What Took Place
On November 18, 1949, the white soldiers shot and killed coal workers in Enugu Iva Valley Mine during a protest. This calamity made the people of Nigeria rise and fight for their freedom. Highlife Music Legend Chief Stephen Osadebe released a song titled ” Onuigbo” to remember the sad event.
How The Killing Took Place
How the whites maltreated coal workers:
Coal mining in Enugu started in 1915 in order to generate income for Britain.
Workers went through a lot
They worked 12-16 hours every day
No safety equipment
Low income (3 shillings/day)
Abused by white masters
Why Workers Embarked on Strike
. Mine owners failed to pay workers, but increased their workload
. Sacked 21 workers who complained
. November 18: About 3,000 workers gathered in Iva Valley
England’s Prince Philip, during his visit to Iva Valley in February 1956. Getty images
How The Tragedy Occurred
A white Police Officer by the name of F.S Philips ordered the soldiers to shoot 21 workers died instantly (but were 50-70 in total)
. More than 50 were injured. A group called the ‘Centre for Memories’ in Enugu provided BBC Igbo with some of these names. They include: Sunday Anyasodo, Livinus Okechukwuma, William Nwehu, Felix Nnaji, Ogbania Chime and Moses Ikegbu. The others are Okafor Ageni, Augustine Nwokoma, Onoh Onyia, James Ekeowa, Nwachukwu Ugwu, Ngwu Nwafor, Jonathan Ezeani
How it Affected Nigeria
It motivated Nigerians to fight the whites and helped Nigeria gain independence faster. It was also the first big protest against the British after World War II.
How People Remember It
It is being remembered by workers’ unions every year, with Memorials in the New Market roundabout,
It is being taught in schools ( but not revealing the true story)
- Osadebe’s Song “Onuigbo”
About The Song:
. Released in 1984 in the “Osondi Owendi ” album
. “Onuigbo” means “voice of the Igbo people”
. He used the music in talking about politics (in highlife style)
Meaning Of The Song
Igbo Words and English Meanings
“Onuigbo kwenu”
(“Igbo voice, greet us”- to make the people remember)
“Ndi nwuru n’ogbu”
(“People who died in the killing”-direct talk about victims)
“Ka anyi cheta ha”
(“Let’s remember them”- tell people not to forget)
“Onye obula no n’ala”
(“Everyone on earth “- show that it is everyone’s business)
How The Music Sounds
. Slow highlife like a bad burial song
. Sounds of horns like mine whistle
. Sounds of drums like workers digging coal
Why People Love It
. Workers’ unions use it as their own
. It is being played anytime they remember the dead workers
. Help keep its history alive as the military prevents people from talking.
Why Onuigbo is Important
1. It Shows True History
. Preserves stories hidden by the government
2. It Makes People Feel Better
. Helps families of deceased workers
3. Workers’ War Song
. It gives new workers the power to fight for their rights
4. It Makes The Igbo Remember Everything
. It helps all Ndi Igbo know the history
What Is Happening Now
. The place where the coal workers were killed doesn’t have a sign
. People still play “Onuigbo” on Workers’ Day
. Young musicians use part of the song in modernised protest songs
. People are still seeking an apology from the U.K. governmentThe Enugu killing and Osadebe’s song titled “Onuigbo” show how workers suffered, how music fights, and why we must not forget the incident. Osadebe used music to make sure people didn’t forget their bad history. As Nigeria still fights for workers and its true history, this story is still very important to date.Refrences - Brown, Carolyn A. (2003). We Were All Slaves: African Miners, Culture, and Resistance at the Enugu Government Colliery.
- Odijie, Michael S. (2016). “The 1949 Enugu Colliery Shooting: A Case Study of Colonial Violence and Protest in Nigeria.” African Economic History.
- Collins, John (1996). Highlife Time.
- Ananaba, Wogu (1969). The Trade Union Movement in Nigeria.
- Nwasoko, Chijioke (2018). “Songs of Sorrow and Resistance: Highlife Music and the Politics of Memory in Nigeria.” Journal of African Cultural Studies
