Mahmood Mamdani

Mahmood Mamdani is the Herbert Lehman Professor of Government and Professor of Anthropology at Columbia University. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University (1974) and has previously taught at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Makerere University, and the University of Cape Town. His research focuses on African history, colonialism, human rights, and political violence, with notable works analyzing Rwanda's genocide, Sudan's Darfur conflict, and the intersection of Cold War politics with global terrorism. Mamdani has served as President of CODESRIA (1998–2002) and is recognized as a leading public intellectual.

His academic contributions span over five decades, with seminal books like Citizen and Subject (1996) and When Victims Become Killers (2001). Current research interests include decolonizing universities, the legacy of indirect rule, and the politics of identity in postcolonial Africa. Mamdani's writings frequently critique Western narratives on Africa, emphasizing historical context over cultural reductionism.

He has received accolades including the Herskovitz Prize and global recognition as a top public intellectual. His courses at Columbia address African political debates, the modern state, and human rights theory.