Elephant Memories History Podcast

Max Siollun

5.0 (3)
History

Historian and author Max Siollun brings you an African history podcast that never forgets to remember. The world needs an African history podcast - because African history is box office! Revolutionaries, intellectuals, and villainous assassins: Africa had them all. Dramatic blow by blow reconstructions of explosive historical events, and interviews with historical eyewitnesses and experts. New episodes are released every 2 weeks.

Jul 16

419: The Secret World of Nigeria's "Yahoo Boy" Internet Scammers (Part 1)

You've probably heard of the so-called "Nigerian Prince" scam (AKA "419", Yahoo, advance fee fraud etc). But who are the people behind the Nigerian scam? In this episode (Part 1 of 2 episodes on this topic), we will journey into the world of the so-called "Yahoo Boys". I’ll be discussing their world with Carlos Barragan: a Spanish journalist who met and interviewed several Yahoo Boys after one of them scammed his mum and convinced her to fall in love with him, by pretending to be an American soldier.
Jul 1

Nigeria Under General Sani Abacha: The Military v The People

What role did Nigeria's current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu play in the 1990s pro-democracy campaign? What was it like living under the military government of General Sani Abacha? This episode is a continuation from Episode 6 ("Untold Stories of the June 12 Election Annulment in Nigeria") and covers the terrifying 1993-1998 military rule era when a mysterious wave of assassinations, bomb blasts, and repression terrified Nigerians into fearing their own government.
Jun 15

Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup in America: How the Super Eagles Shocked the World

How Nigeria amazed the footballing world with its breathtaking attacking and flair at the 1994 World Cup in America. Was this the best African team to ever play at the World Cup?
Jun 1

Untold Stories of the June 12 Election Annulment in Nigeria

The Babangida military government’s annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election plunged Nigeria into its worst political crisis since its civil war over 20 years earlier. Why was the election annulled? The annulment also buried the role of many courageous pro-democracy activists who campaigned for an end to military rule (despite being targeted with a terrifying wave of assassinations, bomb blasts, and repression). In this episode, one of those pro-democracy activists (Kayode Ogundamisi) spoke to me about the key people and parts of the June 12 story that history forgot.
May 8

Expat Adventures in Nigeria: Corporate Warfare (Part 1)

What is it like being an expat in Nigeria? British businessman and former CEO of Guinness Nigeria Keith Richards lived and worked in Nigeria for over 20 years. During that time he had movie style adventures such as encountering the niece of a powerful politician who wanted to kill him, a workplace where an employee tried to murder a rival executive by poisoning him, negotiating with armed vigilante group the Bakassi Boys (who were known for summarily executing criminals), and meeting Nigeria’s most powerful politicians such as formerPresident Obasanjo and the intimidating former Minister of Defence Theophilus “TYD” Danjuma. This is Part 1 of two episodes with Keith. Keith also wrote a book about his time in Nigeria entitled “Never Quite the Insider: a Nigerian Memoir”. He also wrote a novel entitled “Which of your Sons?” You can read more about Keith on his website at: https://outsiderinside.co.uk/.
May 1

Umaru Dikko Kidnapped in London: Secret Agents, a Diamond Dealer, and a Politician

When military intelligence agents from Nigeria and Israel abducted Nigeria’s former Minister of Transport Umaru Dikko in broad daylight on a London street in 1984, it triggered a spectacular three-country international scandal that involved secret agents, anti-terrorist police, fake passports, a diamond dealer, planes being impounded, a dramatic airport rescue, and the worst ever diplomatic crisis between Nigeria and Britain. This episode reveals the hidden story behind one of the most dramatic international espionage incidents in history.
Apr 1

The Hidden Causes of the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War

Nearly 60 years after Nigeria’s civil war started, the war’s legacy still holds Nigeria hostage. The memory of the war between Nigeria and its breakaway south-eastern region which called itself Biafra, is simultaneously a cause for national disunity and national unity. Yet there is no agreement on what caused the war. Although the war started in 1967, most are not aware that the long road to war started 14 years earlier. In this episode, social historian and filmmaker Ed Keazor joined me to discuss the long term causes of the war that have been overlooked for several decades. This is the first of two episodes with Ed about the Nigerian civil war.
Apr 1

Yoruba History: The Rise and Fall of the Oyo Empire

The Oyo Empire was the most famous and powerful of the Yoruba kingdoms in West Africa. The Oyo Empire’s history is box office! It had regicide, revolutions, intrigue, ancestral curses, a scheming court official that engineered the death of four kings he worked for, and back stabbing that Game of Thrones would be proud of! Aside from its high stakes, cut throat drama, Oyo also had one of the most sophisticated government systems of any pre-colonial African state. It had a separation of powers, checks and balances between the different branches of its government, and appointed foreign ambassadors nicknamed “the king’s eyes” to keep watch over conquered foreign vassal states and its provinces. In this episode, writer and Oyo Empire expert Tunde Leye (author of two books about the Oyo Empire: "Afonja The Rise" and "Afonja The Fall") joins me to discuss the Oyo Empire’s spectacular rise and fall.
Apr 1

The Benin Bronzes, the British Museum, and the Benin Massacre

The Benin Kingdom (in modern-day Nigeria) was one of West Africa’s most sophisticated and powerful states. Its government had inter-continental diplomatic relations with European countries, a powerful military, and a brilliant guild of artists who made the "Benin Bronze" sculptures that were so technically brilliant that an astonished curator at the British Museum said: "there is absolutely nothing like them in any other part of the world". The sculptures were actually a side show in a wider cat and mouse game between the British colonial officer James Phillips and the King of Benin. Phillips insisted on visiting Benin (despite Benin's king repeatedly telling him that he was not welcome). When Phillips ignored the King of Benin's objections and travelled to Benin in January 1897 with a group of British military officers, Benin's people interpreted his visit as an invasion. Phillips triggered consequences far beyond the wildest imagination of himself, the British government, and the King of Benin. Find out how British history and African history intertwined, in this conversation with Barnaby Phillips (a journalist and author who wrote a book about Benin entitled Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes).
Mar 7

Third Podcast Trailer: A 4 minute crash course on the causes of the Nigerian civil war

This is the third trailer for my upcoming "Elephant Memories History Podcast". This trailer tries to do something impossible (!): summarise the long term causes of the Nigerian civil war in only 4 minutes. Listen, enjoy, and to subscribe to the podcast here, or on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts – and the other usual podcast outlets.
Mar 2

Second Trailer for the Elephant Memories History Podcast

This is the second preview of what to expect from my upcoming African history podcast: dramatic reconstructions of historical events, and interviews with eyewitnesses and experts.
Jan 24

First trailer for a new African history podcast

A preview of the Elephant Memories History Podcast: a new African history podcast - coming soon.

5

out of 5

3 Ratings

Top podcast!!

Apr 5

Anonymous-K26

Very insightful and well narrated.

Historian and author Max Siollun brings you an African history podcast that never forgets to remember. The world needs an African history podcast - because African history is box office! Revolutionaries, intellectuals, and villainous assassins: Africa had them all. Dramatic blow by blow reconstructions of explosive historical events, and interviews with historical eyewitnesses and experts. New episodes are released every 2 weeks.

Creator

Max Siollun
Years Active

2026
Episodes

12
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Max Siollun (c) - 2026
Show Website

Elephant Memories History Podcast