Synopsis

Oussouby Sacko, hailing from Mali in West Africa, found himself with little familiarity in Japan upon his arrival. Nearly three decades later, in April of 2018, he assumed the presidency of Kyoto Seika University. In this conversation with Peter Barakan, Sacko recounts his reasons for coming to Japan, details his ascent to becoming the first African president of a Japanese institution, and outlines his aspirations for the students under his leadership.