A Grammy-winning director has turned his lens on a deeply personal chapter of African history. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, the filmmaker revealed how his grandfather’s involvement in the Biafran War (1967-1970) shaped a new documentary that explores the conflict’s enduring scars and the fragile process of reconciliation.
The director, known for his immersive storytelling and critical acclaim in the music industry, said the project began as a family inquiry. “I grew up hearing fragments, whispers about what my grandfather did during the war. It was a hole in our family narrative that I needed to fill,” he explained. The resulting film weaves archival footage, interviews with survivors and historians, and the director’s own journey to sites of former battlefields and refugee camps.
The Biafran War, a secessionist conflict in southeastern Nigeria, remains one of Africa’s most devastating humanitarian crises. Estimates of the death toll range from one to three million, largely from famine and disease. The war’s legacy continues to shape Nigerian politics and ethnic relations. The director’s documentary does not shy from the brutality, but it also highlights stories of resilience and efforts to rebuild trust across communities.
One segment focuses on a village where, decades after the war, former enemies now collaborate on farming cooperatives. “That was the most emotional part for me,” the director said. “Seeing people who once tried to kill each other working side by side. It gives you hope, but also makes you realise how fragile peace is.”
The BBC’s exclusive interview, airing this week, offers a rare glimpse into the film’s making. The director spoke about the challenge of balancing personal history with objective reportage. “I had to separate my grandfather’s choices from the larger story. He was one person in a complex tragedy. The film is not an apologia; it is an attempt to understand.”
Music, the director’s primary medium, features prominently in the documentary. He collaborated with local musicians to create a score that blends traditional Igbo instruments with modern composition. “Music was the language of the camps, of the protests, of the mourning. It had to be part of the narrative.”
The documentary has already generated buzz in film circles, with early reviews praising its intimate yet unflinching portrait of a conflict often overlooked in Western media. For the director, the project is also a reckoning with inherited guilt and the responsibility of storytelling. “I can’t change what happened. But I can make sure it is not forgotten, and perhaps offer some lessons for other conflicts today.”
The interview comes amid renewed interest in the Biafran War, as separatist movements and ethnic tensions resurface in parts of Nigeria. The director hopes his work contributes to a more nuanced conversation. “History is not just dates and battles. It is lived experience. My grandfather’s story is one among millions. I hope the film honours those who suffered, on all sides.”
The documentary is scheduled for release later this year. For now, the BBC exclusive provides a window into a filmmaker’s emotional and artistic journey through the wreckage of a war that still haunts a continent.
