Hometown: Iowa City, Iowa
Faculty mentors: Richard Turner, PhD, professor of African American religious history; and Paul Dilley, PhD, associate professor, Department of Religious Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Degree program and anticipated graduation date: PhD in religious studies, May, 2025

Kefas Lemak uses an interdisciplinary lens to examine the customs and legacies of colonialists, missionaries, and Indigenous peoples in the Middle Belt, or central region, of Nigeria from 1841 to 1930. He relies on historical documents and fieldwork to understand how these groups influenced religion and culture in the Middle Belt. Lemak’s work highlights the contributions of Indigenous missionaries and women to Christianity and education in the region. He draws from the lives of ordinary people in the Middle Belt in the hope of creating new knowledge about their history.

After completing his PhD, Lemak wants to become a professor involved in both teaching and research, so he can continue writing about the past, present, and future of Africa. He hopes to continue contributing to knowledge about Africa and African people at home and in the Diaspora.

Banner location: Downtown—