A Tribute to the Late Dr. Sulayman Shehu Nyang

It was Fall 1998, here I was, at Howard University, the mecca. Walking thehistoric grounds of the campus, I was tracing the footsteps of luminariesand intellectual giants, scientists and activists, who gave birth to inventionsand social movements, and who were of African, Afro-Caribbean and AfricanAmerican descent, among others. Before enrolling in the doctoralprogram in the School of Social Work, I had known of Dr. Nyang but onlyinteracted with him in passing at a few programs. All over the world, fornearly four decades, among Muslims, Howard University was synonymouswith Dr. Sulayman Shehu Nyang. This proud and brilliant son of Africa wasknown for his Gambian roots, his prolific scholarship, his contagious smile,his wit, his insights, his at once profound brilliance and his down to earthdemeanor, and his steady hand as Chair of the African Studies departmentat Howard University. I can count with rare exception the number of timesI introduced myself as being a doctoral student, an administrator, a facultymember and now a department chair at Howard University, and the almostinstant reaction among Muslims – Oh yeah, Dr. Nyang is at Howard.I have never met anyone like him. That was my first reaction when Ifinally got to spend time with Dr. Nyang on the campus of Howard Univer-Altaf Husain serves as Associate Professor and Chair of the Community, Administrationand Policy Practice Concentration at the School of Social Work, HowardUniversity ...