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Education

Japan's first university head from Africa champions diversity

Inspired by Nelson Mandela, Malian-born professor works to change minds in Kyoto

Two years ago, Professor Oussouby Sacko became the first African president of one of Japan's 786 universities. 

KYOTO -- Kyoto has been Professor Oussouby Sacko's home for the best part of 30 years. A practicing Muslim originally from Mali, West Africa, nearly 13,500 km from Japan, he came here three decades ago via China.

Now 53, Sacko is the first African president of a Japanese university. "Kyoto Seika University has not made me president as an attraction," he said, speaking Japanese fluently in a Kansai dialect.

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