Professor Joshua Mkhululi, born Ken Edwards in Jamaica in 1945, was at a crossroads. Having graduated from the esteemed Stanford Business School, he had access to a lucrative career in business! But what seemed like an easy choice was clouded by a bigger vision.
Instead, he dedicated himself to Rastafarianism and Pan-Africanism, dropped his “slave name,” and relocated to Tanzania. There he became the Dean of Faculty at the University of Dar-es-Salaam and chaired its Liberation Committee, which worked to support the independence efforts in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
Because of his childhood friendship with Bob Marley, he even helped get the legendary reggae star to perform at the Zimbabwe Independence Celebration in 1980!
Prof. Mkhululi was committed to using his prestigious education to support people in Africa and throughout the diaspora.
He helped start the Institute of Accountancy at Arusha in Tanzania, and supported students and educators to study in Europe and elsewhere so they could bring education back to the people.
He even worked with the revolutionary Pan-African President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, convincing him to allow the return of Black people to Tanzania, with options for citizenship and land ownership.
When we are afforded opportunities to better ourselves - such as education - we can utilize that opportunity to support the Black community, with Professor Mkhululi as an incredible example!