Philippe Wamba
Encyclopedia
Philippe Wamba was an African American
editor
and writer
. He went to Harvard University
, then to graduate school at Columbia University
, before working in a variety of writing and publishing projects, culminating in his serving as editor-in-chief of a now defunct online magazine called Africana.com. In 1999, he published a memoir titled Kinship: A Family's Journey in Africa and America, which was promoted by his mentor Henry Louis Gates, and which received some good notices. Wamba was profiled in the New York Times Magazine in connection with the publication of this book.
Wamba was born in California to an American mother, and Ernest Wamba dia Wamba
, a Congolese professor who became a rebel leader. He grew up in Boston and Dar es Salaam
, Tanzania, went to high school in New Mexico, where he attended the UWC-USA
, before college in Massachusetts (Harvard) and graduate school in New York (Columbia). He built his public persona around the claim of a fusion of African traditions, as represented by his educator-turned-Congo-rebel-leader father, and African American, as represented by his Detroit-born mother.
He died in a car crash in Kenya
while conducting research on African youth movements. After his death, the Harvard African Students Alumni Network announced plans to raise funds in his memory to promote traffic safety in Africa. Gates spoke at his funeral, saying "Philippe lived on no man's hyphen."
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He went to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, then to graduate school at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, before working in a variety of writing and publishing projects, culminating in his serving as editor-in-chief of a now defunct online magazine called Africana.com. In 1999, he published a memoir titled Kinship: A Family's Journey in Africa and America, which was promoted by his mentor Henry Louis Gates, and which received some good notices. Wamba was profiled in the New York Times Magazine in connection with the publication of this book.
Wamba was born in California to an American mother, and Ernest Wamba dia Wamba
Ernest Wamba dia Wamba
Ernest Wamba dia Wamba is a senator in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was the vice president of the Senate Permanent Commission on Legal and Administrative Matters in the transitional government. Previously, he was commander of the Kisangani faction of the rebel Rally for Congolese...
, a Congolese professor who became a rebel leader. He grew up in Boston and Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
, Tanzania, went to high school in New Mexico, where he attended the UWC-USA
Armand Hammer United World College of the American West
The United World College-USA is a United World College founded in 1982 by industrialist and philanthropist Armand Hammer. It is a two-year, independent, coeducational boarding school with about 200 students representing 80-90 countries at any time...
, before college in Massachusetts (Harvard) and graduate school in New York (Columbia). He built his public persona around the claim of a fusion of African traditions, as represented by his educator-turned-Congo-rebel-leader father, and African American, as represented by his Detroit-born mother.
He died in a car crash in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
while conducting research on African youth movements. After his death, the Harvard African Students Alumni Network announced plans to raise funds in his memory to promote traffic safety in Africa. Gates spoke at his funeral, saying "Philippe lived on no man's hyphen."