Prof. Anthony Kirk-Greene: A tribute to Baturen Kirki. By Matthew Hassan Kukah

I first heard of Anthony KirkGreene way back in 1981 after I had finished my Masters programme at the University of Bradford.
My supervisor, late Professor James O’Connell, had insisted that I continue with my Ph.D at the same university.
I thanked him but told him I needed to return to Nigeria to find out if my Archbishop would approve of that decision.
Having served as a Professor of Political Science and Chaplain in Ahmadu Bello University, he reminded me that he knew my Archbishop very well and that he was sure he would not have any objections.
I told him my mind was made up because I had come with the purpose of doing a Masters degree and that I would rather discuss the prospects of a Ph.D back in Nigeria with my Archbishop.
I also told him I wanted to think more clearly about the nature of my future research at the doctoral level.
I promised him I could come back in one or two years.
I returned to Nigeria and as they say, one thing led to the other.
Two years or so later, Professor O’Connell asked me if I had still not made up my mind.
I said I had and that my Archbishop had approved my request to pursue my doctoral programme, but that I would rather go to the School of Oriental and African Studies, SOAS than Bradford.
“Why”, he said, “we were all very happy with you here and were looking forward to having you back.” I told him that in the course of my research for my Masters project, I had found the SOAS Library quite impressive and I liked their focus on Africa.
Some weeks later, apparently not impressed with my decision, Professor O’Connell called me again.
“Have you heard of Anthony Kirk-Greene?” he asked.
I told him I had never heard of the name.
“Well, I have spoken to him and he will be happy to have you at St.
Antony’s College, Oxford.
He is a great expert on Northern Nigeria and I am sure you will be happy to work with him.” I had barely responded when he continued: “There is also Professor Richard Anderson at Cambridge, he also did some pioneer work on Islamic law in Northern Nigeria.
He is old now, but you would enjoy working with him on northern Nigeria.” I thanked him but not wanting to sound ungrateful, I said I would think about it.
In 1986, after SOAS gave me admission, I called Professor O’Connell to tell him of my decision.
He sounded a bit disappointed but wished me well.
I had barely settled down when one Tajudeen Abduraheem invited me to come and speak to the African Students in Oxford.
Apparently, Tajudeen, Taju as we all called him, had known me pretty well back in Nigeria from my writings in the New Nigerian Newspapers, but I had never heard of him.
He was in Oxford as a young Rhodes Fellow.
In between the invitation came another invitation to one of the very famous African Studies Seminars in which Antony KirkGreene was billed to speak on his famous work, Mutumin Kirki which dwelt on the concept of the Good man in Hausa society.
I was excited by the prospects of meeting this great man because I had read the profound little book.
I made the trip to Oxford to be at that seminar.
In the course of his presentation, Professor KirkGreene spoke about his research and laid out his findings on the concept of a good man in Hausa society and his characteristics, a theme that runs through African societies.
One of my most memorable days within him was when the great man called me and suggested that he wanted us to have lunch.
I did not hesitate to accept the offer because it was one of a few lunches.
The next day we had lunch at the College Dining Room and chatted for a long time about Nigeria, again about my work with the Oputa Panel and the urgency of national unity.
After our lunch, while we waited for coffee, he stood up and I thought he was going to ease himself.
Rather, he reached for his bag which he had placed under the table.
He pulled out a parcel, well wrapped, and still standing, said to me: “I am pleased that you were able to make this lunch.
I thought we should do this before you leave us for Harvard.
I want you to know that it has been a great pleasure knowing you more closely since you came here.
We have all been enriched by your presence and I have enjoyed listening to you in our various seminars here.
I have brought you a small gift which I think you might find useful in the course of your work and reflections on Nigeria.” I stood up like a young graduate receiving a prize of the Best Graduating Student to collect my gift.
“Can I open it?” I asked him, feeling rather shy and awed.
“By all means,” he said to me gently as he smiled.
I opened the parcel and behold: brand new copies of his two-volume magnus opus, Crisis and Conflict in Nigeria: A Documentary Sourcebook, beautifully autographed for me.
From the great icon, this was a memorable moment for me, and the volumes a great treasure.
The book itself is a treasure trove, evidence of a painstaking sense of record by a colonial officer and a scholar with an eye on history.
Against the backdrop of the tragic lack of material on the civil war, this book remains the most authoritative and accurate source of information and documentation of the events of the civil war.
Professor Kirk-Greene loved Nigeria dearly and it showed in his passionate commentaries.
His death is a great loss but his immense contribution to scholarship will stand him out and guarantee him a place in the annals of both colonial historiographers and lovers of Nigeria.
In heaven he will meet his most outstanding protégé, the late Professor Raufu Mustapha who was the first Anthony Kirk-Greene Fellow in Oxford.
Both must be looking at a country they loved so much as it smolders with some sense of ennui.
Professor Anthony Kirk-Greene was, indeed, the quintessential, baturen kirki.
God rest him.
Kukah is Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto