Okello Oculi: Celebrating a pan-Africanist scholar, poet, intellectual
By Editor
THE family of a distinguished Ugandan scholar, poet, novelist, and pan-Africanist, Professor Okello Oculi, who recently joined his ancestors, has announced the funeral arrangements to honor his remarkable life and legacy. Professor Oculi passed away on July 26, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria, at 82+, leaving behind an indelible mark on African intellectual, literary, and political spheres.
The family has therefore invited friends, colleagues, and admirers worldwide to join in commemorating Professor Oculi’s extraordinary contributions through the following events. There will be an online session of tributes where friends, former associates, and admirers will share tributes and reflections on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 7.00pm. A service of songs will take place on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at The Cathedral Church of the Advent, Lifecamp, Abuja, to celebrate Professor Oculi’s life through music and shared memories. The funeral service will be held on Friday, August 22, 2025, at The Cathedral Church of the Advent, Lifecamp, Abuja at 10am, followed by interment at Gudu Cemetery.
Born in 1942 in Dokolo District, Northern Uganda, Oculi was a towering figure in African academia, literature, and pan-Africanism. Educated at Soroti College, St. Peter’s College, Tororo, and St. Mary’s College, Kisubi, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Makerere University in 1967, with a year as an exchange student at Stanford University (1964–1965). He bagged an MSc in Arts from University of Essex in 1968. He later pursued a PhD in Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, US, under a Rockefeller Foundation Scholarship. Choosing Nigeria over a return to Idi Amin’s Uganda in 1977, Professor Oculi spent 48 years in Nigeria, becoming a beloved figure in its academic and intellectual communities with a Special Immigration status. He served as a Professor of Social and Economic Research at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria and later as a private political and social consultant in Abuja through the Africa Vision 525 Initiative. He was a long-serving member of the Editorial Board of Daily Trust, helping to shape its pan-African editorial direction with historical insight and intellectual rigor.
Over his 48 years in Nigeria, Professor Oculi made profound contributions to academia, literature, and pan-Africanism. At ABU, he inspired generations of students, many of whom became influential figures in Nigerian society. His innovative “Mock OAU/AU Summits” encouraged students to study African countries beyond Nigeria, fostering pan-African consciousness. He later extended this initiative to secondary schools as simulations of the African Union from 2003 to date in Nigeria. These simulations teams also staged performances at Nairobi and the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Prof. Okello Oculi
A prolific writer, Oculi’s works, including Orphan (1968), Prostitute (1968), Kanta Riti (1973), Malak (1976), Kookolem (1978), Nigerian Alternatives (1987), Discourses on African Affairs (1997), Song for the Sun in Us; Orphan 2;1 and Banana Man (2024), blended satire, folklore, and socio-political critique, capturing the struggles and aspirations of post-independence Africa. His writing championed African values and critiqued European imitations.
A committed pan-Africanist, Oculi worked tirelessly to promote African unity. In the last six months of his life, he focused on a book project about Diallo Telli, the first Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and sought to establish a Diallo Telli Prize for African diplomats, seeking support from the Dangote Foundation.
As a member of Daily Trust Editorial Board for nearly a decade, he enriched discussions on African issues. He was instrumental in the Daily Trust’s “African of the Year” project, notably recognizing Congolese gynecologist, Denis Mukwege. He contributed articles to international and Nigerian publications, including West Africa, Le Monde Diplomatique, The Guardian, and Vanguard. He played a role as a member of the Editorial Board of ThisDay and was currently a weekly contributing writer on their opinion page.
Known for his vibrant personality, Oculi was a regular at intellectual gatherings, sharing his love for African culture, music, and cartoons. His home in Nigeria, shared with his wife, Debrah and son, Sembene, including Sophie and Bashir, was a hub for pan-African dialogue.
Professor Oculi’s passing has left a void in the African intellectual community. Colleagues like Yusuf Bangura described him as “a scholar who lived and breathed Africa,” while Is’haq Modibbo Kawu called him “a pan-Africanist asteroid” whose contributions illuminated the continent’s potential. His commitment to decolonizing African knowledge systems and fostering unity resonated globally, earning him admiration from Prof. Ali Mazrui, with whom he shared a passion for pan-Africanism and literary pursuits. The family encourages all who knew Professor Oculi to share tributes, stories, and reflections to celebrate his life. These are being creatively compiled into a memorial collection to honor his legacy. Deadline for tributes is Wednesday, August 13, 2025 and can be submitted via email to sysoculi@gmail.com, emmhu@yahoo.com or through the link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgahEueoPF6O38a1KsGsRo379HjlMuuBrnkK8DCf2K3-vZAw/viewform?usp=header.
