Rediscovering 'Biafara': The True Name of the Ancient Igbo Nation

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Before Nigeria’s emergence, the Igbo-dominated state in today’s South East and parts of the South-South was known as “Biafara,” not “Biafra.” A 1644 map by Dutch cartographer Willem Blaeu clearly labels the region as “Biafara.” In Igbo, “bia fara” literally means “come join,” while “Biafra” has no meaning in the language. During the Civil War, Ojukwu adopted the Europeanized “Biafra,” but evidence suggests the authentic historical name was “Biafara.” It may be time for IPOB and contemporary historians to acknowledge this original term.

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