  his  novels,  while  Nwadike  (2001  and  2001  a)  delved  into  the militancy, strategies and escapist maneuvers as structural features in Tony Ubesie’s novels and the stylistic study of Ubesie’s first three novels. However,

despite all the write-ups that have focused on Ubesie’s novels, none, to the best of this researcher’s knowledge had focused on the effects of the inhuman treatments noticed in his literary works.

In view of this, the present researcher not only focuses on the effects of war in Jxq Obinna and Isi Akwx Dara N’ala which are both his war novels, but specifically looks at the dehumanizing effects of war on the Igbo people. This is with a view to pointing out the dehumanizing effects of war and crimes against humanity that were committed during the Nigeria /Biafra War as contained in the two novels, but also pointing out the moral lessons therein in the novels.

1.3    The Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to have an in-depth study of the dehumanizing effects of the Nigeria/ Biafra War as contained in Jxq Obinna and Isi Akwụ Dara N’ala. Specifically however, the main objectives of the study include;

1.       To critically bring out the various negative effects of the Nigeria/ Biafra

War as contained in the novels under focus.

2.       To  ascertain  whether  these  negative  effects  as  portrayed  by  Tony

Ubesie are dehumanizing in war situation or not.

3.       To find out if there are any moral lessons derivable from the various negative effects of the war.

1.4    Scope and Limitations of the Study

Different themes have been handled in various novels written by Tony Ubesie. However, in the two novels under study, Jụq Obinna and Isi Akwụ Dara N’Ala, the effects of the Nigeria/Biafra War stand out clear. In this study, the

effects of the war with special emphasis on the dehumanizing aspects are under focus.

War in itself is a negative phenomenon and a condemnable act in human existence due to its negative effects. It should therefore be stated here that though wars have mostly negative effects, but not all negative effects of war could be regarded as dehumanizing. There are, therefore, certain negative practices and effects of war that could be seen as normal in war situations while others are regarded as crime against humanity.

In this study, effort will be geared towards sieving out those effects of war reflected in the two novels which could be regarded as dehumanizing and as such crimes against humanity.

1.5    Significance of the Study

One of the major functions of literature is its ability to instruct and expose one’s horizon to past events, the present and at times, these can be a window to what will happen in the future. One of the lessons derivable from this research endevour is its ability to expose to us the dehumanizing effects of Nigeria/Biafra civil War. This is because, according to Isyaku (2004:3),

literature has opened man’s eyes to what had happened in the past in many nations, and what is happening now, how man has been battling with his environment, that is physical problem  such   as   famine,   ecological  disasters,   social, political and economic problems such as war, corruption, recession, religious crisis, . . . oppression and other forms of human degradation.

Through the critical analysis given in the study, the readers will be able to see the dangerous effects of war and appreciate the suffering of the people during the civil war.

The study will also be beneficial even to other people who have not read the novels, have not heard even about the Nigeria/Biafra War or cannot read the Igbo language as the story therein will help them know and appreciate the effects of the war on the masses. This is because according to Olaaye (2002), even though literature entertains and instructs, it warns people of dangers and instructs us by opening our eyes to a wide range of experiences and avail us of the opportunities of having a deeper understanding of events within and outside our environment. Thus this appreciation cum review of the dehumanizing effects as narrated by Tony Ubesie will even help the audience to better understand and appreciate how the war was executed and the effects on the people.

The facts that crimes against humanity were committed during the Nigeria/Biafra War have continued to be re-echoed by different groups decades after the war ended. The study will be of great help as it will give the vivid description of the execution of the war from both the soldiers and the masses. Since literature can at times serve as history books, the study will reveal from the literary world the author’s perspective as it relates to the effects of the war. While reviewing  Chinua  Achebe’s  work,  There  was  a  country,  Noo  (2012,  P.3) observes that according to Achebe (2012),

As the conflict dragged on, Biafra buckled under a blocked so brutal it provoked an international outcry: mass starvation, Kwashiorkor and mental illness devastated the Igbo     landscape,     where     vultures,     those     “avian

prognosticators of death”, circled overhead. Biafra was the world’s first properly televised conflict, and millions across the world were appalled by the horrors flickering on the screens.

This write-up will thus give credence to the facts and figures being put forward by the then Biafra and others who sympathized with them during the 1967-70

Nigeria civil war.

