About Project
The Legacies of Biafra Heritage Project (LBHP) is an offshoot of Stanley Onyemechalu's ongoing PhD research on the complex intersections of cultural heritage and the legacies of violent conflicts in the context of the Nigeria-Biafra War (1967-1970). Stanley's research explores the (re)generative impacts of the Nigeria-Biafra war (and its legacies) – in addition to its more obvious and well-documented destructive impacts – on the heritagescape of the Igbo in south-eastern Nigeria, with a particular focus on memory and intangible heritage.
The LBHP, therefore, acts as the main public engagement and dissemination channel of Stanley's overall PhD research at the University of Cambridge. Particularly, this website chronicles the research findings, fieldwork highlights, academic conferences and public engagement activities based on or related to his research. It democratizes the research, bringing important insights to diverse audiences.
The project findings will enable heritage professionals and global organizations to reimagine (post-)conflict interventions and peacebuilding efforts in affected communities.
The LBHP is in a long-term collaboration with Centre for Memories, and has received support from the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI), the British Institute in East Africa (BIEA), the Public Engagement Starter Fund, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, and the Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, UK.
About the Researcher:
Stanley Jachike Onyemechalu is a Gates Cambridge Scholar and PhD Candidate in Archaeology at King’s College, University of Cambridge, UK. His research explores the intersections of cultural heritage and the legacies of violent conflicts in the context of the Nigeria-Biafra war (1967-1970). Stanley is based at the Cambridge Heritage Research Centre (CHRC) in the Department of Archaeology.
Stanley has a Lectureship in Archaeology and Heritage Studies with the University of Nigeria. His research interests cut across (post-)Conflict Heritage and Memory, Indigenous and Decolonial Heritage, Museum Studies, Ethnic Nationalism, and Community Archaeology.