ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti nˈaɪn, hiː əbtˈeɪnd ɐ dˈɑːktɚɹˌeɪt ɪn ˈæfɹɪkən hˈɪstɚɹi fɹʌm nɔːɹθwˈɛstɚn jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ɪn ɪvˈænstən, ˌɪlənˈɔɪ.
In 1979, he obtained a doctorate in African history from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.