Novel
The Anonymity of Sacrifice
I. N. C. Aniebo · 1974
Synopsis
Biafra is retreating, one fall after another. Soldiers hold positions without ammunition, receive contradictory orders, watch their commanders take cover and civilians take to the road. The narrative follows two of them, whom the war first brought together: suspicion, misunderstanding and wounded pride do more damage between them than the army opposite.
Context
A hundred and fifteen pages published by Heinemann as number one hundred and forty-eight in its African series. The author was an artillery officer, trained abroad, then on a peace mission for the United Nations; he had fought the war with the rebels and left the army in 1971. S. O. Mezu's book, published three years earlier, is the only other full-length account written at that date by a committed witness. Critics praised the vividness of the scenes while finding that the novelist made poor use of his material.
Who it is for
One hundred and fifteen pages in English, with no French version. Short and spare. It is best to know that the secession lasted from 1967 to 1970 and that Biafran territory shrank steadily.
Prizes and reception
The author's first book, and among the very first accounts of the secession written by those who had taken part in it. It was selected for Heinemann's major African series.