Richard Dowden: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|English journalist (born 1949)}} |
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{{For|the scientist|Richard Dowden (scientist)}} |
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{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}} |
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} |
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[[File:Richard Dowden - World Economic Forum on Africa 2012 crop.jpg|thumb|Richard Dowden at the [[World Economic Forum]] on Africa in 2012]] |
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{{Infobox person |
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| image = Richard Dowden - World Economic Forum on Africa 2012 crop.jpg |
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| caption = Dowden in 2012 |
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1949|3|20}} |
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| birth_place = [[Surrey]], England |
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| death_date = |
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| death_place = |
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| spouse = |
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| occupation = Journalist |
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| website = {{URL|https://dowdenafrica.com}} |
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'''Richard Dowden''' (born 20 March 1949<ref>{{Citation |
'''Richard Dowden''' (born 20 March 1949<ref>{{Citation |
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| title = Birthdays |
| title = Birthdays |
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| pages = 39 |
| pages = 39 |
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| date = 20 March 2014 |
| date = 20 March 2014 |
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}}</ref>) is an English journalist who has specialised in African issues. Since 1975, he has worked for several British media and was formerly Executive Director of the [[Royal African Society]] (2002–2017). He is the author of the book ''Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles'' ([[Portobello Books]], 2008), which has a foreword by the [[Nigerian]] writer [[Chinua Achebe]]. Dowden lives and works in London. |
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== Journalism == |
== Journalism == |
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He first went to Africa in 1971 and worked as a volunteer teacher in a rural part of [[Uganda]], until the end of 1972, when he left the country because of [[Idi Amin]]'s dictatorship. In Dowden's words, in December 1972 |
Born on 29 March 1949 in [[Surrey]], England, Richard Dowden read History at [[Bedford College, London|Bedford College]], [[London University]] (1967–70).<ref name=ISOA>{{cite web|url=https://stability-operations.org/page/london-speakers|title=Speakers/Moderators|website=[[International Stability Operations Association|ISOA]]|access-date=23 October 2023}}</ref> He first went to Africa in 1971 and worked as a volunteer teacher in a rural part of [[Uganda]], until the end of 1972, when he left the country because of [[Idi Amin]]'s dictatorship. In Dowden's words, in December 1972: "Amin declared all whites in our area to be spies who had uniforms and guns hidden in their houses. It was time to go."<ref>Dowden, R. ''Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles'', Portobello Books, 2008, p. 50.</ref> |
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On his return to Great Britain, Dowden worked for the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, mainly in [[Northern Ireland]], |
On his return to Great Britain, Dowden worked from 1973 to 1975 for the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, mainly in [[Northern Ireland]], before he turned to journalism; from 1976 he was employed by ''[[The Catholic Herald]]'', where he served as Editor from 1977 to 1979.<ref name=ISOA /> He went on to join the foreign desk of ''[[The Times]]'' in 1980, and began to travel to Africa and the Middle East until 1986, when he was appointed Africa Editor at the newly-established newspaper ''[[The Independent]]''. Working in this role until 1995, he became Diplomatic Editor of ''The Independent'' in 1996, then moved to ''[[The Economist]]'' as Africa Editor (1996–2002).<ref name=ISOA /> He has visited and written about almost every country in sub-Saharan Africa.<!--dead link<ref>http://www.richarddowden.info (Retrieved on 1 October 2010)</ref>--> |
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* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2009/03/090325_aheroreturns.shtml "Chinua Achebe: A hero returns"] (18 February 2009), BBC World Service |
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* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6150183.ece "Jacob Zuma – a question of competence, not conscience"] (23 April 2009), ''The Sunday Times'' |
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* [https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/richard-dowden-britain-should-cease-its-onesided-support-of-rwanda-1067076.html "Britain should cease its one-sided support of Rwanda"] (15 December 2008), ''The Independent'' |
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* [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/jul/26/zimbabwe "Mugabe's power ploy – Zimbabwe's president is using talks with Morgan Tsvangirai to buy time while he prepares for war"] (26 July 2008), ''The Guardian'' |
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* [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/jan/06/kenya.world "Condescension and ignorance are no help to Kenya – The West's patronising response to the recent events in Kenya betrays our lack of respect to a sophisticated continent"] (6 June 2008). ''The Observer'' |
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⚫ | Dowden's book ''Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles'', first published in 2008 by [[Portobello Books]],<ref>[https://www.africa-confidential.com/book-review/id/24/Africa_Altered_States%2C_Ordinary_Miracles "Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles"], ''Africa Confidential''.</ref> is an overview of African contemporary history from an autobiographical point of view. As underlined by ''[[African Affairs]]'', the top-ranked Africanist journal,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20051218042512/http://www.oxfordjournals.org/our_journals/afrafj/isi.html ISI Results 2009]. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref> the book can be considered between an academic and a popular text, allowing the reader to become interested in the subject even if they are not Africa experts.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130818222500/http://afraf.oxfordjournals.org/content/109/434/161.short?rss=1 ''African Affairs'']. Retrieved 29 September 2010.</ref> As [[Chinua Achebe]] explained in a foreword to Dowden's book: |
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⚫ | <blockquote>"Africa is a vast continent, a continent of people, […]. In ''Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles'', it is clear that Richard Dowden understands this, and one could not ask for a more qualified author to explore Africa's complexity."<ref>Achebe, Chinua, Foreword, ''Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles'', Portobello Books (2008).</ref></blockquote> |
