Reviewed by James Lidgett

Songs from the critically acclaimed stage show, this is a moving commentary on the experiences, both physical and spiritual, of a nation at war and in particular the effects this most brutal of wars had on a child soldier caught up in the conflict. A subtle combination of songs composed by Okafor and traditional songs and anthems tells a story of pride, of anger, loss and fear, but also of hope. The original dramatisation of Ben's story was created for BBC Radio 4 with great success and it premiered on stage in Manchester in 2007, 40 years on from the start of the war. Ben's own songs have a real Marley-esque roots reggae vibe to them and he uses acoustic guitar and emotive vocal to moving effect. The CJAM choir enhances the sound of this album tenfold and provokes an equally moving response to the more traditional songs. The Biafran war tore Nigeria apart. Through Okafor's music we might learn not to allow such a tragedy to happen again.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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