Ali Dinar

Ali Dinar is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. He holds a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Khartoum (Sudan) and a Ph.D. in Folklore and Folklife from UPenn.

• Education: B.A./M.A. University of Khartoum; Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania

His research focuses on Sudanese popular culture, identity politics, and colonial/post-colonial African history. Courses taught include 'African Conflicts,' 'Sudanese Arabic Language,' 'Reading Historical Arabic Manuscripts,' and specialized courses on Darfur and Sudan Civil Wars.

Notable publications address Darfur's geopolitical status and the structural causes of the Darfur conflict, contributing to critical discussions on Sudan's governance challenges. He explores intersections between material culture (e.g., dress) and historical narratives.