Entomologists playing an important role in my life
Thomas Risley Odhiambo
When I speak about Thomas Risley Odhiambo (1931–2003), I could list his many accomplishments. However, I will not do so here, as his life and achievements are well documented elsewhere, e.g. Wikipedia or the Guardian.
I admired him greatly. He was an outstanding scientist, a visionary, a philosopher, and even a poet. He was one of the finest African entomologists I have ever encountered—a true son of Africa.
When I first visited International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in 1972, many of the scientists were from Europe, the United States, and Asia. During his leadership, the number of African scientists increased significantly. He was deeply aware of Africa’s colonial history and was committed to promoting African scientists as much as possible.
In 1983, he established the African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS), a collaboration with universities across Africa. Through this programme, students could conduct research at icipe or in their home countries and earn a PhD. By 2026, more than 200 PhDs from 29 African countries had been trained. Promoting Africans in science was, for him, a central mission.
My first direct encounter with Prof. Odhiambo was in 1972, when we received 24 hours’ notice to leave the country. We had offended him by entering an administrative building at icipe to obtain stencil paper, which we needed to complete a report on several months of termite research in the Rift Valley (read here). We apologized, and fortunately, we were allowed to continue our work as if nothing had happened.
On another occasion, two professors—one from Wageningen and one from Amsterdam—visited icipe to review funding provided by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The funds had been intended for a small research building at Mbita Point on the shores of Lake Victoria. To their surprise, instead of a small building, they found only the foundations of what was clearly a much larger research facility.
There are two ways to interpret this. One could argue that the funds were misused, as only a small building had been planned. Alternatively—and this reflects Prof. Odhiambo’s vision—he was thinking far beyond the original plan, aiming to create a major research facility for the benefit of Africa. One of the visiting professors, however, was deeply offended.
This approach—using donor funds flexibly for the broader benefit of the institute—eventually contributed to his being asked to step down in 1994. Importantly, these resources were not used for personal gain, but for the development of the institute.
I was invited several times to have lunch with him at the top of the building. He was always very friendly, intellectually sharp, and had a wonderful, booming laugh. I never knew whether he still remembered the incident when he had expelled us from the country.
At one point, Prof. Odhiambo asked me to formulate a regional project titled “Strengthening national capabilities in the development and implementation of integrated pest management in Africa.” I spent two weeks at headquarters working on it, including evenings and weekends. What struck me was that the director and his staff were working just as hard—late into the evenings and through weekends. Their dedication to the institute was remarkable.
I was present at the handover of responsibilities and felt that he received far too little recognition for his contributions. He passed away in 2003. I participated in his funeral service in June 2003. The service was held in a church and attended by, I believe, at least a thousand people.
I would like to recall a passage he wrote in 2003, the year he passed away, in hiis foreword for the 25th anniversary of the African Association of Insect Scientists (AAIS), which he founded:
“…providing services to all insects—obnoxious ones, helpful ones,
and the vast majority that are neutral and perhaps unaware of the presence of humans on Earth—
and respecting their existence. In this way, life on this planet becomes once again a little more beautiful,
a little more magical, a little more an expression of God himself.
Fireflies can give their light in the cool tropical twilight;
water striders can glide gracefully across the surface of a quiet stream;
and butterflies can flutter from flower to flower, imbibing nectar, the celebrated food of the gods.”
Odhiambo, 2003. Foreword “AAIS: Celebrating 25 years of Insect Science for African Development”, ICIPE Science Press
Prof. Odhiambo also played a key role in the founding of the The World Academy of Sciences and the African Academy of Sciences. He remains one of the Africans for whom I have the greatest respect.
When I was hospitalized after an airplane crash, he came to visit me. He told me, “I never go to hospitals, but for you I make an exception.” That gesture meant a great deal to me.