Former Prime Minister of Kenya visits the African Studies Library
University Librarian Bob Hudson, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Anthropology Professor Parker Shipton look at the library’s Luo language texts
Looking at an ethnolinguistic map of Africa
Africana Librarians David Westley and Beth Restrick with former Prime Minister Odinga
The African Studies Library was very pleased to host his excellency Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya for a brief visit and tour this morning. He was particularly interested in the library’s collections of Kenyan government documents, maps, and Luo texts, including folktales and stories that he recalled from his childhood.
Raila Odinga served as Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013 in a national unity coalition government with President Mwai Kibaki. Prior to this he served in a variety of capacities, namely as a Member of Parliament, Minister of Energy and Minister of Roads, Public Works, and Housing.
Former Prime Minister Odinga is visiting Boston University at the invitation of the African Presidential Center. He has participated in a number of events on campus, including last month’s “Prime Time: A Conversation with Prime Ministers, a reception and discussion with His Excellency Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, and His Excellency Frederick Sumaye, former Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania”.