Jepson Leadership Forum presents Jerome Lewis

The 2026-27 Jepson Leadership Forum series presents Jerome Lewis for the discussion Congo Basin Hunter-Gatherers and the Current Threats to Their Survival.

Jerome Lewis is professor of anthropology at University College London and author of The Revolutionary Origins of Language.

The 2026-27 Jepson Leadership Forum focuses on Indigenous Leadership: Tradition, Sovereignty, and Survival. Indigenous peoples around the world manage complex relationships with states while sustaining governance systems that predate colonial boundaries. In the United States, Native nations continue to defend their sovereignty and counter cultural misrepresentation. In sub-Saharan Africa, traditional authorities often bridge customary law and state institutions. Across these and other contexts, Indigenous leaders confront shared challenges: safeguarding land and resources, preserving cultural knowledge, securing legal recognition, and advocating for their communities within national and international frameworks. This forum convenes scholars, practitioners, and Indigenous leaders to examine how these leadership systems operate, how they evolved over time, and why they remain vital today.