Professor Achille Mbembe, from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, has become the first African to win the Holberg Prize, recognizing his pioneering work in the humanities, social sciences, law, or theology. Awarded annually with a value of approximately US$575,000, the prize honors Mbembe's contributions that challenge traditional views on decolonization and humanity. His influential research, which has been translated into 17 languages, promotes a global understanding that transcends racial and colonial legacies.