Sir David Hunt served as the United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Nigeria from 1967 to 1969, a period that coincided with the outbreak and most intense years of the Nigerian Civil War.

Military and Diplomatic Background

Before entering the diplomatic service, Hunt had a distinguished career in the British Army during World War II, where he served with distinction. After the war, he joined the British Diplomatic Service and held various postings before being appointed High Commissioner to Nigeria in 1967, shortly after Nigeria’s Eastern Region declared independence as Biafra.

Role During the Nigerian Civil War

Hunt’s tenure in Lagos was dominated by Britain’s controversial policy toward the war between the Federal Military Government of Nigeria and the secessionist state of Biafra, led by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
The British government, under Prime Minister Harold Wilson, maintained official support for Nigeria’s federal government, including the continued supply of arms. This policy attracted heavy criticism from sections of the British Parliament, humanitarian groups, church organizations, and segments of the press, particularly as images of widespread starvation in Biafra circulated internationally.
Critics argued that British military support helped sustain the Federal blockade that contributed to severe humanitarian suffering in the secessionist region. Supporters of the policy maintained that Britain was backing Nigeria’s territorial integrity and preventing the fragmentation of a former colony.
Allegations circulated at the time—and later in memoirs and commentary—that Hunt harbored personal animosity toward Ojukwu. Claims included suggestions of strained personal interactions and social tensions in Lagos. Some accounts also mention his second wife, Iro Myrianthousis, niece of businessman Anastasios George Leventis, though such personal narratives remain part of contested and anecdotal discussions rather than established diplomatic record.

Later Career and Public Recognition

Hunt left Nigeria in 1969 and was subsequently appointed British Ambassador to Brazil. Beyond diplomacy, he became widely known in Britain for winning the BBC quiz program Mastermind, further adding to his public profile.

Historical Assessment

Sir David Hunt remains a controversial figure in discussions of Britain’s role during the Nigerian Civil War. His tenure reflects the complexities of Cold War-era diplomacy, post-colonial relations, and humanitarian crises in newly independent African states.

Sources

UK National Archives records on British policy during the Nigerian Civil War

Parliamentary debates (Hansard), 1967–1969

Biographical entries on Sir David Hunt

Contemporary British press coverage (1967–1970)

BBC archives on Mastermind

Photo referenced as 1970 (internet source).

In 1964, Western Nigeria was engulfed in intense political crisis. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, leader of the opposition and a dominant political figure in the Western Region, had been convicted on charges of treasonable felony in 1963 and was serving a prison sentence. His incarceration deepened political divisions within the region.
It was in this atmosphere that legendary dramatist Hubert Ogunde intervened — not with weapons or speeches, but with theatre.

Yoruba Ronu (“Yoruba, Think!”)

In 1964, Ogunde staged the controversial play Yoruba Ronu. The drama was widely interpreted as a sharp critique of the political leadership of the Western Region, particularly targeting Samuel Ladoke Akintola, who was then Premier.
The play addressed themes of betrayal, factionalism, and the dangers of political disunity among the Yoruba. Its message resonated deeply at a time when the region was polarized between Awolowo’s supporters and Akintola’s government.
The response was swift. The government banned Ogunde’s theatre company from performing in the Western Region for two years (1964–1966). Given that the majority of his audience was Yoruba-speaking and based in that region, the ban had severe financial consequences.

Otito Koro (“Truth Is Bitter”)

In reaction to the ban, Ogunde produced another politically charged play, Otito Koro. The title itself suggested defiance. Through allegory and symbolism, Ogunde continued to challenge political authority and defend artistic expression.
His theatre became a forum for political reflection — a rare platform in an era when dissent was increasingly suppressed.

The 1966 Coup and Aftermath

On January 15, 1966, Nigeria experienced its first military coup. Premier Samuel Ladoke Akintola was killed during the coup, and the Western Region government was overthrown. The military takeover dramatically altered Nigeria’s political landscape.
Shortly afterward, the ban on Ogunde’s theatre company was lifted by Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, who had been appointed Military Governor of the Western Region.
Many observers later described Yoruba Ronu as prophetic — a cultural warning about the destructive consequences of political division.

Theatre as Political Resistance

The encounter between Ogunde’s art and Awolowo’s political struggle illustrates a broader truth about Nigerian history: theatre was not merely entertainment. It was activism.
Hubert Ogunde used performance to:

Critique political leadership

Mobilize public consciousness

Preserve Yoruba cultural identity

Challenge censorship

In doing so, he demonstrated that the stage could be as powerful as the parliament.

Historical Significance

The events surrounding Yoruba Ronu highlight:

The deep crisis within the Western Region during the First Republic

The intersection of culture and politics in post-independence Nigeria

The risks faced by artists who challenged authority

Today, Ogunde is remembered not only as a pioneer of Nigerian theatre but also as one of its boldest political voices — a dramatist who dared to tell the truth in turbulent times.

Sources

Ebun Clark, Hubert Ogunde: The Making of Nigerian Theatre (Oxford University Press).

Biodun Jeyifo, The Yoruba Popular Travelling Theatre of Nigeria.

Tekena N. Tamuno, Nigeria Since Independence: The First 25 Years.

Toyin Falola & Matthew Heaton, A History of Nigeria.

The image shows a German military bicycle from the early 20th century, identified as a Herrenrad Victoria model used during World War I.

Spring Wheel Innovation

Instead of standard rubber tires, the bicycle features metal spring wheels.

The spring system functioned as a shock absorber, helping riders travel across rough terrain such as mud, gravel, and battlefield tracks.

These wheels were developed due to a severe rubber shortage in Germany during the war.

Military Adaptations

Equipped with a mounted rifle holder, carrying a Mauser rifle (standard German service rifle of the era).

Includes canvas pouches attached to the frame for:

Ammunition

Dispatch documents

Essential field supplies

These modifications transformed the bicycle into a compact, mobile military tool.

Historical Importance

Military bicycles played a crucial role in logistics, reconnaissance, and message delivery.

They provided silent movement, unlike motor vehicles.

More reliable than horses in certain terrains and required no fuel.

Particularly useful in areas where trucks and armored vehicles could not operate effectively.

Broader Context

During World War I, many European armies—including Germany, France, and Britain—experimented with bicycle infantry units. These units combined speed, efficiency, and low maintenance costs, making bicycles an important yet often overlooked part of early 20th-century military strategy.

Spring Wheel Bicycle