Literature is essential for the provision of didactic lessons, be it moral or other lessons. Just as Ossai (2012) states that Nwadike is down to earth and uses his work to preach against immorality, Ubesie is down to earth and uses events he under-went in his life to teach lessons, both moral and otherwise. However, what is in contention is to ascertain who did what during the civil war. As the work will bring out the effects of the war and who committed which atrocities during the war, it will serve as a lesson to people as they will come to the understanding that whether in war situation or peace, nothing is hidden under the sun. The study will therefore be of help to people as it will impart moral lessons to the readers.

1.6    Synopsis of the Two Novels: Isi Akwụ Dara N’ala and Jxq

Obinna.

A       Isi Akwụ Dara N’Ala.

Isi Akwụ Dara N’Ala is the maiden Igbo novel of Tony Ubesie which surfaced in the Nigerian market shortly after the Nigeria, Biafra war in 1973. According to Ubesie, “. . . Otu nwoke s[, ma nd[ lụrụ  qgụ, ma nd[ gbara qsq, ha nile bụ  agha “(One man observed that both

those who fought and those who ran participated in the war). This novel, though written by Tony Ubesie, a soldier in the Biafra army focused on the two side of the divide- the soldiers and the Biafran masses. Thus while other soldiers were giving an oral experience which they had during the war, Tony used a literary medium to tell his own story.

The novel opens with a picture of the pre-war Igbo people’s way of life where the people engaged in different economic and social activities. Within this initial period, Ada got married to Chike. But one remarkable remark was made by a mad man who after the priest admonished that, “what God has put together, no man should put asunder,” the mad man responded, if they do not break their union themselves”. The young family lived in peace and within five years, they were blessed with two kids-Chukwuma and Obianuju (a boy and a girl). After a short white, the Nigeria Biafra war began in 1967 and Ubesie captured the effect of the war thus,

Afq 1967 na Na[jir[a ! Onye nụrụ  maka ya gbupu asq, n’ihi na onye buru ya n’uche loo asq mmiri, onye e nyere ns[ ka ya mma.

This was how Ubesie captured the effect of the war. The above literally means that what happened in 1967 in Nigeria should not be heard, due to the horrible experience people went through the during the war. This shows that the war was so devastating and its effects numerous that it should be consciously be forgotten.

Chike and his family lived in Enugu when the war started. When it started, it was Chike’s wish to enlist in the Biafran force but he was already married. The situation he found himself were described thus;

Chike nq na be ya na-ele n’anya. Nwany[ o lụrụ  ekele ya agbụ  n’aka.

Q bụrụ  mgbe Chike ka na-aza Chike, q gara [dqwa moto otu akụkụ   soro ibe ya jee kwapụ  mgbq (p.21)

Thus he was tied down due to the fact that he was married and had two kids. Though he was adamant in terms of leaving Enugu at first because of his wealth, when the Nigerian Army reached Enugu, he did not need any preacher before he departed from the Coal City though not  without the  initial problem of their missing themselves.

When they reached home Chike became a philanthropist to the people that lived in his house at Awka. But this did not last as he could not withdraw money from the bank after a short while. Later-on as the Nigerian forces reached Awka, they left for Aguata, and as things had changed dramatically, he had to go for relief material as there was no food in the house. But for the priest who headed the distribution of the relief materials, he would have been killed when he tried to jump the queue. At other times he was forced to sell his radio, bed sheets and other personal effects so that he can feed his people.

Later on when every grownup male was forced to become soldiers, women became the bread winners and after Ada had played this role for a short while, she abandoned her family and followed the soldiers. She latter-on became a big trader that sold salt. But, when Ada nearly died while in this business, Chike decided to visit her but was turned back after lots of humiliations from Ada. Later Ada returned to Chike’s house but his friends (soldiers) continued to visit her in her husband’s house. When Chike complained, she threatened to hand him over to be enlisted as a soldier. At last when Okechukwu (Chike’s younger brother) came and dealt with Ada and her friends, Ada seemed to have learnt her lessons by force. But this did not last as Ada returned to her wayward behavior thereafter

and this resulted to her being beaten by Chike. By this action, Chike broke the camel’s back and and in a swift manner, Ada called in her friends who caught Chike and took him to the training ground where he now became a soldier. At the end of the war, while others were rejoicing, Ada was in a dilemma because of the atrocities she committed as Chike was not ready to forgive her.

