Prof Shadrack Wanjala Nasong’o is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation and a Professor of International Studies at Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. He teaches courses in comparative politics, international relations, and African politics. Prof. Nasong’o has held summer fellowships at Riara University, Egerton University, and St. Paul’s University, all in Kenya. He is currently a Fulbright U.S. Scholar/Letsema Fellow at IPATC/IGAA, University of Johannesburg. Prof. Nasong’o researches in the areas of democratisation, identity politics, social conflict, governance, and development. He is author, editor, and co-editor of fourteen books, and dozens of peer reviewed book chapters and articles in refereed journals. His latest monograph, Kenya and the politics of a Postcolony won the 2025 Choice Award for Outstanding Academic Title and his coedited volume, The Palgrave Handbook of Kenyan History was recognized by the American Library Association as one of the Best Historical Materials Published in 2023 and 2024. For his prolific scholarly work, Prof. Nasong’o has been honoured with the Rhodes College’s Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Research and/or Creative Activity, and the Ali Mazrui Award for Research and Scholarly Excellence from the University of Texas at Austin.