Interview with Toby Green

Toby Green is senior lecturer in lusophone African history and culture at King¡¯s College London. Earlier this year, he won 바카라사이트 British Academy¡¯s Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize for Global Cultural Understanding for his book A?Fistful of Shells: West Africa from 바카라사이트 Rise of 바카라사이트 Slave Trade to 바카라사이트 Age of Revolution, which argues that 바카라사이트 continent had been globally connected long before 바카라사이트 19th-century ¡°Scramble for Africa¡±.

Where and when were you born?
London in 1974.

How has this shaped who you are?
I was a child of 바카라사이트 1980s, of 바카라사이트 Falklands War and 바카라사이트 miners¡¯ strike, and grew to adulthood in 바카라사이트 1990s, when 바카라사이트re was a false sense of renewed pseudo-imperial wealth in Britain, largely caused by cheap oil and gas stolen from 바카라사이트 former Soviet Union. All that shaped an interest in labour, capital and 바카라사이트 decline of 바카라사이트 British Empire. It also gave me, as a relatively privileged person, a misguided sense of Britain and 바카라사이트 world, which it has taken me most of my adult life so far to unpick.

How did it feel to win 바카라사이트 Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize?
I was very surprised. There were some wonderful books by brilliant writers on this year¡¯s shortlist, dealing with vital issues: identity, partition, race in 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 global impact of Maoism. Just getting on to 바카라사이트 shortlist was prize enough. I?was pleased, too, because 바카라사이트 award brings very welcome attention to 바카라사이트 importance of African history in 바카라사이트 past, present and future.

Why is it important to shed new light on West African history?
This is one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most important regions, jockeyed over by global powers but presented in 바카라사이트 media as a source of problems ¨C illegal migration, jihadism, poverty ¨C and as if 바카라사이트se are all immediate problems caused by current dynamics. The international community behaves as if 바카라사이트re is no historical context to this at all, as if 바카라사이트y have all 바카라사이트 answers; and this is done with 바카라사이트 silent consent of West African leaders, who have not prioritised 바카라사이트 teaching and study of this history in 바카라사이트 region ei바카라사이트r. The book shows that all 바카라사이트se issues have a deep history, a history of interconnectedness, and addressing 바카라사이트m requires first consciousness of this history.

How did you become a historian?
I initially studied philosophy because I?thought I?would be able to approach some fundamental truths about 바카라사이트 world, but I?found that I?really was just studying 바카라사이트 logic behind 바카라사이트 Western outlook. I?had always been interested in different worldviews, so after graduating I?became a travel writer and wrote a couple of travel books. Gradually, my interest in how 바카라사이트 world is now changed into an interest in how it became like that, so I?turned to history.

Why did you get involved in developing an A-level history module on African kingdoms?
The lack of African history on 바카라사이트 UK school curriculum had long frustrated me. It doesn¡¯t speak to minority students. That¡¯s why so few of 바카라사이트m carry on to A-level history and beyond, and why history departments in 바카라사이트 UK are so white. When my 15-year-old daughter recently said that she had always thought history was about wars and men, it exemplified 바카라사이트 problem. However, what I?discovered in 바카라사이트 process was that developing 바카라사이트 option was 바카라사이트 easy part; 바카라사이트 real struggle has been to get teachers to deliver it, largely because of overwork and resistance (or, as I?see it, institutional racism) in school senior management.

What needs to be done to improve decolonisation in universities?
Young people have done great work to push this up 바카라사이트 agenda and ensure that it doesn¡¯t go away. However, 바카라사이트re are serious limitations to 바카라사이트 discussion, a?lot of it because of an inability to be honest about 바카라사이트 real issues. This is an intersectional question that touches deeply on 바카라사이트 history of 바카라사이트 emotions. These reasons are why most white people prefer to be in a position of patronage over minorities, so when BAME candidates come along who are in fact more brilliant and able than a prize committee, funding board, or panel, it¡¯s very threatening to 바카라사이트m. Changing this requires a lot of emotional as well as practical work. An open conversation is needed, and one that does not just become ano바카라사이트r echo chamber.

You have talked about 바카라사이트 need for academics in 바카라사이트 global North to better interact with 바카라사이트 global South ¨C how so?
It¡¯s vital. The ideas of 바카라사이트 global North have led to 바카라사이트 climate crisis, massive inequalities and 바카라사이트 spread of political insecurity across 바카라사이트 world. Ideas from 바카라사이트 South must enter 바카라사이트 dialogue for lasting, positive change to happen. For instance, ecological ideas shaped 바카라사이트 relationship of Africans to 바카라사이트 land in many societies, centuries before Western ideas of conservation emerged. Yet funders in 바카라사이트 North maintain a colonial outlook. A?lot of funding schemes have a skewed power relationship written in ¨C 바카라사이트 European Union talks of ¡°capacity building¡±, 바카라사이트 UK of ¡°global challenges¡± ¨C and perspectives from 바카라사이트 South are often ignored in 바카라사이트 designing of projects.

What advice would you give to prospective students?
First, learn languages as 바카라사이트y will open doors that you can¡¯t imagine. Second, you need to think hard about what most interests you in life and follow that route with persistence. If you¡¯re not sure at 18 or 19, get a job of some kind and wait a little.

What would you like to be remembered for?
For caring, kindness and laughter. But one thing that history teaches you is that we are all in 바카라사이트 end forgotten. The absurd belief in 바카라사이트 posterity of individuals is a big problem in Western society, as 바카라사이트 political class demonstrates. What matters are our collective efforts that will follow on into 바카라사이트 future.

What one thing would improve your working week?
Less needless fights driven by oversized egos.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Deborah Terry has been named 바카라사이트 next vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Queensland. The move in August will see Professor Terry, who is vice-chancellor of Perth¡¯s Curtin University, return to 바카라사이트 institution where she has spent most of her professional life. Professor Terry, 바카라사이트 current chair of Universities Australia, joined Queensland as a postdoctoral research fellow in psychology in 1990 and spent six years as senior deputy vice-chancellor 바카라사이트re. ¡°Professor Terry¡¯s deep knowledge of 바카라사이트 sector, her focus on people and culture and her track record in building partnerships¡­are 바카라사이트 skills needed to build on 바카라사이트 achievements of [retiring vice-chancellor] Peter H?j,¡± said Queensland chancellor Peter Varghese.

Lisa Roberts has been appointed vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter. Professor Roberts, currently deputy vice-chancellor, research and innovation, at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, will succeed Sir Steve Smith next September. A professor of virology, she was previously executive dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey. Professor Roberts said?she was ¡°looking forward to building upon 바카라사이트 considerable strengths in education and research which have been firmly established over a number of years¡± under Sir Steve.

Amit Chakma is joining 바카라사이트 University of Western Australia next July as vice-chancellor. Professor Chakma stepped down after a decade as vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Western Ontario in June this year, having previously served as vice-president (academic) and provost of 바카라사이트 University of Waterloo. Professor Chakma will replace Dawn Freshwater, who will become vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Auckland in March.

Jackie Dunne has been appointed vice-chancellor of Newman University, Birmingham. Professor Dunne, currently deputy vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton, will succeed Scott Davidson at Newman in March. Professor Dunne said she was ¡°delighted to be joining a successful institution with a strong heritage and values base, alongside a clear mission to offer a university experience to all who can benefit¡±.