Book Review: Nigeria and World War II, Colonialism, Empire, and Global Conflict by Korieh, Chima J.

Abstract

It is no news that many African Nations actively participated in World War II that started in 1939 and ended in 1945. Military contingents were drawn from many African Nations and were used to fight on the side of the allied forces. Nigerians fought in a war that they knew little or nothing about. In this important, revisionist history, Chima J. Korieh examines how the lives of Nigerian producers, workers, merchants, men, women, and children from across society were affected. By placing the role that Nigeria played in the war within the contextual and theoretical frameworks of colonialism, race, gender, identity, labour, intellectual, and social history, Korieh challenges the dominant perception that World War II was primarily a European conflict and reveals the global impact of ordinary Nigerians on the war effort. Chima’s book, Nigeria and World War II. Colonialism, Empire, and Global Conflict, is divided into five chapters: list of figures, list of maps, list of tables, acknowledgments, list of abbreviations, an introduction, conclusion, bibliography and index. The thematic chapters examine important areas of the analysed issues in a chronological perspective. The author, in the introductory part of the book, explained the solidarity, efforts and involvement of Nigeria in the war. He stated that “On September 3, 1939, the day the British prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, declared war on Germany during the Second World War, members of the Ututu Clan Executive Committee in South Eastern Nigeria wrote a letter pledging loyalty and support to United Kingdom and the British Empire.” The committee wrote: “Though we are but poor farmers by trade, we are quite prepared to render any assistance which may come to our reach to our British Government who is fighting for world peace.” (1) Local regional leaders called for national unity (of all ethnic groups) and a common goal to defeat Hitler. A week after the British declared war on Germany, the Oba of Benin, Omonoba Akenzua II, called on Nigerians to “bury all our differences and use our strength, our money and everything in defence of our country and Britain (1).” It must be stated at this juncture that despite Nigeria’s active participation in World War II, all the major actions and gunfire were in Europe and Asia, all the diplomatic meetings, peace talks and cease-fire moves all took place outside Africa. Nigeria only sent military contingents, food supplies, solidarity messages and moral support etc. And of all major activities that brought the war to an