Born in London, Michael Crowder was educated at Mill Hill School. He gained an interest in Africa during his term of national service when he was seconded to the Nigeria Regiment (1953-1954). After earning a first class honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) at Hertford College, Oxford University in 1957, he returned to Lagos to become first Editor of Nigeria Magazine, 1959-62, and then Secretary at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ibadan. In 1964-65 he was Visiting Lecturer in African History at the University of California, Berkeley, and in 1965-67 was Director of the Institute of African Studies at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
From 1968 to 1978 he was based in Nigeria again, firsBorn in London, Michael Crowder was educated at Mill Hill School. He gained an interest in Africa during his term of national service when he was seconded to the Nigeria Regiment (1953-1954). After earning a first class honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) at Hertford College, Oxford University in 1957, he returned to Lagos to become first Editor of Nigeria Magazine, 1959-62, and then Secretary at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ibadan. In 1964-65 he was Visiting Lecturer in African History at the University of California, Berkeley, and in 1965-67 was Director of the Institute of African Studies at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
From 1968 to 1978 he was based in Nigeria again, first as Research Professor and Director of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ife, then from 1971 as Professor of History at the Ahmadu Bello University (also becoming Director of its Centre for Nigerian Cultural Studies, 1972-75) and finally as Research Professor in History at the Centre for Cultural Studies at the University of Lagos, 1975-78. He returned to London in 1979 to become editor of the British magazine History Today, remaining a Consultant Editor up to his death. During that period he was Visiting Fellow at the Centre for International Studies at the LSE, 1981-82, and then as Professor of History at the University of Botswana, 1982-85. ...more