Eyamba G. Bokamba Graduate Scholarship Award

About Eyamba G. Bokamba

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People and institutions worldwide have benefited from Professor Eyamba Georges Bokamba's insights and contributions to the fields of Linguistics, African Languages in particular and Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTL) in general.

Professor Bokamba’s commitment to excellence began with his own scholarship as an international exchange student in high school and college in the United States and as a fellowship recipient throughout much of his graduate studies. He dedicated decades of his adult life to unraveling the mysteries of the human mind as manifested in language structure and usage, as well as the complexities of organizational advancement, especially in service to interdisciplinary thought and scholarship.

This commitment to excellence has inspired generations of students and younger colleagues during his 44 years of teaching and research at UIUC. His ability to expand his students’ horizons beyond linguistics, language teaching, and to provide opportunities has prompted many to embark on their own journeys of scholarship and service to humanity.  

Professor Bokamba’s legacy at UIUC, and his achievements in the fields of Linguistics, African Language teaching and acquisition, LCTL and African studies  is outstanding. He is a linguist in the truest sense of mastery of multiple languages and analyst of their internal logic. For example, one can witness his language fluency as he shifts with ease from one language to the next, often addressing his students, colleagues, family and friends in their own language, oftentimes with a joke to accompany the greeting.  

Furthermore, his multi-disciplinary research in linguistics (i.e., syntax, sociolinguistics, African language acquisition) has contributed to an expanded basis of understanding of the complexity of African languages. The brilliance of speakers of African languages emerges as his students, colleagues, and comrades, all of whom are also committed to expansive possibilities for the people of Africa, endeavor to create the scholarly basis for this understanding.

Professor Bokamba’s contributions in the context of UIUC are impressive. His record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and administrative leadership in his home department (Linguistics), affiliated departments (French and Italian, and African American and Diaspora Studies) show the breadth and depth of his love for not only the University of Illinois, but also for each and every person he has taught, mentored and collaborated with internationally during his distinguished career.

Professor Bokamba infused leadership development in both professional and academic mentoring of Africanist linguists, language pedagogues and studies administrators. He not only valued the academic excellence and expertise that emerged within his students; he also constantly strove to elevate his students’, mentees’ professionalism and contributions to their shared larger fields.  Many students testify to his uncanny ability to inspire them to levels of excellence beyond the classroom as they demonstrated mastery by presenting, teaching, and leading. Professor Bokamba served UIUC with distinction for decades. We hope that his many accomplishments as a teacher, scholar, and leader shall inspire others for generations to come.

For a full list of Professor Bokamba's accomplishments, please see his CV.

About This Award

 This award was made possible through the generous contribution of Professor Emeritus  Eyamba G. Bokamba. In his description of the fellowship fund, he states: 

Cognizant of such financial challenges faced by graduate students, and with respect to the potential leadership development opportunities that could be missed due to these limitations, this fellowship aims principally to encourage interdisciplinary, African-centric advanced research, and contributions to the specified fields. Accordingly, it is established to support a selection of outstanding graduate students who will fall under this category.

Past Recipients