THE NIGERIAN TOWER OF BABEL A Cursory Look at Nationalism from the Biafra Perspective

Abstract

A notable story in the book of Genesis was that of the Tower of Babel, in which language barriers obstructed the people from achieving their lofty goal of building a structure tall enough to reach the heavens. The parable famously warns of the inevitable failures brought on by division in a society. Stuck in a permanent state of miscommunication and confusion, their goal was never achieved. This is the Nigerian condition in a nutshell; this forced amalgamation of multiple peoples of varying ethnic, religious, and cultural natures continues to hinder their common goal of achieving prosperity and becoming a thriving republic. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of the nationalist agenda in Nigeria, concluding with practical methods on how to foster a more unified nation. Is it possible for Nigeria to move past its cultural clashes and numerous vices, and become one? Was the Biafra War a cathartic event for Nigeria, ultimately propelling its people into a more unified conglomerate? Or were post-Biafra nationalism efforts merely surface-level? What role and responsibility do the political elite have in cultivating this unity? As a guide to answering these research questions, an in-depth history of pre- and post-colonial Nigeria is documented, followed by a conceptual and theoretical framework, and finally, an analysis of seventeen Nigerian citizens’ attitudes towards national unity.