Earlier this month I had the pleasure of giving a paper MSU African Studies Center honoring the late Kenyan poet Micere Mugo.

Here's the video. My modest contribution was to reflect on the tension between Micere's radical art and her (conservative) family history.

youtube.com/watch?v=UANSgh…

Students of TAHRIR Coalition are encamped at the center of @umich, demanding that the university divest from Israel’s war against innocent people in Gaza.

I spoke at their rally earlier today, reminding them of the long history of heroic student activism in Kenya & South Africa.

Preparations for the anniversary of the coup that brought Idi Amin to power, Jan. 1977. Here Pres. Amin flies to Katwe, in the west, on helicopter in the company of the West German ambassador.

Courtesy Getty Images.

I am sorry to hear that Dr. Martin Aliker has recently passed away. He was a constant presence in Uganda's public life. Here's a thread I did on him a few years ago.

May he rest in peace.

I'll be speaking next Tuesday MSU African Studies Center at a symposium honouring the life and work of the Kenyan poet and playwright Micere Githae Mugo. Programme here.

My paper focuses on the tension between Dr. Mugo's radical politics and her family history. Do come.

Here's Milton Obote flagging off the East African Safari Rally, 26 March 1970. The race ran for five days & covered 3,200 miles, ending on Easter Monday.

Only 9 cars finished the rally that year. The winners drove a Nissan Bluebird, the first Japanese car to win.

It's an honor to be elected--this week--to the exec committee for faculty govt here University of Michigan. At a time when universities--including this one--are under the eye of critical politicians, I'll defend scholars' right to organize & act on unpopular principles.

record.umich.edu/articles/three…

A good Ramadan to everyone beginning to fast today.

Here's a clip from November 1972: Uganda president Idi Amin celebrates Idd al-Fitr with Muslims in Old Kampala Hill. Courtesy Reuters.