There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra

The Nigerian civil war, or Biafran War, was the defining experience of Chinua Achebe’s life. For over forty years, Achebe remained silent about those harrowing years, until he created There Was a Country—a profound reflection on one of modern Africa’s most consequential events. This powerful work blends history, memory, poetry, and Achebe’s vivid first-hand observations. With wisdom and compassion, Achebe delivers a poignant and deeply personal account of the war, offering insights from one of the most influential literary voices of our time.