21-07-2025
UCT's Rajend Mesthrie joins prestigious ranks as Fellow of the British Academy
In a significant honour for South African academia, Rajend Mesthrie, the revered linguist and emeritus professor at the University of Cape Town (UCT), has been elected as a Fellow of the British Academy. This prestigious accolade stands as one of the highest recognitions for distinguished scholars in the fields of humanities and social sciences, honouring exemplary contributions to the discipline. Mesthrie joins a cohort of luminaries, consisting of 58 new fellows from the UK, 30 international fellows, and four honorary fellows, all elected this year.
The newly inducted fellows reflect a diverse array of expertise that spans across various critical fields, including the sociocultural contexts of 20th-century music, the structural causation of poverty, environmental law, and the fascinating neuroscience behind memory, language, and cognition. Each of these experts contributes a unique perspective aimed at addressing some of the pressing challenges faced by contemporary society.
Following the announcement of the fellowship, Professor Mesthrie expressed his profound gratitude, noting that despite never having studied in the UK, his work has been significantly influenced by British scholarship, particularly in general linguistics, sociolinguistics, and the historical nuances of the English language. 'I am rather pleased to be recognised in this way by the British Academy. This recognition is a testament to my lifelong commitment to teaching and research in South Africa and the manifold linguistic streams that flow through our country,' he stated.
