ali al'amin mazrui (24 february 1933 – 12 october 2014), was an academic professor, and political writer on african and islamic studies and north-south relations. he was born in mombasa, kenya. his positions included director of the institute of global cultural studies at binghamton university in binghamton, new york, and director of the center for afro-american and african studies at the university of michigan. he produced the television documentary series "".