What Happened on Thursday?

A powerful story of family love amid the backdrop of war, as seen through the eyes of a child.

The Nigerian Civil War began and ended on a Thursday, and for the family in this book, their lives are forever changed by that day.

Told from a child’s perspective, this story follows one family on their journey as they lose their home, traverse a country under the siege of war, and finally settle in a camp for displaced persons. But through it all, the love of this child’s family shines bright, helping to illuminate even the darkest paths. With poetic text by Nigerian author Ayo Oyeku and sensitive portraits by illustrator Lydia Mba, this story reveals the deep costs of war on our future generations and begs for a more peaceful world.

Information about the Nigerian Civil War, an Author’s Note, and Discussion Questions are included.

Ayo Oyeku is an award-winning Nigerian author and a Fellow of Ebedi International Writers Residency. His first children’s book, First among Equals, was selected by World Bank for distribution across libraries in Nigeria. His young adult novel Tears of the Lonely won the Ezenwa Ohaeto Award from the Society of Young Nigerian Writers. His poem “Reeds on the Rivers” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His works have also been shortlisted twice for the Golden Baobab Prize in the Early Chapters category. In 2019, he won the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) prize for Children’s Literature for his chapter book Mafoya and the Finish Line. What Happened on Thursday? is his US debut. Follow him online @ayo_oyeku.

Lydia Mba is an Afro-Spanish illustrator and storyteller. She loves working with colors and textures to create art that celebrates diversity and tells stories. She attended ESDIP Art School in Madrid, Spain, earning a degree in illustration. She has had titles published in the United States and abroad. Her recent works include the picture book Dear Black Child, written by Rahma Rodaah, for which her work was an American Illustration 42 Winner, and the forthcoming title, Olu’s Teacher: A Story About Starting Preschool, written by Jamel C. Campbell. Learn more at lydiamba.com and follow her on Instagram @iamlydiamba.