Claude Ake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Claude Ake
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Late Prof. Claude Ake
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 February 1939 Omoku, Southern Region, British Nigeria (Rivers State, Nigeria) |
| Died | 7 November 1996 (aged 57) Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Spouse |
Anita Ake
(m. 1985) |
| Children |
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| Occupation | Dean of the University of Port Harcourt |
Claude Ake (born February 18, 1939, in Omoku – died November 7, 1996) was a famous Nigerian political scientist. He came from Omoku in Rivers State, Nigeria. Many people thought Ake (pronounced AH-kay) was "one of Africa's most important thinkers" about politics.
He studied how countries develop, how politics and money work together, and how governments are formed. He was especially known for his work on how countries in Africa could become more developed and democratic. He taught at many universities around the world, including Columbia University and Yale University in the United States, and the University of Nairobi in Kenya. He was also a professor and dean at the University of Port Harcourt in Nigeria. Claude Ake was very involved in Nigerian politics and often spoke out against corruption and unfair rulers in Africa. His main home was in Port Harcourt.
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Claude Ake's Career in Education
Before he became a dean at the University of Port Harcourt, Claude Ake taught at universities in Canada, Kenya, and Tanzania. He also held important roles at places like the African Journal of Political Economy and the Social Sciences Council of Nigeria.
When he taught at Yale University, he led two political science classes. One class, called State in Africa, was for both new and advanced students. The other class was for new students and focused on how development and government worked in Africa.
In 1985, Ake wrote about African governments. He said, "Power is everything, and those who control the power use it freely to help themselves." George Bond, who directed the Institute of African Studies at Columbia University, said that Ake was a top scholar on African politics. He also said Ake cared deeply about improving the lives of everyday Africans.
David Apter from Yale University shared that Ake quickly became very popular with students. He said students were truly shocked and sad when Ake passed away. Apter described Ake as having a "crackling intelligence" and a clear, strong view of African politics. He added that Ake could explain complex ideas in a simple way. Apter believed Ake was not only the best African political scientist but also a very brave person. Even though the Nigerian Government often disagreed with him, they respected his importance.
Later Life and Passing
On November 16, 1995, Claude Ake stepped down from a committee called the Niger Delta Environmental Survey. He did this to protest the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa, an activist who fought for minority rights. Ake was also a strong critic of Shell and other oil companies. He once said that in Nigeria, companies like Shell were caught between "greed and fear."
In 1991, Ake started the Center for Advanced Social Science (CASS) in Port Harcourt. This center is a "think-tank" that studies social and environmental issues. In the early 1990s, it also helped solve problems between local officials and minority groups in Nigeria's oil-producing areas. It acted as a fair helper in discussions about oil money and environmental concerns.
Claude Ake was one of 144 people who died when ADC Airlines Flight 86 crashed. The plane was flying between Port Harcourt and Lagos in Nigeria. Many people believed his death was planned by the military government at the time, led by General Sani Abacha. Ake was a strong critic of Abacha. He also guided Ken Saro-Wiwa and supported the Ogoni people in their fight against unfair treatment. Ake's family included his wife, Anita, and three sons: Mela, Ibra, and Brieri. His son, Ibra Ake, later became a Grammy Award winner and a well-known creative director. He is famous for directing the music video for This Is America by Donald Glover (Childish Gambino).
Claude Ake Visiting Chair at Uppsala University
In 2003, the Claude Ake Visiting Chair was created at Uppsala University in Sweden. This was done to honor Ake's memory. It is part of the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, working with the Nordic Africa Institute. This special position is for social scientists from African universities. They research topics like war, peace, solving conflicts, human rights, democracy, and development in Africa.
Selected Works
- Social Sciences as Imperialism (1979)
- Revolutionary Pressures in Africa (1978)
- A Political Economy of Africa (1981)
- The Unique Case of African democracy, International Affairs, April 1993.
- Democracy and Development in Africa (1996)
- The Feasibility of Democracy in Africa (2000 - published after his death)
