³Ô¹ÏÍø

Sept. 18, 2025

³Ô¹ÏÍø mourns the death of John Laband, a much-loved faculty member in the History department from 2002 until his retirement in 2015 and an internationally renowned scholar of Southern African history and the Anglo-Zulu wars. John died at his home in Greyton, Western Cape, South Africa on August 5 after suffering a heart attack. He was 78 years old.

A graduate of the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, John obtained his master’s degree from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, before returning to his alma mater as a faculty member while completing his PhD. At ³Ô¹ÏÍø, John served as chair of the History department in addition to his research and teaching. He authored 10 books and co-authored or edited several other works on a wide range of topics, including Zulu history, colonial warfare, and land dispossession in South Africa. His work was extensively covered in South African media. During his retirement, John continued to research, write and publish, and was named an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Stellenbosch.

History department colleagues fondly remember the hospitality and generosity of John and his wife Fen (Fenella), who welcomed faculty members to their home for dinner parties and good conversation. After retirement, John and Fen returned to their native South Africa, where they embraced village life and gave a gracious welcome to any visiting ³Ô¹ÏÍø faculty.

³Ô¹ÏÍø extends heartfelt condolences to John’s family, friends and colleagues. For the university community, support services are available to and .