Biography
Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, I am a doctoral researcher who is broadly interested in the history of Africa, more specifically, nineteen and twentieth century African History, the African Diaspora and Africana Feminisms. Prior to joining UIUC in Fall 2022, I was a NOPART exchange student at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for Spring Semester 2022. My research activities examine migration, settlement patterns, identity formation and inter-group relations in West Africa, as well as sites of historical memory within the sub-region. I also work on infrastructure, urban and military history of Africa and the varied impact of the two World Wars on Africa and Africans. I spend my spare time discussing social and political issues, watching soccer highlights, surfing the internet, social media, and cooking for leisure.
Research Interests
African History
The African Diaspora
War/Military History
Africana Feminisms
Infrastructure/Urban History
Research Description
I shall equally examine the gendered dimension of these war time experiences and what popular culture held sway during the war years in the Gold Coast. In undertaking this study, I shall employ the use of archival sources, newspaper reportage, popular and cultural productions during the war years including propaganda materials, music, movies, night life, visual culture, as well as city and building plans during and in the immediate postwar years. And where possible, oral interviews with descendants of wartime veterans and individuals who lived through the war years shall also constitute integral sources for my dissertation.
Education
M.A. History, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, 2022
B.A. History/International Studies, Lagos State University, Nigeria, 2019.
N.C.E. (Nigeria Certificate in Education) History/CRS, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto/Ijanikin, Lagos, Nigeria, 2013.
Grants
Department of History, ABD Fellowship, 2026 - 2027
Pinderhughes Graduate Research Award 2026 (runner up)
Department of History, African Studies Association Travel Grant, December 2024
William and Virginia Waterman Scholarship in Academic Excellence 2024
Department of History Summer Travel Grant 2024
Department of History First Year Fellowship 2022
Courses Taught
World War II: A Global History (TA, Spring 2025 & Spring 2026)
United States History Through Reconstruction (TA, Fall 2025)
US History to 1877 (TA, Fall 2024)
Global History 100 (TA, Fall 2023 & Spring 2024)
Additional Campus Affiliations
Deputy Editor-in-Chief, African Illinois International Review (AIIR) Aug. 2025 – present
Graduate Student Member, Diversity Committee, Department of History, UIUC Aug. 2023 – May 2024
Member, Women’s and Gender History Committee, UIUC Aug. 2023 – May 2024
Highlighted Publications
Journal Articles
“Social Order, Colonial Violence and Disobedience: Re-Visiting the Gold Coast 1948 Riots.” (under review with the International Journal of African Historical Studies)
“Beyond Decolonization: Lagos, Utopia, the Making of the Postcolonial State and Citizenship.” (with Mauton Timothy Avoseh, under review with……….)
“Migration, Settlement, Identity & Inter-Group Relations: The Ewe Diaspora on the Beaches of Lagos 1800 to Present.” (with Edmund Abaka, under review with………..)
“Epistemology, Femininity and Gender Relations: A Matricentric Examination of Afro-Feminism.” (with Felix Orole, under review with the Journal of African Identities)
“Gendered Legal Identities and Belonging in Nigeria: Custom, Constitution, and the Limits of Judicial Reform.” (with Felix Orole et al., under review with the Journal of African Identities)
“Slavery, Remembrance and Sites of Historical Memory: The Case of Badagry.” African Economic History 49, no. 1 (2021): 104–126. Special Edition in Honour of Paul Lovejoy, (With Edmund Abaka).
Book Chapters
“The Socio-Economic and Cultural Impact of the War on Africa and Africans.” in Edmund Abaka (ed.), Africa and the Second World War: Africa’s Forgotten ‘Finest’ Hour. Africa World Press, 2022.
“The Second World War: East Africa and the Horn.” in Edmund Abaka (ed.), Africa and the Second World War: Africa’s Forgotten ‘Finest’ Hour. Africa World Press, 2022. (Edmund Abaka & George Xorse Kumasenu).
“North Africa and the Second World War.” in Edmund Abaka (ed.), Africa and the Second World War: Africa’s Forgotten ‘Finest’ Hour. Africa World Press, 2022. (Edmund Abaka & George Xorse Kumasenu).