Jimmy Hendry Nzally

Jimmy Hendry Nzally is a postdoctoral researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). He has held various positions, such as teaching and research, and served as a visiting scholar at the University of Eastern Finland, Ghent University, and at the VUB. His prior studies include a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies (Honours) and a-Master’s in African History (Cum Laude), both of which were done at the University of The Gambia (UTG). Additionally, he has a second Masters in Linguistics and Literary Studies (Merit). His research interests include regime change and democratization in Africa; African history and contemporary politics; postcolonial African studies; and migration. He graduated with a doctorate in Political Science from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). “Explaining Democratic Change in The Gambia: Understanding the Fall of Yahya Jammeh in the December 2016 Elections” was the subject of his PhD dissertation. Overall, the PhD highlights that democratic change has been made possible by a fortunate constellation of domestic and international factors as well as by the mobilization of many Gambians prepared to risk their lives to achieve democratic change. 

Professional and Volunteer Organizations include being Board Member of the Diaspora Advisory Committee, International Organization for Migration Belgium & Luxembourg. At the BSOG he organizes high profile panel debates: Forum for Democratization and EU Relations in Africa. He made media appearances on the BBC, Voice of America and SkyNews. He met with world leaders including having a sparkling lunch with the King of Belgium. Jimmy is well-known at the VUB for his commitment to internationalization and involvement with students. He established the VUB Africa Student Community (ASCOM), served as chair of the International Student Platform, and provided the impetus for the creation of the VUB Latin American Student Community (LASCOM). In 2018, he received the Student Laureate Award from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. In Bozar, he spoke at the beginning of the academic year for 2017–2018 on behalf of the foreign students. He actually delivered the first ever valedictorian speech at the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy graduation ceremony that same year. 

List of publications (on VUB publications platform)