Serges Djoyou Kamga
The University of the Free State (UFS) awarded an honorary doctorate to Prof Toyin Falola, one of Africa’s most distinguished historians, during its April Faculty of Law graduation ceremony on 11 April 2025. This marks the 26th honorary doctorate received by the Nigerian-born academic, whose contributions to African scholarship span decades and disciplines.
Prof Falola, who holds the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin, is widely regarded as a leading intellectual on the continent. His academic output includes over 150 authored and edited books on African history, politics, and epistemology. He has also held prominent scholarly positions, including the Kluge Chair in Countries and Cultures of the South at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
Recognition aligned with transformation and inclusivity
In his address after being conferred with the honorary doctorate, Prof Falola expressed appreciation for the recognition, while emphasising his alignment with the UFS’s core values. “It is an honour for me to accept this honorary doctorate. I’m happy that the university has developed a consensus around the philosophy of transformation, ubuntu, and inclusiveness within this great country and beyond,” he said.
He described the university’s institutional direction as a reflection of a global shift towards equity and human dignity. “The loud and clear message that I’m looking at today is that the university is rejecting all forms of discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, beliefs, or disability, and that you are speaking for all of us as we promote ideas of balance and inclusivity.”
A call to action for the graduating class
Prof Falola also used the platform to deliver a message to the graduating class. “You don’t have the luxury of indifference. We rely on you for change,” he said. “Education is a tool for development. Higher learning institutions must not only train minds to find jobs but also train minds to discover and create solutions.”
Closing his remarks, he urged students to maintain their connection with the university and to let their values guide them in their post-university lives. “As you prepare to embark on a new journey, please consider values as important. Our progress will only be possible by the choices you’re going to make, and our success will depend on the values you choose,” he said.
A legacy of scholarship and cultural preservation
In addition to his scholarly accolades, Prof Falola holds fellowships with the Nigerian Academy of Letters and the Historical Society of Nigeria. He has received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Africanist Award from the African Studies Association in the United States and the Lifetime Career Award from the Canadian African Studies Association. His cultural contributions have also been recognised through various Yoruba chieftaincy titles, including the Bobapitan of Ibadanland and the Bobapitan of Ondo Kingdom.
Influence beyond academia
His scholarship has inspired several academic studies and tributes. These include Toyin Falola and African Epistemologies; Falolaism: The Epistemologies and Methodologies of Africana Knowledge; and The Complex Interplay between Power, Politics, and African Agency: The Philosophy of Toyin Falola. A forthcoming book, An Ethos of Transdisciplinarity: Conversations with Toyin Falola, by Prof Sanya Osha of the University of Cape Town, is expected to further explore his global influence.
The honorary degree awarded by the UFS adds to a long list of honours for Prof Falola, whose work continues to shape African and global academic thought.