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⚫ | <blockquote>"Africa is a vast continent, a continent of people, […]. In Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles, it is clear that Richard Dowden understands this, and one could not ask for a more qualified author to explore Africa's complexity."<ref>Achebe, Chinua, Foreword, ''Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles'', Portobello Books (2008).</ref></blockquote> |
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== Royal African Society Executive Director == |
== Royal African Society Executive Director == |
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From 2002 |
From 2002 to 2017, Dowden was Executive Director at the [[Royal African Society]] (RAS), an association founded in 1901 to promote relations and a better understanding between Africa and Great Britain. He is on the Editorial Board of ''[[African Affairs]]'', journal of the RAS, and together with [[Alex de Waal]] coordinates African Arguments, a series of short books and a blog about Africa today.<ref>[http://www.royalafricansociety.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=357&Itemid=363 Royal African Society]. Retrieved 1 October 2010.</ref> Dowden also promoted the creation of Africa Writes and Film Africa, as well as helping to establish the Africa [[All-Party Parliamentary Group]] at Westminster in collaboration with [[Hugh Bayley]], MP for York. Dowden also lectures on Africa and its place in the world and he writes a regular blog commenting on contemporary African affairs on the website of the Royal African Society.<ref>The Dowden Blog, Royal African Society.</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* Richard Dowden official website |
* [https://dowdenafrica.com/ Richard Dowden official website] |
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* Royal African Society – [http://www.royalafricansociety.org www.royalafricansociety.org] |
* Royal African Society – [http://www.royalafricansociety.org www.royalafricansociety.org] |
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* Africa Asia Centre – [http://www.africaasiacentre.org www.africaasiacentre.org] |
* Africa Asia Centre – [http://www.africaasiacentre.org www.africaasiacentre.org] |
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* African Arguments – [http://www.africanarguments.org www.africanarguments.org] |
* African Arguments – [http://www.africanarguments.org www.africanarguments.org] |
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* Portobello Books – [http://www.portobellobooks.com www.portobellobooks.com] |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dowden, Richard}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dowden, Richard}} |
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[[Category:Alumni of Bedford College, London]] |
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[[Category:English Africanists]] |
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[[Category:English male journalists]] |
[[Category:English male journalists]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
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Latest revision as of 09:27, 23 October 2023
Richard Dowden | |
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Born | Surrey, England | March 20, 1949
Occupation | Journalist |
Works | Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles (2008) |
Website | dowdenafrica |
Richard Dowden (born 20 March 1949[1]) is an English journalist who has specialised in African issues. Since 1975, he has worked for several British media and was formerly Executive Director of the Royal African Society (2002–2017). He is the author of the book Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles (Portobello Books, 2008), which has a foreword by the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. Dowden lives and works in London.
Journalism
[edit]Born on 29 March 1949 in Surrey, England, Richard Dowden read History at Bedford College, London University (1967–70).[2] He first went to Africa in 1971 and worked as a volunteer teacher in a rural part of Uganda, until the end of 1972, when he left the country because of Idi Amin's dictatorship. In Dowden's words, in December 1972: "Amin declared all whites in our area to be spies who had uniforms and guns hidden in their houses. It was time to go."[3]
On his return to Great Britain, Dowden worked from 1973 to 1975 for the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, mainly in Northern Ireland, before he turned to journalism; from 1976 he was employed by The Catholic Herald, where he served as Editor from 1977 to 1979.[2] He went on to join the foreign desk of The Times in 1980, and began to travel to Africa and the Middle East until 1986, when he was appointed Africa Editor at the newly-established newspaper The Independent. Working in this role until 1995, he became Diplomatic Editor of The Independent in 1996, then moved to The Economist as Africa Editor (1996–2002).[2] He has visited and written about almost every country in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dowden's book Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles, first published in 2008 by Portobello Books,[4] is an overview of African contemporary history from an autobiographical point of view. As underlined by African Affairs, the top-ranked Africanist journal,[5] the book can be considered between an academic and a popular text, allowing the reader to become interested in the subject even if they are not Africa experts.[6] As Chinua Achebe explained in a foreword to Dowden's book:
"Africa is a vast continent, a continent of people, […]. In Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles, it is clear that Richard Dowden understands this, and one could not ask for a more qualified author to explore Africa's complexity."[7]
Royal African Society Executive Director
[edit]From 2002 to 2017, Dowden was Executive Director at the Royal African Society (RAS), an association founded in 1901 to promote relations and a better understanding between Africa and Great Britain. He is on the Editorial Board of African Affairs, journal of the RAS, and together with Alex de Waal coordinates African Arguments, a series of short books and a blog about Africa today.[8] Dowden also promoted the creation of Africa Writes and Film Africa, as well as helping to establish the Africa All-Party Parliamentary Group at Westminster in collaboration with Hugh Bayley, MP for York. Dowden also lectures on Africa and its place in the world and he writes a regular blog commenting on contemporary African affairs on the website of the Royal African Society.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Birthdays", The Guardian, p. 39, 20 March 2014
- ^ a b c "Speakers/Moderators". ISOA. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ Dowden, R. Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles, Portobello Books, 2008, p. 50.
- ^ "Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles", Africa Confidential.
- ^ ISI Results 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
- ^ African Affairs. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
- ^ Achebe, Chinua, Foreword, Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles, Portobello Books (2008).
- ^ Royal African Society. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- ^ The Dowden Blog, Royal African Society.
External links
[edit]- Richard Dowden official website
- Royal African Society – www.royalafricansociety.org
- Africa Asia Centre – www.africaasiacentre.org
- African Arguments – www.africanarguments.org