Child soldier's story headlines in international war conference

The subject of war is to be put under the spotlight by a unique gathering of leading lights from the UN, the arts, the military, academia and journalism at The University of Manchester this week.

'War in Our World' will feature the world premier of a play by a former child soldier and internationally acclaimed roots-reggae artist from Ghana Ben Okafor on 19 to 21 July.

Marking forty years since the start of the Nigeria-Biafran war, 'Child of Biafra' tells Ben's story of preservation through the three years of brutal war and famine that shocked and changed the world.

Also leading platform debates at 'War in Our World' will be:

• Abdel-Rahman Ghandour, Regional Communication Adviser for Africa and the Middle East, UNICEF in Jordan.
• Professor Anatol Lieven, Kings College London. British journalist, writer, historian and Senior Research Fellow for the New America Foundation.
• Anna Ford, broadcaster, journalist and alumnus of the Victoria University of Manchester.
• Admiral Sir John Kerr, former Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Home Command and member of the Admiralty Board.
• Rony Brauman, former President of French humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières

Child of Biafra will be performed at the Contact Theatre followed on the opening night by a panel discussion with Ben Okafor, co-writer/director Justin Butcher, veteran Biafra BBC reporter Martin Bell and war photographer Romano Cagnoni.

Okafor will be accompanied on stage by a Nigerian community choir from Manchester with projections of images by Cagnoni.

Ben Okafor said: "Forty years ago on 28 May, my homeland of Eastern Nigeria seceded as it embarked on a journey towards self-determination.

"Biafra, Land of the Rising Sun, was born. I was 12 years and seven months old.

"Two months later the Nigeria Biafra war began, lasting unexpectedly for nearly three years.

"It is estimated that two million people died in this conflict. Most of the victims were children who died as a result of starvation.

"I became a child soldier in the Biafran army aged 13, and was the sole survivor of my Boys' Platoon."

One of the organisers of the conference is Professor James Thompson who is Director of The University's In Place Of War Project which explores the relationship between theatre and war.

He said: "Ben's work is a perfect illustration of how one of the most pressing issues of our time concerns the changing nature and consequences of war.

"Today's news media are full of stories of war, the sources of armed conflict and its impact on individuals and societies.

"War and our World, will provide the opportunity to address this recurrent feature of human society and reflect on the changing nature, causes and consequences of conflict in the modern era."

He added: "Our work with theatre practitioners across the world working in war or post-war settings will make an important contribution to the debate over the next few days.

"But the enormity of war touches so many others areas such as humanitarianism, the armed forces, journalism and academia.

"These areas and more will be tackled in this important event.

"For more details about attendance, contact Janet Meredith at the conference office on 0161 275 8950 or email Janet.Meredith@manchester.ac.uk."

NOTES FOR EDITORS
War in Our world will be from 19-21 July at the Weston Building, Manchester Conference Centre, Sackville Street, Manchester M60 1QD. Platform debates are  organised around the theme of 'being at war' and the 'aftermaths of war'. There will also be parallel panel sessions.

Professor Thompson is available for comment.

Images are available of Ben Okafor

For more details contact:
Mike Addelman
Media Relations Officer
Faculty of Humanities
The University of Manchester
0161 275 0790
07717 881567
michael.addelman@manchester.ac.uk

For Interviews with Ben Okafor contact
Helen Snell on 020 7240 5537  or email info@helensnell.com

LISTINGS DETAILS
War in Our world:
Aspects of war are to be debated in a unique gathering of leading lights from the UN, the arts, the military, academia and journalism at The University of Manchester. 'War in Our world' will be from 19-21 July at the Weston Building, Manchester Conference Centre, Sackville Street, Manchester M60 1QD. For tickets contact Janet Meredith at the conference office on 0161 275 8950 or email Janet.Meredith@manchester.ac.uk

Child of Biafra:
Child of Biafra, Written and Performed by Ben Okafor will be performed at the Contact Theatre, Oxford Road, Manchester from Thursday 19 - Saturday 21 July 2007. The show starts at 7.30pm followed on the first night by a debate -  free to ticket holders  - with Ben Okafor, co-writer Justin Butcher and Veteran Biafra reporters Martin Bell and Romano Caglioni. For tickets contact the box office on 0161 274 0600 or www.contact-theatre.org. Tickets are £10 (£6 concs)