Derek R. Peterson

Derek R. Peterson teaches African history at the University of Michigan. He's the author or editor of nine books, including the prize-winning Ethnic Patriotism and the East African Revival (2012). In recent years Peterson has been working with colleagues to organise and preserve endangered archival records in Uganda. These newly available archives are the foundation for his newest book, A Popular History of Idi Amin's Uganda (2025). Peterson was awarded a MacArthur 'genius' grant in 2017 in recognition of his curatorial and scholarly work. He has also won fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies, the Leverhulme Trust and other bodies. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

To learn more, follow Peterson on Twitter @Unseen_Archive.