John Iliffe: the historian who changed how Africa’s past was understood

By Derek R. Peterson, Ali Mazrui Professor of History & African Studies, University of Michigan

John Iliffe, the distinguished scholar renowned for his life’s work in African history, died on 20 August 2026 at the age of 87.

He shed light on big themes in Africa’s history. His 12 books were scrupulously researched, many of them being pioneering works that set out new areas of scholarship. He taught hundreds of undergraduates in Tanzania, Malawi and the UK over a career that lasted over 40 years. He trained over two dozen doctoral students,…

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