The Burma Boy: 15 Years On

Join a panel of experts as they discuss public understanding of African service in the Burma campaign and how it has evolved over the past decade.

In 2011, the award-winning documentary ‘The Burma Boy’ was released. Created by journalist Barnaby Phillips, the film explores the role of African troops serving in the Burma campaign during the Second World War.

The documentary traces the service of Isaac Fadoyebo, a Nigerian who fought and was wounded in the campaign. Its overall aim is to highlight the role of soldiers like Isaac, drawing attention to their often-overlooked contribution.

This special evening event will feature a screening of ‘The Burma Boy’, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A. The themes being explored will include: the commemoration of African service; how public knowledge of this service has changed; what new stories have been uncovered since the documentary first aired; and the extent to which these soldiers remain forgotten figures of the Second World War.

There will also be an opportunity to visit our exhibition Beyond Burma: Forgotten Armies outside normal opening hours.

Schedule

5.30pm – Doors open (after-hours exhibition access)
6.30pm – Film screening begins 
7.20pm – Panel discussion and Q&A begins
8.00pm – Event ends

About the panellists

Barnaby Phillips is an author, journalist and lecturer. He spent 27 years with the BBC and Al Jazeera, based in Mozambique, Angola, Nigeria, South Africa and Greece. In 2014, he turned his award-winning documentary ‘The Burma Boy’ into the book ‘Another Man’s War’. He is also the author of ‘Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes’ and ‘The African Kingdom of Gold: Britain and the Asante Treasure’ (to be released in 2026).

Nze Ed Emeka Keazor is an award-winning historian, filmmaker and archivist. His documentary work includes the critically acclaimed ‘January 15, 1970: Untold Memories of the Nigeria-Biafra War’ and ‘Company Yaya: Lost African Voices of World War 2’. He was recently appointed as Director of the Nsibidi Institute in Lagos, Nigeria.

David Killingray taught at Goldsmiths for 30 years, retiring as Professor Emeritus of History in 2002. He is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. David continues to research and write on aspects of African, Caribbean and English local history. His books include ‘Fighting for Britain: African Soldiers in the Second World War’.