Kwesi Kwaa Prah (born 1942,
Kumasi
Kumasi (historically spelled Comassie or Coomassie, usually spelled Kumase in Twi) is a city in the Ashanti Region, and is among the largest metropolitan areas in Ghana. Kumasi is located in a rain forest region near Lake Bosomtwe, and is t ...
) is an author, public speaker, and a Sociology professor,
who was born in
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
and has been based in southern Africa since the 1980s.
He is the author of several books, including ''Beyond The Color Line'' (1997). He has also published many articles revolving around the topics of
Africa's history and what is to come in Africa's future, as well as speaking and writing on issues such as the education system and social reforms. He is vocal about the race issues in society, speaking publicly and challenging government actions.
He is the founder and Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS).
He has worked in a number of universities in Africa, Europe and Asia, researching and teaching Sociology and Anthropology.
Early life
Prah was born in
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
, and grew up there until the age of 18, when in the early 1960s he went to
Leiden University in the Netherlands to study sociology.
He went on to attend the
University of Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam (abbreviated as UvA, nl, Universiteit van Amsterdam) is a public research university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The UvA is one of two large, publicly funded research universities in the city, the other being ...
and also travelled to Germany, before returning to Ghana.
Upon his return, he started to run into problems with the government regarding the education system.
The government had started arresting and censoring many of the people who went against government ideas regarding the education system, and this caused Prah to decide to start a campaign to free his colleagues.
With the government soon looking to arrest him, Prah left for South Africa, where he had contact with the
Pan-African society.
In South Africa, he became the director of sociology at the
University of the Western Cape
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is a public research university in Bellville, near Cape Town, South Africa. The university was established in 1959 by the South African government as a university for Coloured people only. Other un ...
(UWC).
Career
Prah has worked at a number of universities across Africa, Europe, and Asia. In Germany, he got his first teaching job at
Heidelberg University
}
Heidelberg University, officially the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, (german: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg; la, Universitas Ruperto Carola Heidelbergensis) is a public university, public research university in Heidelberg, B ...
.
Later on, he became associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
In 1981, Prah became a professor at the
University of Juba
The University of Juba ( ar, جامعة جوبا) is an English-language public university located in Juba, South Sudan. It was founded in 1975 under by the former Vice president of and President of Southern Sudan, Abel Alier Kwai. The univers ...
.
He was head of the Social Science Interface Research Unit of the
International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology in
Kenya
)
, national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Nairobi
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Nairobi
...
.
In 1985, Prah moved to the Institute of Southern African Studies in the
National University of Lesotho
The National University of Lesotho, the main and oldest university in Lesotho, is located in Roma, southeast of Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. The Roma valley is broad and is surrounded by a barrier of rugged mountains which provides magnific ...
, where he became a professor and conducted research.
He took the title of Head of the Research Divisions, and from 1988 to 1992 was a Principal Research Scientist for the Social Science Interface Research.
In 1992, he became a professor of sociology in South Africa.
In 1997 Prah founded the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS), and is the director of CASAS in
Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
, South Africa.
He makes an appearance in the 2010 documentary film ''
Motherland
A homeland is a place where a cultural, national, or racial identity has formed. The definition can also mean simply one's country of birth. When used as a proper noun, the Homeland, as well as its equivalents in other languages, often has ethni ...
'' by Owen 'Alik Shahadah.
Prah chaired the convening committee of the eighth
Pan-African Congress that was held in South Africa in 2014.
Publications
Prah is a published author of books and articles that discuss African emancipation,
Pan-Africanism
Pan-Africanism is a worldwide movement that aims to encourage and strengthen bonds of solidarity between all Indigenous and diaspora peoples of African ancestry. Based on a common goal dating back to the Atlantic slave trade, the movement exte ...
, race, oppression, and politics. His most noted papers include ''Challenges to the Promotion of Indigenous Languages in South Africa'', ''Reflections on the Annals of Neocolonialism'', and ''Realities of African Governance and the Relevance of Higher Education; Problems and Prospects.''
His papers regard what Africa has gone through over the years in its transformation. They also address what struggles the continent has faced and may face in the future.
Along with writing papers, he has had many speeches and books about that address similar topics as his papers but in more depth. His books include ''Beyond the Colour Line'' (1997), ''Between Distinction and Extinction'' (1998), and ''Africa in Transformation Vol. 1'' (2000). He has written about 30 books for his organization CASAS.
Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society
In 1997 Prah founded the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Studies (CASAS), the main focus of which is the economic, social, cultural, and political aspects that have led to the current development of Africa.
CASAS focuses on African cultural issues and how they relate to Africa's development, which is not commonly found in other African research groups.
CASAS employs experts in the field of African Society and the majority of their hires come from African institutions.
CASAS is registered as a non-profit organization in South Africa and seeks most of its funding from donations.
Currently, CASAS is involved in the movement to classify African languages into groups that can be mutually understood as part of their Harmonization and Standardization of African Languages Project.
Other projects in which CASAS is participating include publishing their fundamental research as a monograph series, as well as publishing other papers on topics that fit the centre's primary objectives.
Awards
* 2010: Commander of the
National Order of the Ivory Coast
The National Order of the Ivory Coast (sometimes simply mentioned as National Order) is the highest state order of knighthood of the Ivory Coast.
History
The Order was founded on 10 April 1961 to celebrate the independence of the Ivory Coast wh ...
[Kwesi Kwaa Prah biography - "Board of Directors"]
Pan-African University Press.
* 2011: D.Litt. Honorary Degree by the
University of the West Indies at Cave Hill
University of the West Indies at Cave Hill is a public research university in Cave Hill, Barbados. It is one of five general campuses in the University of the West Indies system.
It was the third campus to be established by the UWI System, follow ...
,
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate) ...
* 2012: CL Engelbrecht Prize by
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns
* 2015: recipient of the Kwame Nkrumah Award for Service to Pan-Africanism, "awarded to a scholar, administrator or politician who has contributed to the realization of the vision of African unity and development."
Selected bibliography
* (Editor, with Ghaffar Mohammed Ahmed) ''Africa in Transformation'', Vols 1 and 2, 2000, 2001
Kwesi Kwaa Prah page
at African Books Collective.
* ''Report on the Seventh Nigerian Economic Summit 2000'', Spectrum Books, 2002, .
* ''Beyond The Colour Line: Pan Africanist Disputations: Selected Sketches, Letters, Papers And Reviews'', Africa Research and Publications, 1997,
* (Editor) ''Between Distinction and Extinction: Harmonisation and Standardisation of African Languages'', Witwatersrand University Press Publications, 1998,
* ''Jacobus Eliza Johannes Capitein: A Critical Study of an 18th Century African'', Africa Research and Publications, 1992,
References
External links
Ashoka Profile of Prah
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prah, Kwesi
1942 births
Living people
Ghanaian sociologists
Leiden University alumni
University of Amsterdam alumni
University of the Western Cape faculty
University of Juba faculty
Ghanaian academics
People from Kumasi
Ghanaian expatriates in the Netherlands
Ghanaian expatriates in South Africa
Academic staff of Heidelberg University
National University of Lesotho faculty