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Derek R Peterson
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Ali Mazrui Professor of African Studies @umich. #MacFellow. New book: A Popular History of Idi Amin's Uganda. Available at tinyurl.com/mtdy6yv2
Ann Arbor
derekrpeterson.com
Joined September 2019
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Jun 24, 2025
    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…
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Aug 8, 2022
    Kenyans go to the polls on Tuesday. Here's a thread about one of the contenders for the presidency, @RailaOdinga. In the 1980s & 90s he played a key role in bringing down the dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi. Below: Raila speaks at a convention of opposition leaders, 1992. 1/
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Dec 30, 2022
    Pele visited Nairobi in early Feb. 1976. His visit was sponsored by @pepsi. Admission to Jamhuri Park was 6 bottlecaps for adults & 3 for kids. Here's a clip, courtesy @Reuters. Short thread. 1/
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Jul 31, 2025
    Today is the coronation anniversary of Ronald Mutebi, Kabaka of Buganda. Mutebi was made kabaka in 1969, when his father died in an unhappy exile in London. Mutebi was then a schoolboy of 14 years. Here's a photo courtesy @GettyImages. 1/2
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Jul 24, 2020
    I'm sorry to hear of the passing of Benjamin Mkapa, former president of Tanzania. As Foreign Minister between 1977 and 80 he played a key role in encouraging UN sanctions against apartheid South Africa, as a punishment for its occupation of Namibia. Here he is in Sept. 1979. 1/2
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Oct 15, 2025
    The news of Raila Odinga's passing is very distressing. He was one of the key figures in Kenya's democracy. Here is a thread I did a few years ago about the early phases of the late Raila's political career. Peace be with those who mourn him.
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    Derek R Peterson
    @Unseen_Archive
    Aug 8, 2022
    Kenyans go to the polls on Tuesday. Here's a thread about one of the contenders for the presidency, @RailaOdinga. In the 1980s & 90s he played a key role in bringing down the dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi. Below: Raila speaks at a convention of opposition leaders, 1992. 1/
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Jul 28, 2020
    45 years ago, on 29 July 1975: Gen. Yakubu Gowon, President of Nigeria, is in Kampala attending the OAU meeting when he hears--via one of his aides--that he's been ousted from office in a military coup. @Reuters clip below captures the moment when Gowon was given the news. 1/2
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Mar 10, 2021
    Muhoho Kenyatta was born at the Aga Khan hospital in Nairobi on 14 June 1964. Here's Jomo Kenyatta paying a visit (with flowers!) to Mama Ngina on the 15th. From @AP.
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Jun 5, 2020
    Bildad Kaggia was Kenya's most radical politician. In the 1940s he founded a church--Andu a Kaggia--that challenged missionaries' Christianity. He was imprisoned with Jomo Kenyatta for 7 years a leader of Mau Mau. By 1965--the date of this clip--he was a KANU MP. 1/4
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Jun 8, 2024
    I am delighted to say that today colleagues from @ugandamuseums & I will be at Entebbe to receive 39 important artifacts that are being returned to Uganda from @MAACambridge. The objects come from all over Uganda. Among them: a drum from Bunyoro, brought to Cambridge in 1920. 1/
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    Derek R Peterson
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    May 29, 2021
    At 3 am on 1 Aug 1982 soldiers from the Kenya Air Force launched a coup against the gov't of Daniel arap Moi. The airmen seized Eastleigh airbase & the Voice of Kenya in Nairobi. They called themselves the National Redemption Council. Clip below from the morning after. 1/4
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Jan 23, 2021
    Monday next week is the 50th anniversary of the coup that brought Idi Amin to power. So I'm glad to say that _The Unseen Archive of Idi Amin_ is now in print @Prestel_pub. The book features 150 previously unpublished photos of Idi Amin, drawn from the archive of @ubctvuganda. 1/
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Apr 2, 2021
    Here's a scene from Good Friday, 12 April 1974: Drivers in the East African Safari Rally navigate the road near Nkubu in Meru. 70 of 98 cars had spent the whole of the previous night stuck in the mud. The rally was won that year by Kenyan drivers Joginder Singh & David Doig.
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    Derek R Peterson
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    Oct 9, 2024
    Happy Independence Day to colleagues & friends in Uganda. Here's the original version of the anthem by George Kakoma. The 1st phrase was 'Oh Uganda, thy people praise thee'. A week before independence, tho, the Church of Uganda bishop protested that God was nowhere mentioned. 1/
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