Mahmood Mamdani To Receive Honorary Degree from University of KwaZulu-Natal

Renowned scholar Mahmood Mamdani, who has been described as “perhaps the greatest living African scholar”, is to receive an honorary degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal for his outstanding contribution to academia.

In April, Mamdani will be awarded the honour alongside musician Yvonne Chaka Chaka, community worker Thudiso Gcabashe, birdman Hugh Chittenden and Zuleikha Mayat, the author of the legendary South African cookbook, Indian Delights. Mayat’s cookbook was the focus of the HSRC Press book, Gender, Modernity and Indian Delights, written by Goolam Vahed and Thembisa Waetjen.

Francis Kagolo states in New Vision that Mamdani’s 2007 book, Scholars in the Marketplace, “caused unease within Makerere University’s administration” (where Mamdani currently serves as director of MISR). This was because the book “criticized the commercialization of university education in Uganda and the lack of academic research and publications by professors”, says Kagolo.

Congratulations to Mamdani!

Renowned scholar, Prof. Mahmood Mamadani, is one of the six African personalities to receive honorary degrees from the University of KwaZulu-Natal for his outstanding contribution in the academia.

KwaZulu-Natal, based in South Africa, is the 8th best university in Africa, according to Webometrics rankings released last week.

Mamdani, currently the director of Makerere university institute of social research (MISR), was chosen for his “outstanding academic record as a scholar,” the university said in a statement.

• Complete article: New Vision

Book details

• Scholars in the Marketplace: The dilemmas of neo-liberal reform at Makerere University 1989-2005 by Mahmood Mamdani
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  EAN: 9780796922144
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• Saviours and Survivors: Darfur, Politics and the War on Terror by Mahmood Mamdani
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  EAN: 9780796922526
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