Philip Uko Effiong

Philip Uko Effiong is an Associate Professor of Theatre Studies and Integrative Humanities at Michigan State University, with over 25 years of college-level teaching experience. He joined MSU in Spring 2017 after teaching at institutions across Nigeria, Ghana, and the United States.

• PhD in Drama (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
• MA in Literature of the African Diaspora (University of Calabar)
• Bachelor’s in English (University of Calabar)

His research focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to African and African diasporic performance, including:

• Performance as resistance in Caribbean communities (Jamaican Maroons, Garifuna)
• Influence of Greek tragedy on African drama
• Post-Biafran identity and historical narratives
• Fela Kuti’s music and political critique
• African diasporic communities in India and the Philippines

His publications span African theatre, diasporic literature, and cultural resistance. Key themes include political power, postcolonial identity, and artistic activism. He also collaborates on documentaries exploring marginalized histories and has written a memoir on the Nigeria-Biafra War.

Notable awards include:

• Tip of the Hat Award for Teaching Excellence (2016)
• Fulbright Scholar (1988-1994)
• Certificate of Recognition for Scholarly Activity (2012)

He teaches courses such as Contemporary Theatre in Historical Context, African American Drama, and African & African Diaspora Literature, integrating drama, history, and interdisciplinary humanities.