Derek R Peterson

My new book--A Popular History of Idi Amin's Uganda--publishes today! Based on newly-available government archives, the book shows why and how Amin's regime commanded popular support. It can be bought on paper or as an e-book here: yalebooks.yale.edu/book/978030027…

@Jadwong Authoritarians everywhere are popular these days…

Idi Amin is suddenly very popular!

On Thursday 16 July, I'll be in Stratford at the invitation of @CBC to discuss Idi Amin in comparison to other world dictators. Seats are sold out, but it'll be broadcast later this year. With @namshine, Nakanyike Musisi & Nalah Ayed. stratfordfestival.ca/WhatsOn/PlaysA…

Here's a new podcast about my book, _A Popular History of Idi Amin's Uganda_, from @NewBooksNetwork. Thanks to @e_prosperetti for the interview!

Today is Uganda Martyrs Day, honoring the first Black people sainted by the church in modern times. Here's a film made by @dntshimba & I in 2024. We made it as part of a special exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of the Martyrs' canonization. youtube.com/watch?v=lGNla7…

Just published in Research in African Literatures: "Micere Mugo and the Burdens of History: Notes Toward a Literary Biography", by yours truly. The essay is about the family history of the late Micere, seen in relation to her writing. Read it here: muse.jhu.edu/pub/3/article/…

Here’s a remarkable photo: Kabaka Daudi Cwa, wearing a tan suit, greets Bishop Willis. Date is late 1920s. I’ve not seen images of him wearing anything other than his robes.

Glad to see this in the @michigandaily. It concerns the recent controversy over my graduation speech @UMich. michigandaily.com/statement/at-g…

Yesterday @DemocracyNow ran a segment about the suppression of pro-Palestinian speech at graduation ceremonies in American universities. @UMich was among the situations discussed. Here's the report: democracynow.org/2026/5/21/peop…

This evening, 21st May 2026, I return to my alma mater, @Cambridge_Uni, for the 2026 Audrey Richards Annual Lecture at 5:00 pm in the Winstanley Lecture Theatre, Trinity College. The distinguished historian John Lonsdale will speak on “Self-Mastery: Jomo Kenyatta and State-Free African Political Thought.” The lecture opens two days of intellectual engagement at the Centre of African Studies, bringing together some of the most distinguished Africanists of our generation. Tomorrow 22nd May, 2026, I'm honoured to give a keynote lecture on "Land, Blood & Belonging : Rethinking the Moral Foundations of Statecraft in Kenya." Among those participating are eminent scholars whose work has profoundly shaped our understanding of Africa and its place in the world, including John Lonsdale himself, Frederick Cooper, Richard Waller, Derek Peterson, David Anderson, Adriaan van Klinken, Carola Lentz, Justin Willis, Joel Cabrita, Emma Hunter, Shane Doyle, Megan Vaughan, Parker Shipton, Inge Brinkman, Frederick Cooper, and a distinguished community of historians, anthropologists, political scientists, literary scholars, and public intellectuals from Africa, Europe, and North America. The conference reminds us that history is not merely an archive of bygone events; it is a compass for navigating the possibilities of the future. Those unable to attend in person may follow the proceedings online here: youtube.com/live/dqObPCHzJ… #AudreyRichardsLecture #JohnLonsdale #AfricanStudies #UniversityOfCambridge #AfricasPastsAfricasFuture

My colleague Nakanyike Musisi is writing Lady Irene’s biography, publishing soon. Have a look: barnesandnoble.com/w/a-queen-moth…

Found today in the archives of the Wellcome Library: Wedding photo of one of Uganda’s most fascinating women: Lady Irene Namaganda, 1914. Daughter of a clergyman, she married Kabaka Daudi Cwa, becoming the first nnabagereka of c20th Buganda.

"Academic Council of Jewish Voice for Peace is grateful for & inspired by Prof. Peterson’s careful & compassionate words, & concomitantly, condemns President Grasso’s stubborn defense of the injustice & inhumanity of Israel’s war–Israel’s ongoing genocide–against Palestinians"

Here is a lovely statement from the Academic Council of the Jewish Voice for Peace. It concerns the controversy over my recent remarks to the graduating class @UMich. Many thanks to @jvplive for this insightful text. jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2026/05/19/jvp…

2/2 worth defending — that, in this administration's view, is heresy. To highlight the coalition of students--Jewish, Christian, Muslim and people of conscience--who protested the slaughter in Gaza and the resultant man-made humanitarian catastrophe--is apparently unspeakable."

From Shamai Leibowitz: For the @UMich administration, "honoring a suffragette is commendable, celebrating a Jewish pioneer is admirable and praising Black students’ struggle is noble. But dare to suggest that Palestinians, too, possess human rights 1/2 detroitnews.com/story/opinion/…

I am glad to see this supportive statement of LSA student government here @UMich. Thank you to those who've put it together.

Thank you very much to colleagues & friends who've signed this open letter concerning the controversy over my graduation remarks @UMich. I appreciate the support they have given me here. And thank you to @JonathonLEarle & others who put the letter together. I am much obliged.

I much appreciate this essay, which is among the most insightful I've read about my graduation remarks here @UMich. forward.com/opinion/824062…

@UMich 2/2 Here at Michigan we prize academic freedom as the foundation of our work. Faculty & students have to be free to engage controversial & difficult questions. That is why Michigan is the defining public university, & not a posh finishing school for polite young people.

Below: a statement laying out the context for my 2 May speech before the graduating students @UMich. In summary: I didn't mislead anyone about what I planned to say; neither did I replace one script with another. 1/2 facultysenate.umich.edu/statement-from…