Terence Ranger

Who is Terence Ranger?

Terence Osborn Ranger is a prominent African historian, focusing on the history of Zimbabwe. Part of the post-colonial generation of historians, his work spans the pre- and post-Independence period in Zimbabwe, from the 1960s to the present.

Ranger is an emeritus fellow of St Antony's College, Oxford, England. He previously held the chair of Rhodes Professor of Race Relations at the university.

One of his influential works is a collaboration with Eric Hobsbawm is The Invention of Tradition.

In 1980, Ranger founded the Britain Zimbabwe Society with Guy Clutton-Brock, of which he is now president. During 1980-82, he was President of the African Studies Association of the UK. He also a trustee of the Asylum Welcome organisation, and much of his academic work has been concerned with human rights in Zimbabwe. He has spoken out against forced removals from the UK of Zimbabwean asylum seekers during the current crisis in Zimbabwe.

In retirement, Prof Ranger has been made a fellow of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.