The effect of the war was so devastating as there were hunger, killings, stealing  and  other  unimaginable  acts  committed  by  both  the  soldiers  and civilians. But could they be said to be dehumanizing especially in war fare?

B    Jụq Obinna

Jụq Obinna is  another  Igbo  novel  written  by  Ubesie  with  the Nigerian/Biafra war as  its  major theme. Unlike Isi Akwụ Dara N’ala which focused on the adverse effects of war on families, Jụq Obinna beamed its satellite on the effects of the war on the young boys who were the target of the Biafran army who were looking for recruits through out the war period. In this later novel, Obinna who had boasted of his would be exploits before the war started is the chief character.

Six months into the war, Obinna was still seen in Ach[, his home town and this prompted this question from Ogbenyeanu:

Obinna, isi na q bụ  g[n[ ji g[ [banye soja soro ibe g[ kwawa mgbq? Mgbe qgụ ebidobeghi, g[ bu mmadụ  nile bi n’ogbe a ụzq tuwe qnụ   ihe [ ga-eme na soja, ka { ga-esi gbakata egbe je kpụta nd[ iro n’aka, ka { ga –esi lugide qgụ, e mee g[ qchi agha, na ka { ga-esi na

nkwụ      fere  n’qj[,  si  n’qj[  fere n’akpaka wutuo n’ala, buru isi mmadụ lqta (P.2)

Above state captures what Obinna boasted before the war. According to Obinna, he would be the first person to join the Biafran army once the war commences where he will show his strength and skills in shooting and bring back home the heads of the enemies. But shortly after the war started, rather than joining other soldiers in the war front, Obinna had perfected his act of running to avoid being enlisted  as  a  solider.  Once  he  saw  a  Whiteman whom  he  thought  to  be  a commando, and he had no option other than to run into the bush despite the fact that he was putting on military uniform thus,

Obinna maburu onwe ya tunye n’qhia, wewe qsq o mukworo amụ  mgbe a na-achụ ya ka a kpụnye ya na soja.

Thus in above statement, Tony Ubesie described Obinna as having perfected in the act of running to avoid conscription that it has now become an act which he learnt just like  one  can  learn any other  act.  Despite this  feat which he  has perfected, he was caught and taken to the training ground from where he ran away after sometimes. He met Onyido at different times, at the training ground and in the town when they ran away.

It should however be mentioned that his conscription and subseqent arrival at the training ground gave the reader an insight into what was going on at the training ground and among the Biafran army. At the training ground trainees were killed and those that killed them felt  less concerned. Thus, the  author observes,

Ihe majqrq Obinna nke ukwu abụgh[ nan[ na e gburu enyi ya, ihe yiri ya egwu bụ  na nd[ gburu ya emeghi ihu ka nke a abụ   ihe q bụla, nke gosiri na o teela ha ji gbuwe ụd[ nd[ d[ ka enyi Obinna.

Thank God, he was able to achieve his heart desire as he ran away with Onyido who ironically was instrumental to his running out of his village after he warned him against tarnishing his image in the village. Obinna had to head for Ihiala but a lot of problems await him as he has to travel across, Umunze, Ajal[, Agụata, and  more  importantly Nnewi  where  there  were  many  Biafran  soldiers  who mounted road blocks along the road.

Obinna had heard that bags of stockfish “develop legs and walk” at Uli airport and was determined to be one of those that will help these stockfish to walk. Now that he is at Uli and with a trained thief Ndubisi, Obinna was sure that he will achieve his dream. But rather than getting stockfish or money, they stole a box containing the corpse of a child who died of malnutrition and incidentally while trying to open the box, they were caught by Biafran soldiers who arrested them. They were detained and after being tried, they were flogged and enlisted again as Biafran soldiers, but having perfected his escapist skill,  he escaped again.

Obinna returned home and while  narrating his  cock and bull story to Nnenna and Ogbenyeanu, Onyido again came and to counteract his story with that of Obinwanne who avoided conscription throughout the war only to boast of his exploits during the war. Those present were eager to know the person but he told them to ask Obinna (Jụq Obinna).

₦5,000.00 – DOWNLOAD FULL PROJECT DOWNLOAD FULL PROJECT Added to cart

---

---

---

---

---

Related Project Topics :