Grammy-winning director Meji Alabi is confronting Nigeria’s difficult civil war history through “Surviving Biafra: Voices from the Nigerian Civil War.” Fought from 1967 to 1970, the war between Nigerian federal forces and Igbo separatists seeking to establish the Republic of Biafra killed an estimated half a million to three million people and became the world’s first televised humanitarian disaster. Using rare frontline footage and firsthand accounts from aging survivors, Alabi and his uncle confront difficult truths including famine, alleged war crimes, and their family’s controversial role in the conflict. Through the project, the filmmakers seek to preserve memories before they are lost. They hope the documentary encourages Nigerians to engage honestly with a history that has long been minimized in schools and public discourse.
BBC