Surviving Biafra: A Nigerwife’s Story

In 1961, Rosina “Rose” Martin embarked on a life-altering journey when she married John Umelo, a young Nigerian she met on a London Tube station platform. This union led her to Nigeria, where she took on the role of a Classics teacher in Enugu, unaware that her life would soon be marked by one of the country’s most tumultuous periods. The secession of Eastern Nigeria in 1967 sparked a devastating Civil War, and Rose’s family found themselves caught in the crossfire.

As the conflict intensified, they fled to John’s ancestral village, constantly on the move as the war encroached on their lives. By the war’s end in 1970, an estimated two million people had perished, many succumbing to starvation. Despite the harrowing circumstances, Rose documented her experiences, capturing the stark reality of life in Biafra—from the initial excitement of the secession to the despair that followed as resources dwindled.

After the war, Rose transformed her notes into a poignant narrative that highlighted the resourcefulness and resilience of the Biafran people, who continued to cling to hope amid the chaos. This account is now contextualized by anthropologist S. Elizabeth Bird, who provides background on the war’s progression and the international response. Edited and annotated, Rose’s vivid memoir offers a compelling perspective on hope and survival through the brutality of war, showcasing her unique experience as a Biafran “Nigerwife.”