Ali Mazrui facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ali Mazrui
Born	(1933-02-24)24 February 1933 Mombasa, Kenya Colony
Died	12 October 2014(2014-10-12) (aged 81) Vestal, New York, United States
Resting place	Mazrui Graveyard, Mombasa
Nationality	Kenyan
Alma mater	Manchester University (BA) Columbia University (MA) Oxford University (PhD)
Occupation	Academic and political author
Years active	1966–2014
Known for	Coining the term "black orientalism"
Television	The Africans: A Triple Heritage
Spouse(s)	Molly Vickerman Pauline Uti
Children	5
Awards	Order of the Burning Spear Top 100 Public Intellectuals (2005)

Ali Al'amin Mazrui (born February 24, 1933 – died October 12, 2014) was a famous professor and writer. He was born in Mombasa, Kenya, and later became an American citizen. He taught about African and Islamic studies, and how countries in the North and South relate to each other.

Mazrui was the Director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies at Binghamton University. He also led the Center for Afro-American and African Studies at the University of Michigan. He is well-known for creating the TV show The Africans: A Triple Heritage.

Early Life and Family

Ali Mazrui was born in Mombasa, Kenya Colony, on February 24, 1933. His father, Al-Amin Bin Ali Mazrui, was the Chief Islamic Judge in Kenya's Kadhi courts. These courts deal with Islamic law. His father was also a respected scholar and writer.

The Mazrui family was very important and wealthy in Kenya. They had even ruled Mombasa in the past. Ali's father taught him to love intellectual debates. Ali often went with his father to court and listened to his discussions.

At first, Ali wanted to follow his father's path and study Islam at Al-Azhar University in Egypt. However, he didn't do well enough in his school exams in 1949. Because of this, he couldn't get into Makerere College (now Makerere University), which was the only university in East Africa then. He then worked at the Mombasa Institute of Muslim Education.

Education Journey

Ali Mazrui started primary school in Mombasa. He learned English so he could join formal debates. He later said that journalism was his first step toward becoming an academic. Besides English, he also spoke Swahili and Arabic.

With a scholarship from the Kenyan Government, Mazrui continued his studies. He earned his first degree (a Bachelor of Arts) from Manchester University in Great Britain in 1960. He then got his Master of Arts from Columbia University in New York in 1961. Finally, he earned his doctorate (PhD) from Oxford University in 1966. He was inspired by Kwame Nkrumah's ideas about pan-Africanism. These ideas helped shape his thinking about "Africa's triple heritage." This idea suggests Africa is shaped by African traditions, Islam, and Christianity.

Academic Career Highlights

Mazrui started his teaching career at Makerere University in Uganda. He had always dreamed of studying there. At Makerere, he became a professor of political science and gained international fame. He felt these years were very important and productive. In 1967, he published three books, showing his dedication to writing.

During his time at Makerere, Mazrui also led the World Order Models Project. This project brought together political scientists from around the world. They discussed how to achieve lasting peace globally.

Mazrui later felt he had to leave Makerere University. This was likely because he wanted to stay neutral as an academic. He didn't want to take sides in political conflicts.

• Meeting John Okello: In 1968, John Okello, a leader of the Zanzibar Revolution, asked Mazrui to join his cause. Okello wanted Mazrui to be his advisor or help write a constitution. Mazrui refused, saying it would go against his duty as a professor to join a political group. This showed how respected Mazrui was, even by political leaders.
• Meeting Idi Amin: Later, Idi Amin, who was the president of Uganda, also asked Mazrui to be his special advisor. Mazrui declined this invitation because he felt it would be unsafe. This decision caused him to lose his political standing in Uganda. He often said this was why he felt forced to leave Makerere University.

In 1974, Mazrui became a professor of political science at the University of Michigan in the United States. He also taught at the University of Jos in Nigeria at the same time. He believed it was important to teach in Africa to stay connected to the African perspective.

From 1978 to 1981, Mazrui directed the Center for Afro-American and African Studies (CAAS) at the University of Michigan. He believed that African Americans and Africans needed stronger connections. He thought educating African Americans about global politics would help Africa.

Mazrui taught at the University of Michigan until 1989. He then took a break to become the Albert Schweitzer professor at SUNY Binghamton. His move from the University of Michigan was widely discussed. There was a lot of competition between the two universities to keep him. Mazrui eventually chose SUNY Binghamton. He felt the University of Michigan was not committed enough to studying politics in the developing world. His departure also led to discussions about racial diversity among professors at the University of Michigan.

