Akinwumi Ogundiran is an internationally respected archaeologist, anthropologist, and cultural historian whose work bridges African history, archaeology, and the African diaspora. He is Cardiss Collins Professor of Arts and Sciences and Professor of History at Northwestern University, holding an endowed chair that recognizes exceptional scholarship and teaching.
Early Life and Education
Raised in Ibadan, Nigeria, Ogundiran developed an early fascination with the deep history and cultural traditions of the Yoruba people. He earned his B.A. in Archaeology from Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly University of Ife) in Ile-Ife. In 1993 he moved to the United States, completing a Ph.D. in Anthropology (Historical Archaeology) at the College of William & Mary in Virginia.
Academic Career
Before joining Northwestern, Ogundiran held key faculty roles:
University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Professor of Africana Studies, Anthropology and History; Chair of Africana Studies.
Florida International University – where he began his U.S. academic career.
Research Focus
Ogundiran’s scholarship illuminates the Yoruba world of West Africa, Atlantic Africa, and the African diaspora, with special attention to:
The political and cultural history of the Yoruba, including the Oyo Empire.
Archaeology of Atlantic slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
Urbanism, sacred landscapes, and material culture in West Africa.
Major Publications
His influential works include:
The Yoruba: A New History (2020) – a sweeping reinterpretation of over a thousand years of Yoruba history.
Materialities of Ritual in the Black Atlantic (co-edited, 2014) – exploring ritual practices and material culture across the Atlantic world.
Archaeology of Atlantic Africa and the African Diaspora (co-edited, 2007) – a foundational text in
Atlantic archaeology.
Numerous scholarly articles in leading journals of archaeology and African history.
Honors and Service
Ogundiran is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, has received major research grants from bodies such as the U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and has served on editorial boards including the African Archaeological Review and the International Journal of African Historical Studies. He is also a sought-after keynote speaker at international conferences.
Legacy and Influence
Through fieldwork, teaching, and writing, Ogundiran has reshaped understandings of Yoruba history and highlighted the region’s agency in global history and its enduring impact across the Atlantic world.
He continues to mentor a new generation of scholars in African and diaspora studies.
Source: Northwestern University Faculty Profile
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