Stanley Onyemechalu, a PhD student in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge, has been celebrated for his innovative legacy of the Biafra Heritage Project. He secured the runner-up position in the Early Career Researcher category at the prestigious Cambridge Awards for Research Impact and Engagement.
The Biafra Heritage Project
Onyemechalu’s project focused on engaging communities in Enugu, south-eastern Nigeria, through various forms of artistic expression. The initiative included workshops and an exhibition, aiming to foster intergenerational dialogue and raise historical awareness about the Nigeria-Biafra war. This period of history has often been downplayed by successive Nigerian governments, making the project’s work particularly poignant.
Statement from Onyemechalu
Expressing his gratitude for the recognition, Onyemechalu stated, “I am honoured to have received this important recognition from the University of Cambridge for my work with communities in south-eastern Nigeria.”
He extended his thanks to his collaborators at the Centre for Memories in Enugu, his supervisor Dr Dacia Viejo-Rose, colleagues at the Cambridge Heritage Research Centre, and the Public Engagement team at Cambridge. He also acknowledged the support from the Royal Anthropological Institute, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, and the University’s Public Engagement Starter Fund.
Broader Celebrations of Excellence
The awards ceremony was part of a larger celebration of research excellence at Cambridge. Alongside Onyemechalu, Professor Gilly Carr was recognized as runner-up in the Established Academic category for her Safeguarding Sites Project.
Additionally, Dr Nik Petek-Sargeant was honored as a runner-up in the Early Career Researcher category for his work on Historical East African Archaeology and Theory.
About the Cambridge Awards
The Cambridge Awards for Research Impact and Engagement are held annually to commend researchers whose work has notable social, cultural, and academic impacts. These accolades are awarded by Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice and Professor Sir John Aston FRS, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, highlighting innovative approaches to research and its application in engagement and knowledge exchange.
