THE WOODCHOPPER

About the Book

The Woodchopper paints a vivid picture of the devastation heaped upon one family by the destructive Biafran War in Nigeria. However, the strength of the autobiographical work is its portrayal of the lives of common people in the twelve small villages of Achi in southeastern Nigeria prior to and after the Biafran War. Their worship of idols and deities; the ferocity of Igbo warriors in hand-to-hand combat; the emergency night meetings of village elders, fetish priests, and others with spiritual powers when danger threatened; and the ever-present European missionaries who were bent on saving the “pagans” from their “superstitious patterns of worship” are all covered in an accessible literary style. The Woodchopper is strongly recommended to anyone who is interested in gaining a better understanding of the Biafran War and, perhaps more importantly, to those who are interested in learning more about Nigeria, the nation that has the largest and most diverse population in sub-Saharan Africa.

About the Author

William Chukwukeziri Onyebeke was born on August 7, 1957 in Awgu, a small town in the Eastern part of Nigeria. William was the seventh child and youngest boy in a family of nine children. His father worked for the tax collection agency of the then Eastern Nigerian government. His occupation resulted in the family being transferred throughout the Eastern Region as the job dictated. The frequent transfers were disruptive to the children’s education, but it also brought them closer to each other and gave them the opportunity to travel throughout Eastern Nigeria. The author’s hometown is Achi, the birthplace of his parents, James and Joanah Onyebeke. He is happily married with three lovely children and has an active OB-GYN practice in Bayshore, New York. He loves practicing medicine, reading, writing, teaching, dancing, dining, and playing games.