The Gift the Keep on Giving
Colonialist imperialism is situated in the book’s Introduction as a kind of insane party favor that European powers felt they deserved simply as a result of showing up. In a book rich in metaphor, it is one of the earliest utilizations and sets the stage for much of the imagery to come:
“Great Britain was handed the area of West Africa that would later become Nigeria, like a piece of chocolate cake at a birthday party.”
On Writing
Although the bulk of this book is directed toward geopolitics, it is also at times concerned with the chosen vocation of its author. Much use of metaphor is expended on the issues of writing and the relationship of literature to the world:
“The triumph of the written word is often attained when the writer achieves union and trust with the reader, who then becomes ready to be drawn deep into unfamiliar territory, walking in borrowed literary shoes so to speak, toward a deeper understanding of self or society, or of foreign peoples, cultures, and situations.”
Political Metaphors
The text is also, of course, filled to overflowing with familiar metaphorical imagery describing the political and social evolution. One of the more common examples of this imagery is the metaphor of instability in a foundation which can cause the structure above to shift from one direction to another:
“In hindsight, it seems as though President Azikiwe may have been aware of the sand shifting beneath the feet of the political class, and he tried to gain the support of the military brass during the constitutional crisis following the 1964 federal general election.”
The Responsibility of the Writer
The author himself always enjoyed a reputation as more than merely an author; he was a constant social critic taking pains to point out the failure and flaws of the modern world in which he moved. This self-identity as a writer springs forth from a perspective that he would have all writers adhere to in a perfect world:
“My own assessment is that the role of the writer is not a rigid position and depends to some extent on the state of health of his or her society. In other words, if a society is ill the writer has a responsibility to point it out. If the society is healthier, the writer’s job is different.”
Kurt Vonnegut Responds
The author writes about several American writers joined him in Biafra to show solidarity for their fellow writers who called the beleaguered country their home. He then quotes from Vonnegut’s resulting essay which reveals in in Vonnegut’s response the full aspect of the effect of the tragedy taking place there upon those not used to seeing such suffering and misery:
“I found myself crying so hard I was barking like a dog. I didn’t come close to doing that after World War II.”