Other Important Roles

Besides his main professorships, Mazrui held many other important positions:

• He was the Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities.
• He was a professor of Political Science, African Studies, and Philosophy.
• He directed the Institute of Global Cultural Studies (IGCS).
• He was the Albert Luthuli Professor-at-Large at the University of Jos in Nigeria.
• He was a senior scholar in Africana Studies at Cornell University.
• He served as chancellor of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Nairobi, Kenya.
• In 1999, he retired as the first Walter Rodney Professor at the University of Guyana.

Mazrui was also a visiting scholar at many other universities around the world. These included Stanford University, Harvard University, and Oxford University. In 2005, he was named the 73rd most important intellectual person in the world by Prospect Magazine and Foreign Policy.

Key Ideas and Views

Ali Mazrui had several important ideas about Africa and the world.

Africa's Triple Heritage

Mazrui believed that modern Africa was shaped by three main influences. He explored this idea in his TV series, The Africans: A Triple Heritage.

• The impact of Western colonialism and imperialism.
• The spiritual and cultural influence of Islam from the East.
• Africa's own traditional and native cultures.

The Paradoxes of Africa

Mazrui identified six "paradoxes" or puzzling situations that help explain Africa:

• Africa is where humans first appeared, but it was the last continent (besides Antarctica) to develop in a modern way.
• Africans have faced a lot of humiliation, even if they haven't always been the most abused group in history.
• Africa has very different cultures from the West, but it is quickly adopting Western ways.
• Africa has huge natural resources, but its people are often very poor.
• Africa is a very large continent, but it is also very divided into many smaller parts.
• Africa is geographically central on the world map, but it has little political power globally.

Africa's Dependency Problem

Mazrui argued that Africa would not truly benefit from its relationships with developed countries as long as it remained dependent on them. He believed Africa needed to become more self-reliant.

Africa's Greatest Resource

Mazrui thought that the most valuable resource Africa had was its people. He especially highlighted African Americans. He believed they should remember their African roots and use their influence to help shape U.S. foreign policy. This, he felt, could help Africa improve its global standing.

Professional Organizations and Works

Mazrui was involved in many professional groups. He was president of the African Studies Association (USA) and vice-president of the International Political Science Association. He also advised the World Bank.

He wrote or co-wrote more than twenty books and hundreds of articles. He was often asked for advice by world leaders and media.

Mazrui became known for questioning common ideas among African thinkers in the 1960s and 70s. He was critical of African socialism and Marxism. He argued that communism was a Western idea that didn't fit Africa well. He believed a changed form of liberalism could help the continent. He called his own ideas "African liberalism."

He also criticized the global economic system, saying it exploited Africa. He believed the West often did not live up to its own ideals. He opposed Western military actions, like the Iraq War. He was also critical of some of Israel's policies. He was one of the first to compare how Palestinians were treated to apartheid in South Africa.

In his later years, Mazrui became a well-known expert on Islam and Islamism. While he rejected violence, he praised the anti-imperialist feelings found in some modern Islamic movements. He also argued that sharia law could work with democracy.

His most famous work is the television series The Africans: A Triple Heritage. It was made by the BBC and PBS. A book with the same title was also published.

Positions Held

• Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan, U.S.A.
• Director, Center for Afro-American and African Studies, University of Michigan, U.S.A.
• Director, Institute of Global Cultural Studies, Binghamton University, U.S.A.
• Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities, Binghamton University, U.S.A.
• Chancellor, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
• Albert Luthuli Professor-at-Large, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
• Senior Scholar in Africana Studies and Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large Emeritus, Cornell University, U.S.A.
• President, Association of Muslim Social Scientists of North America, U.S.A.

Awards and Recognition

Ali Mazrui received many awards for his work:

• Millennium Tribute for Outstanding Scholarship from the House of Lords in London (2000).
• Special Award from the Association of Muslim Social Scientists (UK) for his contributions to social sciences and Islamic studies (2000).
• Honorary Doctorates from various universities.
• Named an Icon of the Twentieth Century by Lincoln University (1998).
• DuBois-Garvey Award for Pan-African Unity from Morgan State University (1998).
• Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award from the University of Michigan (1988).
• Rumi Forum Extraordinary Commitment to Education Award (2013).

He was also ranked among the world's top 100 public intellectuals in 2005 by Prospect Magazine (UK) and Foreign Policy Magazine (USA).

Death

Ali Mazrui passed away from natural causes at his home in Vestal, New York on October 12, 2014. His body was brought back to his hometown of Mombasa, Kenya. An Islamic funeral prayer was held, and he was buried in his family's Mazrui Graveyard. Many important people attended his burial, including government officials.

See also

In Spanish: Ali Mazrui para niños