Falola, Scholars Honor Renowned Historian Bethwell Ogot

Prominent historian Professor Toyin Falola, alongside distinguished scholars, gathered to honor the late Professor Bethwell Alan Ogot, a revered historian who passed away in January 2025. The tribute took place during the latest edition of the Toyin Falola Interviews on Sunday, where panelists reflected on Ogot’s legacy and contributions to African historiography.

The event featured esteemed academics, including Professors Mary Nyangweso of East Carolina University, Maurice Nyamanga Amutabi of the Technical University of Kenya, Eunice Kamaara of Moi University, and Fred Muyia Nafukho of the University of Washington.

Professor Ogot (1929–2025) was a trailblazing Kenyan historian whose scholarship revolutionized the study of African history. He championed the use of oral traditions as credible historical sources, challenging Eurocentric narratives. His seminal works, History of the Southern Luo and Zamani: A Survey of East African History, co-edited with J. A. Kieran, remain foundational texts in the field.

As a professor at the University of Nairobi and a key contributor to UNESCO’s General History of Africa, Ogot helped redefine African historical scholarship by centering indigenous perspectives and methodologies.

Falola emphasized Ogot’s role in shaping nationalist historiography in postcolonial Africa. “After the Second World War, Africa entered an age of reform,” Falola stated. “Africans were seeking development and reforms, and one concession was the establishment of African universities. Within that moment, the career of Professor Ogot was formed.”

Falola highlighted how Ogot and his contemporaries pioneered a new historiographical framework that foregrounded African agency. “They laid the basis for modern African history, inserting African narratives into university curricula and secondary school syllabi. In East Africa, Professor Ogot became a pillar of this historiographical movement.”

Professor Eunice Kamaara recalled her first encounter with Ogot at a conference in the early 1990s, describing how he nurtured young scholars. “I was expecting a lot of criticism after presenting my paper, but to my surprise, Professor Ogot was the first to speak, and he affirmed my work,” she said. “He called me a girl, and while I might have taken offense, I saw it as a gentle, nurturing gesture.”

Professor Nafukho underscored Ogot’s enduring impact on African scholarship. “Professor Ogot didn’t just write history—he restored dignity to our past,” he noted. “His footprints, as he called them in his autobiography, are not just impressions in the sand; they are carved into the bedrock of African and international scholarship.”

Professor Maurice Amutabi described Ogot as “Kenya’s academic Moses” and an “academic Goliath with a Solomonic mind.” He recounted how, as an undergraduate at the University of Nairobi in the 1980s, he was inspired by Ogot’s mentorship and dedication to African historiography. “He had a habit of rounding up students whenever prominent scholars visited campus, ensuring we met intellectual giants like Chinua Achebe and Cyprian Ekwensi.”

Professor Mary Nyangweso echoed these sentiments, calling Ogot “Africa’s greatest historian.” She emphasized the transformative nature of his scholarship, stating, “Because of his work, we have a deep understanding of who we are as Kenyans, the road we have traveled, and the challenges ahead.”

As the scholarly community mourns his passing, the panelists agreed that the best tribute to Ogot’s legacy is to continue his work. “His writings will live on,” Professor Nafukho concluded. “His passing is a challenge to us—to take over where he left off and to advance his vision of African history.”

The celebration of Ogot’s life and work stands as a testament to his enduring influence on African historiography and the scholars he mentored, ensuring that his legacy will shape future generations.