By Vandie Lansana
Dr Abdul Karim Bangura is a Sierra Leonean-American scholar, researcher, author, and scientist.
He is widely regarded as one of the most educated individuals in the world.
Bangura holds five Ph.Ds and speaks 17 languages.
He holds a B.A. in International Studies – American University (1982), M.A. in International Affairs – American University (1982), Fil.Mag. (Master’s equivalent) – University of Stockholm (1983).
Bangura also holds a Ph.D. in Political Science – Howard University (1987), M.S. in Linguistics – Georgetown University (1989), and a Ph.D. in Policy Sciences – University of Maryland at Baltimore (1990).
He also has a Ph.D. in Linguistics – Georgetown University (1992), Ph.D. in Computer Science – Columbus University, New Orleans (2001), and a Ph.D. in Mathematics.
Bangura also speaks 17 languages, including English, Temne, Mende, Krio, Fula, Kono, Limba, Sherbro, Kiswahili, Spanish, Italian, French, Arabic, Hebrew, German, Chinese, and Swedish.
The Sierra Leonean genius has served in various academic roles, including the American University – Professor of International Relations, Researcher-in-Residence, Coordinator of the Islamic Lecture Series, Howard University – Adjunct Professor and Lecturer, Georgetown University.
Bangura is also a Schiff Summer Program Professor, Bowie State University – Assistant Professor of Political Science, Founding Director of the Center for Success, University of Sierra Leone – Advisory Board Member for the Center for Development and Security Analysis, Brookings Institution – Research Assistant in Middle Eastern Affairs, Atlantic Council of the United States – Academic Associate
He is a prolific author, who has written or edited 35 books and over 250 scholarly articles covering topics in political science, linguistics, computer science, mathematics, African studies, international relations, and Islamic studies.
Some of his notable works include Multilingualism and Diglossia in Sierra Leone, Black Political Thought, Chaos Theory and African Fractals, Islamic Peace Paradigms, United States-African Relations: The Reagan-Bush Era.
His research has been published in prominent journals, including the Journal of Third World Studies, Africa Today, and International Journal of the Sociology of Language.
He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the African Journal of Languages and Linguistics and the Journal of Research Methodology and African Studies.
Bangura is a member of numerous academic and professional organizations, including African Studies Association (Chair of Research Methodology and African Studies Section), Association of Third World Studies (President, 2001-02; UN Ambassador, 2002-04), American Political Science Association, Linguistic Society of America, Mathematical Association of America, Policy Studies Organization, Awards and Recognitions
His contributions have been widely recognized with numerous awards, including the Distinguished Scholar Award – Middle Atlantic Writers Association (1995), African Excellence in Scholarship Award – African Studies and Research Forum (2001), Dubai International Award (2006), Outstanding Scholar Award – Association of Third World Studies (2006), Multiple grants from the U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation
