I just got a message from a listsrv to which I belong that Professor Adiele Afigbo, one of the most prolific and best known Igbo historians, is dead. I met Prof Afigbo last September in Nsukka and we discussed my research at lenght, with him offering suggestion on what I might look at. I am still trying to understand that he is really dead. It feels very unreal.
The notification on the listserv by Prof Toyin Falola of the Department of History, The University of Texas at Austin reads:
It is with great sadness that I announced the death of Professor Adiele Afigbo who died this morning. His works transformed the studies of colonial history, the Igbo speaking people, and contemporary African development. Nigeria’s transition from the colonial to the post-colonial closely parallels the academic career of A.E. Afigbo. He graduated with a Ph.D. in History from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1964, the first History doctorate produced on Nigerian soil. He had a remarkable career. He authored or co-authored eight books, edited four more, and published well over a hundred journal articles. Afigbo earned numerous prizes for his scholarship, served on the editorial board of many acclaimed scholarly journals and was inducted into many prestigious societies, including the Nigerian Academy of Letters, and received also received government sponsored awards such as the Order of the Niger and the Nigerian National Merit Award.
I feel so sad I don’t know what to say.
should have checked your blog before i posted…yes, he definitely will be missed.
should have checked your blog before i posted…yes, he definitely will be missed.
Sad news.
Sad news.
Eya. E be like say great minds just dey die these days o. Tayeb Salih of Sudan died the other day too.
Eya. E be like say great minds just dey die these days o. Tayeb Salih of Sudan died the other day too.
Accept my condolence. What die he die from/of?
Accept my condolence. What die he die from/of?
how very sad
how very sad
With Professor Afigbo’s departure Nigeria and indeed the academic community has lost a rare breed.May he RIP.
With Professor Afigbo’s departure Nigeria and indeed the academic community has lost a rare breed.May he RIP.
Prof. Afigbo was indeed a great Igbo historian. Nigerian students especially those of us in the humanities will greatly miss his contributions.
Prof. Afigbo was indeed a great Igbo historian. Nigerian students especially those of us in the humanities will greatly miss his contributions.
truely he will be missed hope he knew God, lt is my prayer that his soul may rest in perfect peace.amen
truely he will be missed hope he knew God, lt is my prayer that his soul may rest in perfect peace.amen
Adieu, he was my friend and much like a father too.
Adieu, he was my friend and much like a father too.