Dr. Derek Peterson

Biography

Derek Peterson is a historian specializing in the intellectual cultures of Eastern Africa. His notable works include 'Creative Writing' (2004), which explores Gikuyu-language literature in central Kenya, and 'Ethnic Patriotism and the East African Revival' (2012), a study on the Christian conversion movements that sparked the growth of Eastern Africa's patriotic communities. His research has evolved to primarily focus on Uganda, where he has curated a forthcoming volume on the politics of the heritage industry in Africa, alongside various edited works focusing on subjects such as Idi Amin's Uganda and the history of British slave abolition. Peterson is the editor of the 'New African Histories' book series with co-editors Jean Allman and Allen Isaacman at Ohio University Press, and serves on the editorial boards of various academic journals. He is heavily involved in research initiatives at the University of Michigan's African Studies Center, coordinating efforts to recover endangered government archives in Uganda. His teaching encompasses undergraduate courses on African literature, African Christianity, and the socio-historical context of family histories.

Research Interests