Akbar Keshodkar

Akbar Keshodkar is a Professor of Anthropology at Moravian University’s Sociology & Anthropology Department. His work focuses on mobility, globalization, and socio-cultural dynamics in East Africa and the Indian Ocean region. He holds an M.Sc & D.Phil from Oxford University, an M.A in Islamic Studies from the Institute of Ismaili Studies (London), and a B.A in Biology and Islamic Studies from Oberlin College.

His research examines transnational networks, tourism’s socio-economic impacts, and Muslim identity formations in Zanzibar and beyond. Key themes include how globalization shapes cultural identities, the role of tourism in creating immobility paradoxes, and transnational trade dynamics between Zanzibar and actors like China and Dubai. He currently investigates coastal communities in Oregon to explore resilience strategies amid tourism dependency.

Publications highlight his interdisciplinary approach, covering topics like heritage commodification, transnational marriage practices, and the political economy of Zanzibar’s Stone Town. His work bridges anthropological theory with policy-relevant analyses of development challenges in post-socialist societies.

Teaching includes courses on Modern African History, Indian Ocean Studies, and the anthropology of tourism. His courses emphasize comparative sociology, transnationalism, and critical approaches to power structures and globalization.