Ali Mazrui is proof that few heroes are respected in life

Although now he would have to cut down on his intellectual globe trotting, which he did energetically in the yester years, we still expect from him a number of exciting publications, including his autobiography.

Very few great scholars were ever respected in their life times, and there are many international scholars who do not see eye to eye with Mazrui, including Wole Soyinka. One such scholar once told me that reading Mazrui was a waste of time.

Such are the staccatos of the academic profession; indeed, indications that among our intellectual heroes Ali A. Mazrui towers supreme.

Prof Ochieng teaches history at Maseno University