Boko Haram: How it started – what it’s all about…
An illustrated talk by John Hare
Friday 27 March 2015
Ebenezer Presents is delighted to welcome back John Hare for this uniquely insightful, illustrated talk on the origins of Boko Haram.
Fifty years after independence Northern Nigeria is home to one of the world’s most violent religious groups. Why?
John Hare is an eyewitness to this process. He worked in this remote north-eastern area of Nigeria for 7 years & was the last District Officer recruited by the British Government.
Between 1957 and 1964 he lived in the Adamawa and Borno Provinces and witnessed first-hand the deteriorating relationship between the local tribes – between Muslim and animist and Christian. He has access to little-known historical records and is able to explain from deep personal experience, how Boko Haram started and how the clash between Christianity and Islam has developed into such a bloody conflict…
This is not something that has just recently happened – rather an evolving process of political and religious development which began many decades before the British colonised Northern Nigeria – a clear pattern stretching from the jihadi movements of the early 19th century, right up to the present day, with roots deep in tribal rivalry, slavery, animism, Christianity and Islam.
John will give details of events which occurred prior to and during his time in the Northern Provinces and which cast light on the way in which Boko Haram has linked up with fundamentalist groups currently active in the Middle East and beyond.Illustrated with fascinating photographs from his time in Nigeria, John’s talk helps to place a frightening contemporary problem in an historical context.
In 1957 John was the last recruit into the Colonial Administrative Service in Northern Nigeria. He later worked for the BBC and the United Nations Environment Programme. He then established the Wild Camel Protection Society to save the critically endangered wild double-humped camel in Central Asia from extinction. During the past 20 years he has undertaken many journeys into Mongolia and China’s former nuclear test area, Lop Nur, where the wild camel survives.
A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, John has received numerous awards for his exploratory and conservation activities, including the Environmental Award from the State Environment Protection Agency of China ; the Ness Award from the Royal Geographical Society; the Lawrence of Arabia Memorial Medal for exploration under extreme hazard by the Royal Society of Asian Affairs. In 2006 the Royal Scottish Geographical Society awarded him the Mungo Park medal for distinguished contributions to exploration. See more of John on his website…
Friday 27 March 2015
Doors open at 7.00 for a 7.30pm start
£12.50 (on the door) includes a glass of wine and supper…
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PARKING for EBENEZER PRESENTS:
Dear Friends & Guests,
To keep the gentlefolk of Aller happy we need all Ebenezees to park carefully. There will be highly qualified parking attendants to help but please note:
There is disabled access around the back of the building, so all those who find the stairs tricky should drive in to the yard and go towards the far end.
There is space for 20 or so cars in the Seed Factory car park. But if you have a very large vehicle it would be helpful if you could park outside.
If you park on the road, please do not park on the same side as the Seed Factory.
There are spaces down the lane past the pub, particularly down Church Path.
There is also parking behind the Village Hall, just opposite the Seed Factory. We are welcome to use the space as long as there are no events at the Hall at the same time. Any doubts please check with our Parking squad.
Many thanks ~ Ebenezer Presents
FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Friday 10 April: Spring Planting ~ Charles Dowding
Friday 17 April: Ian Constantinides Memorial Debate
with George Ferguson CBE PPRIBA RWA Mayor of Bristol in the chair and a panel of architectural experts
Friday 24 April: Saladin ~ John Man
Friday 8 May: Syria ~ Brigid Keenan
Friday 5 June: Strawberry Hill ~ Marion Harney
Friday 26 June: Deeper than Indigo ~ Jenny Balfour-Paul
PLEASE do NOT book before you receive the specific flyer by e-mail newsletter… Thank you!