Going Forward
Our work meshes with a larger effort by Asaba people to receive acknowledgment for their suffering during the war. These efforts began at the Nigerian Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission, convened in 2001 to investigate human rights violations over decades, including the civil war years. The community brought its case to the HRVIC (known as the Oputa Panel after its Chair), as part of the Ohanaeze Petition, and survivors, including Dr. Ify Uraih, testified. The Report of the Panel was never publicly released, but may be accessed here.
Efforts to receive recognition continue, led by our friend Barrister Chuck Nduka-Eze. In late 2022, Chuck organized a stunning and successful art exhibition in Lagos, focused raising funds and increasing awareness of the massacre. For news coverage, see here and here.
Chuck Nduka-Eze, whose mother was killed by soldiers at Asaba, presented the case to the Oputa Panel. He talks of the importance of recognition, and the need for a fitting memorial..
Click for full interview transcript
A Museum for Asaba?
While our research is essentially completed, and the monument at Ogbe-Osawa now stands, the work of establishing a fitting, physical Asaba Memorial site is not over. Around the world, communities have founded museums, libraries, even hospitals, to serve as such sites -- not only to tell the story of a community trauma, but also to become a cultural hub, provide economic benefits, and bring visitors.
The Mungo Park House, in 2011, showing its then unsafe and delapidated condition.
We were very heartened when Chief Philip Asiodu, Izoma of Asaba, and a supporter of our work, commissioned a plan to restore the building, and mounted a fundraising campaign. Funds were raised, and restoration is now complete. The next step is to develop historical materials to create professional exhibits. Chief Asiodu is currently leading another fundraising effort to achieve this; we hope that our exhibit on the Massacre will find a permanent home there.
A recent article described the efforts and the importance of the site as a memorial.
The renovated Mungo Park House.
Photo courtesy of Chief Philip Asiodu
To learn more about the Asaba Memorial Project,
contact Prof. Elizabeth Bird: ebird@usf.edu
Thanking our Research Participants
Over several years, we interviewed many people about their experiences as witnesses and survivors. We thank them all for sharing their stories, and we plan to make more of the interview transcripts available on this site soon. Participants included:
Achuzia, Simon Uchenna (born 1960), Mar. 14, 2014, Asaba.
Akaraiwe, Patricia (born 1939), June 28, 2010, Asaba.
Asiodu, Philip C. (born 1934), Dec. 8, 2009, Tampa.
Awolo, Esananjo (no birthdate), June 27, 2010, Asaba.
Azeh, Nicholas (born 1950), Oct. 5, 2011, Asaba.
Chizea, Osobodoa David (born 1937), June 27, 2010, Asaba.
Chizea, Mabel (born 1952), June 27, 2010, Asaba.
Chukwumah, Emmanuel (born 1925), June 28, 2010, Asaba.
Chukwara, Emmanuel (born 1934), Dec. 16, 2009, Asaba.
Chukura, Patience (born 1939), Dec. 10, 2009, Lagos.
Egbuinwe, Michael (born 1955), May 3, 2012, Asaba.
Eneamokwu, Ken (born 1956), 28 June 2010, Asaba.
Enenmoh, Luke (born 1928), Oct. 10, 2014, London.
Esenwa, John (born 1953), Oct. 10, 2009, Tampa.
Igbeka, Catherine N. (born 1959), Oct. 10, 2014, London.
Ijeh, Frank (born 1930), Dec. 13, 2009, Asaba.
Isichei, Father Patrick (born 1937), Oct. 6, 2015, Asaba.
Isichei-Isamah, Celestina (born 1946), Oct. 10, 2014, London.
Izegbu, Victor (born 1953), April 15, 2016, Lagos.
Maduemezia, Emmanuel (born 1954), June 23, 2010, Asaba.
Maduemezia, Nkendelim (born 1955), June 23, 2010, Asaba.
Mkpayah, Christopher (born 1947), Dec. 10, 2009, Lagos.
Mordi, Assumpta (born 1963), Oct. 7, 2011, Asaba.
Monyei, Grace (born 1930), June 28, 2010, Asaba.
Nduka Eze, Chuck (born 1963), Oct. 9, 2011, Asaba.
