Ozoemena: A History That Refuses to Stay Still

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It is the 59th anniversary since the declaration of Biafra Day. And as I watch the documentary of our fallen hero, which I occasionally do every year, to fully understand and be reminded of the sacrifices of our heroes past, one question keeps coming to mind: what is the difference between what happened in 1967 and now?

I’ve come to realize that the only difference is that the Igbo are no longer the only ones being affected, but Nigeria as a whole is feeling the pain. What is the end game? What is the plan? What exactly do they want?

Anyị n’ekwu na ozoemena, mana ozo n’eme, karia nke mekwe na mbu. Ihe d’iche bụ na ọ́bụghị naanị ndi Igbo n’atafụfụ ya.
In English, it is translated as: we are saying that history should not repeat itself, but history has gone as far as repeating itself, even worse. The only difference is that the Igbo are not the only ones suffering from this.

We fight, we are killed. If we don’t fight, more people are killed. And when we tell ourselves that we are on our own, we are considered selfish.

On the 28th of May 1803 marks the day a group of enslaved Igbo people chose death over slavery. The month of May seems to be a sad and historical month for Ndi Igbo, and it’s just in a space of three days.

Today, that would be seen as an opportunity to japa, considering the level of situation in Nigeria today; who would blame us? The irony of life.

In an Igbo man’s word, onweghị dị ka nke gị, onweghị ihe karịịrị nke gị, which is translated as: there is nothing like your own, there is nothing bigger than your own.

So why can’t we fight for what’s ours? Why can’t we fight for our right? Why can’t we take back the peace and happiness these wicked leaders who are meant to protect us have taken from us? The freedom our ancestors fought so hard to gain…

I am Nigerian, but Biafran by blood. The blood of our heroes runs through my veins. Their sacrifices live in my memory. Their courage reminds me that history is not merely something to remember; it is something to learn from.


Ozoemena!

Ka uche anyị dịkwa ya…


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