# T.J. Desch-Obi ![T.J. Desch-Obi](/sites/g/files/omnuum6516/files/styles/hwp_4_5__320x400/public/alariconference/files/screen_shot_2019-09-24_at_3.05.13_pm.png?itok=d-ylVNxm) location\_on Centro de Estudios Afrodiaspóricos, Universidad ICESI Cali, Colombia smartphone [+57 305 357 6970]() email [mmaduka@yahoo.com ]() Dr. T.J. Desch-Obi is currently a visiting professor at Universidad ICESI’s Centro de Estudios Afrodiaspóricos in Cali Colombia. He received his doctorate from the University of California Los Angeles, and is the author of *Fighting For Honor: The History of African Martial Art Traditions in the Atlantic World*. He specializes in the historical ethnography of pre-colonial Africa and the African Diaspora with a focus upon martial arts, physical culture, religion, sport, historical linguistics, and military history. His current research focuses on the social history of the machete and the Afro-Colombian machete fighting from 1848 to 1960, and twentieth century prison boxing. Dr. Desch-Obi is a permanent member of the history department at the City University of New York’s, Baruch College, where he also teaches in the Black and Latino Studies, Latin American and Caribbean - ## People Directory [Speakers](/people-directory/speakers)