The protagonist in Biyi Bandele's new novel, about the Nigerian soldiers who fought for the British in Burma during 1942-44, is a 14-year-old boy sent to India, desperate to join the battle but unaware of why and what he is going to.
It's the first novel and one of few publications to capture the experiences of the 90,000 East and West African soldiers who took part in one of the most unforgiving battles of the second war. It's a historical account that too many of us know little about.
Enter 100 Black Men of London an educational organisation that aims to highlight world history involving Africans with a season of debates, films, readings and talks at museums and galleries.
In November the Imperial War Museum in London will be hosting films, talks and interviews by local young people with Somali and Jamaican war veterans in a one-day event entitled African Heroes of World War II.
Headlining is Bandele - relating the personal stories he recorded with African veterans. Bandele's research was partly undertaken at the IWM but searching the museum's website there is scant reference to the role of African soldiers (there is a small mention of Indian soldiers even though they made up the majority) in this "Forgotten War".
The IWM tells me that the badges worn by African troops, Indian mannequins and their weapons are on display. But when its own website announces, "The wars of the 20th century have affected each and every one of us in some way and the IWM is here to tell all our stories", I expect more and certainly better signposting to what they have.
It has been left to Bandele's Burma Boy, a work of fiction based on real life accounts (including his father's) to fill in the blanks.
The 100 Black Men of London initiative on the 17th of this month will introduce new audiences to the IWM. And no doubt some of the participants, intrigued by the information they glean, will be questioning why their history remains untold in their museums. I hope IWM is ready with an answer.
It's the first novel and one of few publications to capture the experiences of the 90,000 East and West African soldiers who took part in one of the most unforgiving battles of the second war. It's a historical account that too many of us know little about.
Enter 100 Black Men of London an educational organisation that aims to highlight world history involving Africans with a season of debates, films, readings and talks at museums and galleries.
In November the Imperial War Museum in London will be hosting films, talks and interviews by local young people with Somali and Jamaican war veterans in a one-day event entitled African Heroes of World War II.
Headlining is Bandele - relating the personal stories he recorded with African veterans. Bandele's research was partly undertaken at the IWM but searching the museum's website there is scant reference to the role of African soldiers (there is a small mention of Indian soldiers even though they made up the majority) in this "Forgotten War".
The IWM tells me that the badges worn by African troops, Indian mannequins and their weapons are on display. But when its own website announces, "The wars of the 20th century have affected each and every one of us in some way and the IWM is here to tell all our stories", I expect more and certainly better signposting to what they have.
It has been left to Bandele's Burma Boy, a work of fiction based on real life accounts (including his father's) to fill in the blanks.
The 100 Black Men of London initiative on the 17th of this month will introduce new audiences to the IWM. And no doubt some of the participants, intrigued by the information they glean, will be questioning why their history remains untold in their museums. I hope IWM is ready with an answer.
