Grammy-winning director Meji Alabi, known for his work with global music stars like Beyoncé, has pivoted to a somber historical project: a BBC Africa Eye documentary titled 'Surviving Biafra: Voices from the Nigerian Civil War.' The film focuses on the devastating conflict that gripped Nigeria from 1967 to 1970, a war that erupted after ethnic tensions and a 1966 coup led to the attempted secession of the Igbo-majority region of Biafra.
The project centers on the filmmakers' grandfather, Godwin Alabi-Isama, a former army commando who served as chief of staff to Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle of the 3 Marine Commando.
While the family previously viewed Godwin as a war hero for his role in the federal army’s efforts to maintain national integrity, the documentary forces a confrontation with the darker realities of the conflict, including allegations of war crimes and mass starvation resulting from a federal blockade.
The film features testimonies from survivors and explores the harrowing conditions of the era, including the famine that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. During the production, Godwin Alabi-Isama was pressed on the conduct of his unit and even recounted an incident where he was unknowingly served human flesh by villagers in occupied territory.
The Nigerian government has stated it hopes the documentary serves as a reminder of the importance of national unity and reconciliation. For the filmmakers, the project represents a necessary, albeit painful, attempt to document a history that has been largely absent from the nation's formal school curriculum for decades.
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