Events Publications November 12, 2025 PODCAST: Discussing the Cultural Legacies of the Biafra War on the AHN Podcast

I had the honor of being the inaugural guest on the brand-new African Heritage Nexus Podcast (AHN). It was a privilege to join the host, Seun Adeniyi, for the podcast's very first episode, titled "Uncovering the Cultural Legacies of the Biafra War." 

During the episode, we dove deep into my "Legacies of Biafra Heritage Project". This research explores the vital, and often subtle, ways that Igbo communities remember and preserve the cultural legacies of the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). We often discuss the war in terms of its political, military, and geopolitical impact. However, my work seeks to understand how heritage and memory are transmitted culturally - through practices, stories, and community actions that continue to shape identity today.

🎧 Listen Now Here: https://africanheritagenexus.com/Ep.1 

This conversation was a wonderful opportunity to share my passion for this subject and highlight the importance of community-centered heritage and memory. I am deeply thankful to Seun and the entire AHN team for providing a platform for this critical discussion.

🎧 Listen and Join the Conversation: https://africanheritagenexus.com/Ep.1 

Publications October 02, 2025 PUBLICATION: The Impact of Civil War on Intangible Heritage

Excited to share a new joint article, "Invisible yet perceptible: The impact of civil war on intangible heritage," which has been published in the latest issue of Cahiers du CFPCI (Vol. 11, pp. 57–68), from the Maison des Cultures du Monde, Centre Français du Patrimoine Culturel Immatériel at the French Ministry of Culture.

In this work, we tackle the complex legacies of conflict beyond material destruction, employing a comparative lens to examine how intangible heritage - like social practices, music, and foodways - is transformed by war. We contrast the enduring legacies of the Nigeria-Biafra War with the impacts of the recent conflict in Timbuktu, Mali.

Click here to read the full article.

Recommended citation: Onyemechalu, S. J. & Viejo-Rose, D. (2025). Invisible yet perceptible: The impact of civil war on intangible heritage. Cahiers du CFPCI, 11, 57–68. Maison des Cultures du Monde, Centre Français du Patrimoine Culturel Immatériel. https://www.maisondesculturesdumonde.org/patrimoine-culturel-immateriel/les-cahiers-du-cfpci/cahiers-du-cfpci-11

Publications July 23, 2025 PUBLICATION: Encyclopedia Entry on Intangible Heritage and the Nigeria-Biafra War

Announcing my contribution to a landmark new reference work, The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Cultural Heritage and Conflict - the first encyclopedia of its kind in the discipline. My entry is titled: 'Intangible Heritage and Conflict: Legacies of the Nigeria-Biafra War'

My entry examines how the legacies of the Nigeria-Biafra War (1967-1970) continue to shape Igbo cultural heritage today, particularly in foodways and dance-songs. More broadly, the entry highlights a critical, often-overlooked perspective in Conflict-Heritage Studies: while armed conflict is undeniably destructive, it can also serve as a powerful catalyst for the creation and transformation of intangible heritage.

Click here to read the full entry.

Recommended citation: Onyemechalu, S.J. (2025). Intangible Heritage and Conflict: Legacies of the Nigeria-Biafra War. In: Saloul, I., Baillie, B. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Cultural Heritage and Conflict. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61493-5_108-1 

Publications June 15, 2025 PUBLICATION: The Roots of Recovery in Postwar Nigeria

We are excited to share our new publication, "The Roots of Recovery: Àbàchà and the Reconstruction of Intangible Heritage in Postwar Southeastern Nigeria". 

This chapter’s core concern is the transformative impact of conflict on cultural heritage. While much of the existing literature has understandably focused on the destructive impacts of war on material heritage, such as monuments and buildings, our work sheds light on the often-neglected domain of intangible heritage. We explore how these living practices are not simply erased by conflict but are often actively reconstructed and transformed in its aftermath. 

Drawing on fieldwork from Enugu-Ezike, we use Àbàchà, a traditional cassava-based food, as a case study to understand these complex processes of recovery and resilience in postwar Southeastern Nigeria.

Click here to learn more and access the chapter!

Recommended citation: Onyemechalu, S.J., Rose, D.V. (2025). The Roots of Recovery: Àbàchà and the Reconstruction of Intangible Heritage in Postwar Southeastern Nigeria. In: Munawar, N.A., Plets, G. (eds) The Politics of Post-Conflict Heritage Reconstruction. Palgrave Studies in Cultural Heritage and Conflict. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81093-0_6 

Publications February 18, 2025 TV INTERVIEW: Talking About LBHP on Afia Tv

Stanley Jachike Onyemechalu, a doctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Legacies of Biafra Heritage Project (LBHP) was featured on an episode of Eastern Eye hosted by Alex Ogbodo's on Afia Tv. 

After news broke of his award at the 2024 Cambridge Awards for Research Impact & Engagement, Stanley was invited to talk about his research and his work on the Legacies of Biafra Heritage Project.

WATCH BELOW:

Publications February 12, 2025 AWARD NEWS: Stanley Onyemechalu awarded at Cambridge Awards for Research Impact and Engagement!

Stanley Jachike Onyemechalu with Prof Deborah Prentice | Image: Cambridge Chronicles

LBHP Founder and Director, Stanley Jachike Onyemechalu, was awarded Runner Up in the Early Career Research category at the University of Cambridge 2024 Vice Chancellor's Awards for Research Impact and Engagement for his work on the Legacies of Biafra Heritage Project. Presented by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Deborah Prentice, this award recognises outstanding Cambridge-based scholars whose ground breaking research incorporate innovative public engagement and impact society.

Read more about this award here on any of these various platforms:

arch.cam.ac.uk: Triple Celebration for Cambridge Archaeologists at Awards for Research Impact and Engagement

https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/news/triple-celebration-cambridge-archaeologists-awards-for-research-impact-and-engagement

thecable.ng: Cambridge University honours Nigerian PhD student for research on Biafra war

https://www.thecable.ng/cambridge-university-honours-nigerian-phd-student-for-research-on-biafra-war/

punchng.com: Cambridge honours Nigerian PhD student for Biafra Heritage Project

https://punchng.com/cambridge-honours-nigerian-phd-student-for-biafra-heritage-project/

gatescambridge.org: Scholars win recognition for impact and engagement

https://www.gatescambridge.org/about/news/scholar-win-recognition-for-impact-and-engagement/

PHOTOS:

(Left to right) Stanley Jachike Onyemechalu, Dr Tamsin O'Connell and Dr Nik Petek-Sargeant | Image: Cambridge Chronicles

Celebrations at the Awards Ceremony | Image: Cambridge Chronicles