By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Dr. Brian performing Africa rhythm on the harmonica before the book launch.
Dr. Brian Kwoba, Professor of History and Director of African and African American Studies at the University of Memphis, USA, has launched his latest book in Freetown, urging renewed interest in Pan-African history, education, and African unity.
The book, Hubert Harrison: Forbidden Genius of Pan-African Liberation, was unveiled at the Sierra Leone Library Board during an event organized by the Pan African Coalition of Sierra Leone (PAC-SL). The programme drew scholars, students, activists, and members of the public keen on African history and liberation movements.
An award-winning historian and recipient of the 2026 Frantz Fanon Outstanding Book Award from the Caribbean Philosophical Association, Dr. Kwoba presented his research on Hubert Harrison, a pioneering Pan-African thinker, writer, and activist whose contributions have often been overlooked.
Harrison’s Legacy
Dr. Kwoba described Harrison as “one of the most significant yet under-recognized figures in Black radical and Pan-African intellectual history,” noting his advocacy for racial justice, education, and self-determination. He explained that Harrison was a “forbidden genius” because his bold criticism of colonialism, racism, and political leadership led to the marginalization of his ideas.
He urged African youth to embrace education, critical thinking, and collective action, stressing that understanding African history is vital to addressing unemployment, leadership failures, and inequality. “Genuine Pan-African unity depends on Africans strengthening knowledge of their own history, culture, and traditions while building stronger ties with the diaspora,” he said.
Calls for Intellectual Engagement
Dr. Kwoba also raised concern about Sierra Leone’s weak reading culture, citing the limited number of bookstores and reading clubs. “How can we solve problems if we do not understand them? Education is the key,” he remarked.
Professor Ibrahim Abdallah of Fourah Bay College echoed the call, emphasizing the role of universities and public forums in promoting African intellectual traditions. He noted that many young Africans lack exposure to liberation thinkers and urged institutions to help students appreciate African scholarship as a framework for tackling unemployment, inequality, and governance challenges.
Student and Public Reactions
Speaking on behalf of students, Theodora Sencil of Ansarul Islamic Secondary School said the lecture introduced her to Hubert Harrison for the first time. “We are not taught many of these great leaders in schools. I have gained so much knowledge today and learned the importance of love and unity,” she said.
PAC-SL Secretary General Abdul Malik Kamara reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to promoting Pan-African education and intellectual exchange. He said the book launch was part of ongoing efforts to reconnect Africans with their intellectual heritage under the theme: “One People • One Destiny • One Africa.”