NIGERIAN MUSICAL IN SA
Kakadu recalls Biafra horror with xenophobia lesson
To understand the tragedy that befell Nigeria when the eastern part of the country tried unsuccessfully to secede in the 1960s, the starting point could be the musical Kakadu, which is running in Johannesburg. With energetic dance routines, soulful singing, and above-average acting skills on display, this journey into the Biafran uprising in Nigeria in 1967 leaves a lingering message in audiences’ hearts and minds. The attempt by the Igbos, one of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria, to secede came within five years of the country’s independence. At the time, Nigeria was afflicted by regional and ethnic chauvinism, political intolerance, victimisation, lawlessness, government ineptitude, corruption and nepotism. The army swiftly and brutally quelled the insurrection, leaving corpses on the streets and the population, especially those belonging to the insurrectionist Igbo ethnic group, traumatised and cowed into submission. Written by Lagos lawyer Uche Nwokedi, Kakadu, which means "a ...
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