‘Niyi Coker, Jr. is currently Professor & Director of the School of Theatre, Television and Film at San Diego State University in California. Prior to which for 14 years, he was the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Chair & Distinguished Professor in African-American Studies at the University of Missouri in Saint Louis. Despite formidable opposition, he created the first and only degree granting program in African-American Studies at the University of Alabama in 1999—almost 30 years post-civil rights movement.
Passionate, inquisitive and creative, Dr.‘Niyi Coker is an award winning filmmaker, theatre director and author who embodies that almost indefinable, indefatigable, all conquering Nigerian spirit. From that golden era at University of Ife when the constellation of stars and future stars were all at the same place at the same time - Soyinka, Ogunbiyi, Kole Omotoso, Ahmed Yerimah, Chuck Mike and ‘Niyi - a nephew of the great Ola Rotimi! It was perhaps inevitable that he would go on to great things.
We talk about:
Great Ife!
Steel Pulse
Bob Marley
Confessions of an Economic Hitman
Africa Unite!
Dr Niyi’s inspiring bucket list
Dr Niyi Coker’s mail address on LinkedIn
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MUSE
Molefi Kete Asante
“People who have sacrificed and paved the way for us to be here” Dr Niyi Coker
WORKS
A Raisin in the Sun
Africa World Documentary Film Festival
MOVIES
Exterminate All The Brutes - Raoul Peck
MUSIC
Bob Marley
Steel Pulse - Mass Manipulation
TRAVEL
Fiji Islands
BOOKS
The Physics of God - Joseph Selbie
The Confessions of an Economic Hitman - John Perkins