Michael Crowder (9 June 1934 – 14 August 1988) was a British historian and author notable for his books on the

history of Africa Archaic humans Out of Africa 1, emerged out of Africa between 0.5 and 1.8 million years ago. This was followed by the Recent African origin of modern humans, emergence of anatomically modern humans, modern humans (''Homo sapiens'') in East A ...

and particularly on the history of West Africa.

Early life and education

Michael was born in London and educated at

Mill Hill School Mill Hill School is a 13–18 co-educational Private schools in the United Kingdom, private, Day school, day and boarding school in Mill Hill, London, England that was established in 1807. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' ...

. After earning a first class honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) at

Hertford College, Oxford Hertford College ( ), previously known as Magdalen Hall, is a colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. It is located on Catte Street in the centre of Oxford, directly opposite the main ga ...

in 1957, he returned to Lagos (he had previously been conscripted to the Nigeria Regiment in Lagos from 1953 to 1954 for his British national service) to become first Editor of ''Nigeria Magazine'' in 1959.

Academic career

Michael commenced his career as a secretary at the Institute of African Studies at the

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public university located in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Initially founded as the University College Ibadan in 1948, it maintained its affiliation with the University of London. In 1962, it became an independe ...

. In 1964 he was Visiting Lecturer in African History at the

University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...

and Director of the Institute of African Studies at Fourah Bay College,

University of Sierra Leone The University of Sierra Leone is the name of the former unitary public university system in Sierra Leone. Established in February 1827, it is the oldest university in Africa. As of May 2005, the University of Sierra Leone was reconstituted into ...

in 1965. While in Nigeria from 1968 to 1978 he was appointed as Research Professor and Director of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University). Afterwards, he became Professor of History at

Ahmadu Bello University The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a public research university located in Zaria, Nigeria, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. It was opened in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria. The university has four colleges, three schools, 18 faculties, ...

and finally as Research Professor in History at the Centre for Cultural Studies at the

University of Lagos The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a Public university, public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria, which was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the education in Nigeria#First generation universities, first generation universities in ...

in the 1970s. He worked as an editor for the British Magazine ''

History Today ''History Today'' is a history magazine. Published monthly in London since January 1951, it presents authoritative history to as wide a public as possible. The magazine covers all periods and geographical regions and publishes articles of tradit ...

'' after his return to London in 1979. He was also Visiting Fellow at the Centre for International Studies at the LSE, and Professor of History at the University of Botswana in the 1980s while he worked as a Consultant Editor until his death.

Selected books

*''The Story of Nigeria'' (1962) *'' Eze Goes to School'', co-authored with Onuora Nzekwu (1963) *''West Africa Under Colonial Rule'' (1968) *''West African Resistance'' (1971) *''West Africa: An Introduction to its History'' (1977) *''Akin Goes to School'', co-authored with Christie Ade Ajayi (1978) *''Colonial West Africa'' (1978) *''The Cambridge History of Africa'' (1984)

References

Bibliography

* * * * 1934 births 1988 deaths Academic staff of the University of Lagos Academic staff of Ahmadu Bello University Historians of Nigeria British expatriates in Nigeria 20th-century British historians Academic staff of Obafemi Awolowo University People educated at Mill Hill School Academics from London Academic staff of the University of Botswana Academic staff of Fourah Bay College English historians English Africanists Alumni of Hertford College, Oxford Royal West African Frontier Force officers {{UK-historian-stub

Early life and education

Academic career

Selected books

See also

References

Bibliography