Professor Pumla Gqola: “Between Academic Inheritance and the Urgency of Definitions”

The 2018 TB Davie Memorial Lecture was presented by Professor Pumla Dineo Gqola, the Dean of Research at the University of Fort Hare, on 15 August.

Now in its 52nd year, this annual lecture was established to commemorate the work of Professor Thomas Benjamin Davie, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town from 1948 to 1955 and a defender of the principles of academic freedom. The lecture is organised by the Academic Freedom Committee, who invite distinguished speakers to address a theme related to academic and human freedom.

Professor Gqola has held many academic and research positions across South African universities and other institutions. Her body of scholarly work, which includes over 40 journal articles, conference proceedings and book chapters, has been recognised with awards, prizes and invitations to present keynote addresses.