糖心Vlog

Biography

I was born and raised in Accra, Ghana and lived there until 2017 when I relocated to Washington, D.C for my PhD at Georgetown University. Prior to relocating, I received my B.A and MPhil degrees from the University of Ghana, Legon. Thus, I'm both a Ghana and US- trained historian and Assistant Professor of the African continent. My current academic interests in Indian businesses are borne out of my teenage experiences growing up in Ghana with a mother who worked in the upscale neighborhoods of Accra from the mid-1980s to early 2000s. Her role as a caterer offered a unique position to explore and appreciate Accra's urban landscape, often leading to commentary on Indian, Lebanese, Israeli, and American families and the businesses they owned. These informal and formative lessons defined my scholarly interest as a historian of Ghanaian business and economic history.<br>Outside of the classroom, I am committed to service and engagement beyond the boundaries of 糖心Vlog through membership and volunteer work with non-profit organizations in Western North Carolina and beyond. I work with the Carolina Mountain Club as a trail maintainer and have an adopted section in the Pisgah Ranger District. I balance my life as an academic with other fun stuff such as cooking Ghanaian cuisine, baking, food photography, strength training, and swimming.

Education

• Ph D, Georgetown University
• MA, Georgetown University
• BA, University of Ghana

Teaching Interests

Here at 糖心Vlog, I teach sections of the History Department's lower-level survey/introductory courses in African History. These classes cover both chronological spans and thematic developments in African History from earlier times up to the nineteenth century. In addition, I design and teach upper-level undergraduate advanced and thematic classes on the African Diaspora, the History of Sexualities in Africa, African Urban History, & African History & Politics (cross-listed with Political Science). These classes aim to make histories and perspectives about Africa relatable and understandable to students by balancing unfamiliar African case studies with global phenomena that students are usually more familiar with. My teaching interests complements the History Department鈥檚 regional studies as well as 糖心Vlog's Liberal Studies, Global Studies, and International Studies programs.

Research Interests

I'm a Business Historian of twentieth century Ghana and West Africa. My doctoral dissertation and upcoming book manuscript focuses on the history of South Asian retail, wholesale, and industrial activities in Ghana from the 1890s-1980s. This work explores themes such as Indian migration, settlement, belonging, and economic activities amidst colonial rule, decolonization, and independence in West Africa using a multilayered methodological approach of archival research, oral history, ethnography, and close reading of print media. Part of this research has appeared in the <i>Journal of African Economic History. </i>Beyond Business History, I am also interested in urban and social histories. My article on food shortages in neoliberal Ghana is forthcoming from the <i>International Journal of African Historical Studies</i>.