Great read, though flawed in one historical regard: Aguiyi-Ironsi's aim was actually to dismantle the loose federation of states that Nigeria was at independence and replace it with a unitary system of government. The Hausa-Fulani political elite, including traditional rulers, civil servants and military officers, were unsettled by this apparent threat to their relative independence from the largely Westernized southerners, and thus orchestrated the counter-coup in which the Igboman Aguiyi-Ironsi was violently assassinated and anti-Igbo pogroms across Northern Nigeria, ultimately leading to the civil war of 1967-70.
Eniola Ladapo replied on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 09:27am
A beautiful and magnificent story laden with humor; I could not stop reading. It would have been a perfect nostalgic piece if not for its sad ending.
I believe the reason for Ethelbert's sad mien was that he, like many modern African children who have been unfortunate to come across some form of violence or war, saw something that was perpetually plaguing his mind.
Edmund Tamakloe replied on Wed, 05/27/2009 - 07:16pm
Lovely piece of writing. I've lived in East Africa and this rings true. Makes me want to return. Thanks for the flood of memories.
Great read, though flawed in one historical regard: Aguiyi-Ironsi's aim was actually to dismantle the loose federation of states that Nigeria was at independence and replace it with a unitary system of government. The Hausa-Fulani political elite, including traditional rulers, civil servants and military officers, were unsettled by this apparent threat to their relative independence from the largely Westernized southerners, and thus orchestrated the counter-coup in which the Igboman Aguiyi-Ironsi was violently assassinated and anti-Igbo pogroms across Northern Nigeria, ultimately leading to the civil war of 1967-70.
A beautiful and magnificent story laden with humor; I could not stop reading. It would have been a perfect nostalgic piece if not for its sad ending.
I believe the reason for Ethelbert's sad mien was that he, like many modern African children who have been unfortunate to come across some form of violence or war, saw something that was perpetually plaguing his mind.