Gambian scholarship has received a major international boost with the election of Hassoum Ceesay, ORG, as an International Fellow of the British Academy (FBA). The Director General of the National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC), a respected historian, museum curator and biographer, is one of 92 scholars worldwide selected for the prestigious honor in 2026.
According to the British Academy’s announcement, Ceesay has attained high international standing in the fields of history and the arts. He joins a distinguished group of new Fellows that includes renowned anthropologist Professor Lila Abu-Lughod FBA of Columbia University, Professor John Arnold FBA, Professor of Medieval History at the University of Cambridge, and the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Dame Siobhan Keegan KC, FBA.
In the formal election letter, Professor Susan J. Smith FBA, President of the British Academy, described the distinction: “Fellows of the Academy represent the very best of humanities and social sciences research, in the UK and globally. Only one or two scholars a year are elected in most fields, so this is a significant mark of distinction, and we offer our sincere congratulations.”
Founded in 1902, the British Academy is the United Kingdom’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. Ceesay’s research and publications focus on Gambian and African history, with particular emphasis on biography. His work has sought to elevate the role of women in Gambian history and to bring marginalized events and individuals into the center of historical narrative.
Responding to the announcement, Ceesay said: “The British Academy is the acme of scholarly recognition, and my Fellowship is more than a personal honor for my contribution to the Humanities and Social Sciences. It is also a call to duty: to continue to use the vast network, resources and fora of the Academy to sharpen the relevance of my research and publications in addressing pressing national and international challenges like women and children empowerment, poverty alleviation and peaceful co-existence.”