Nwajei, Joseph (born 1951), Oct. 10, 2009, Tampa.
Nawajei, Francis (born 1937), June 28, 2010, Asaba.
Nwandu, Felicia (born 1947), June 28, 2010, Asaba.
Nwanze, Emmanuel (born 1949), Dec. 16, 2009, Benin City.
Nwanze, Esther (born 1941), Oct. 5, 2011, Asaba.
Nwanze, Victoria (born 1954), Dec. 16, 2009, Benin City.
Obaze, Nwaka (born 1920), Dec. 12, 2009, Asaba.
Obielue, Patrick (born 1954), Dec. 12, 2009, Asaba.
Obi, Emmanuel (born 1953), Oct. 10, 2009, Tampa.
Obi, Felix (born 1943), Dec. 15, 2009, Asaba.
Odiachi, Emmanuel (no birthdate), Oct. 10, 2014, London.
Odiaka Mike (born 1935), June 27, 2010, Asaba.
Odiwe, Catherine (no birthdate), Oct. 7, 2011, Asaba.
Memories from our research visits to Asaba
Ogbogu, Michael (born 1944), May 3, 2012, Asaba.
Ogosi, Felix (born 1955), Dec. 13, 2009, Asaba
Ogosi, Frank Obi (born 1942), Dec. 15, 2009, Asaba.
Ogunkeye, Gertrude (born 1952), Dec. 11, 2009, Lagos.
Ojogwu, Peter-Claver (born 1945), Dec. 14, 2009, Asaba.
Okafor, Kingsley (born 1942), Oct. 5, 2011, Asaba.
Okafor, Stanley (born 1946), Oct. 12, 2011, Ibadan.
Okocha, Chris Daniels (no birthdate), Oct. 10, 2015, Asaba.
Okocha, Emma (born 1962), Oct. 13, 2009, Tampa.
Okocha, Akunwata S.O. (born 1913), Dec. 13, 2009, Asaba.
Okolie, Onyeogali (born 1960), Dec. 13, 2009, Asaba.
Okonkwo, Emeka (born 1963), June 28, 2010, Asaba.
Okonkwo, Patrick (born 1953), June 27, 2010, Asaba.
Okonjo, Peter (born 1949), Dec. 14, 2009, Asaba.
Okonta, Emeka Okalum (born 1973), June 24, 2010, Asaba.
Okwudi, Emma (born 1939), May 3, 2012, Asaba.
Onyia, Henry (born 1939), Dec. 15, 2009, Asaba.
Onochie, Felix (born 1929), June 28, 2010, Asaba.
Onukwu, Emmanuel (born 1941), Dec. 15, 2009, Asaba.
Onyemenam, Benedict (born 1936), June 28, 2010, Asaba.
Onyemenan, Josephine (born 1954), June 23, 2010, Asaba,
Onyia, Henry (born 1939), Dec. 15, 2009, Asaba.
Osaji, Martina (born 1953), Oct. 5, 2011, Asaba.
Osakwe, Igwemma (born 1944), Dec. 12, 2009, Asaba.
Oweazim, Fabian (born 1954), Oct. 10, 2009, Tampa.
Ugboko, Charles (born 1946), Dec. 12, 2009, Lagos.
Uraih, Lucy Chineze (born 1950), May 3, 2012, Asaba.
Uraih, Ify (born 1952), Oct. 9, 2009, Tampa.
Uraih, Medua Gabriel (born 1948), Dec. 13, 2009, Asaba.
Uraih, Victor Ubaka (born 1954), May 3, 2012, Asaba.
In 2011, we wrote a proposal to develop the historic Mungo Park House, owned by the National Commission on Museums and Monuments. A prefabricated, wooden structure, it was brought to Asaba from Britain, and constructed around 1886, the year the Royal Niger Company received a charter of incorporation. From 1886-1900 the building served as administrative headquarters of the Company and 400 soldiers were stationed there. Of the original buildings, the impressive House is the most significant remaining. We proposed a collaborative partnership to transform a monument of colonialism into a symbol of Asaba, Delta State, and Nigerian pride. For our original proposal document, click here