Sudanese Zeinab Badawi appointed as President of SOAS

تعيين السودانية زينب بدوي رئيسةً لجامعة الدراسات الشرقية والإفريقية

6 October 2021

The award-winning broadcaster, journalist and SOAS alumna, Zeinab Badawi, has been appointed as the new President of SOAS, announced the university’s official website.

Zeinab’s current work includes interviewing some of the world’s most notable personalities and politicians on BBC Hardtalk. She is also hosting Global Questions on BBC World TV and the BBC News Channel – a programme which invites its global audiences to question their leaders on current issues.

Regarding her new position, Zeinab told SOAS’s website that “it comes at a time when SOAS is increasingly asserting itself with great confidence on the UK and global stage. I look forward tremendously to working with the academic community, staff, the student body, alumni, the supporters, partners and friends of SOAS.”

Who is Zeinab Badawi?

The new SOAS president was born in Sudan but moved to England at two years old. Nonetheless, she never dismissed her Sudanese heritage.

She is the founder of the production company, Kush Communications, which created the 20-part series ‘The History of Africa with Zeinab Badawi’. Reportedly, she was the first Sudanese woman to work in British TV.

SOAS Director Professor Adam Habib, who is a South African Muslim, expressed his excitement about Badawi joining the team.

He said to the SOAS website: “It is an honour to welcome Zeinab back to SOAS as our new President. Her lifelong commitment to make a difference through her work combined with her distinguished career in broadcasting makes her an inspiring role model for our student community and beyond. We very much look forward to working with Zeinab in the coming months.”

Zeinab studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University and took a Master’s degree on Middle East History and Anthropology at SOAS London University. In 2011 Zeinab was awarded an honorary doctorate by SOAS for her services to international broadcasting.

As such, She has received many awards and acknowledgments and is widely known to the British public. Zeinab will assume the role of President with immediate effect.

Watch Zeinab’s message to the SOAS community below.