What has been the most valuable part of your MURF experience?
The most valuable part of the MURF experience has definitely been the relationships I’ve formed through the program. My mentor, Professor Lahra Smith, has been more than just a research advisor to me throughout my undergraduate career, but a trusted, supportive mentor who genuinely cares about my personal and professional growth. She has helped me develop as a researcher and a critical thinker, showing me how academic work can be a powerful tool for understanding and potentially transforming social realities. I have been introduced to several researchers and professors working on similar research topics in African studies. I have met many students through the MURF program who are doing such amazing, hands-on research and are a true inspiration to me. These connections have been transformative to my college experience — I know the relationships I’ve developed will extend far beyond my time as a MURF and continue to shape our collective academic and professional paths.
What’s a memorable moment or challenge you faced as a MURF?
One of the most memorable moments during my MURF experience was visiting the African and Middle Eastern Reading Room at the Library of Congress, which is an incredible place. During my visit, I had the unique opportunity to examine original letters and newspaper clippings on Ethiopia’s 1995 elections. I was working on a research project for Prof. Lahra Smith on critical socio-political junctures in Ethiopia’s history. Being able to handle these historical documents in person was a first for me. It gave me a deeper understanding of Ethiopia’s political landscape at the time and made me realize just how much more you can learn from primary sources. It was such a unique and exciting experience to be in a place like the Library of Congress, surrounded by all that history, and it really made me appreciate the power of research in a whole new way.
How has your research evolved over your time in the program?
My research has evolved significantly since the start of my time in the MURF program. My first project was on the protracted displacement of refugees in Zambia, followed by critical junctures in Ethiopia’s history, then comparative histories of the word “broker,” contentious teaching policies in Kenya and the US, and finally, popular politics in Nigeria and beyond. My independent research is focused on financial inclusion and fintech in Kenya. I have had the chance to learn about countries all over Africa, with each project deepening my understanding of the continent’s diverse social and political landscapes. My MURF journey has been a process of connecting dots across all the different regions of Africa, and my research has increasingly highlighted the resilience and dynamism of African societi
