John Lonsdale (historian)

John Lonsdale (born 1937) is a British historian specializing in the history of East Africa, particularly Kenya, and the social and political history of colonial and post-colonial Africa more broadly. He is known for his work on the moral and political economy of Kikuyu society, the role of ethnicity in Kenyan politics, and the relationship between religion, politics, and identity in Africa.

Lonsdale was educated at Cambridge University, where he received his PhD. He has held academic positions at Cambridge University, Trinity College, Cambridge, and is currently Emeritus Professor of African History at Cambridge.

His research and publications have significantly shaped the field of African history, emphasizing the agency of African actors and the complex interplay of local, national, and global forces in shaping African societies. He is considered a leading figure in the development of a nuanced and historically informed understanding of African political and social dynamics.

Key Publications:

• The Moral Economy of Mau Mau: Wealth, Poverty & Civic Virtue in Kikuyu (James Currey, 2017)
• Unhappy Valley: Conflict in Kenya and Africa (James Currey, 1992) (with Bruce Berman)
• Numerous articles and book chapters on Kenyan history, African politics, and the role of morality in African social and political life.