Herald Correspondent
DR JAMES MANYIKA, the Zimbabwean-born Senior Vice President of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has received one of Harvard University’s highest honours, the William Edward Burghardt Du Bois Medal, in recognition of his contributions to technology, research and public life.
He received the prestigious award at a ceremony held at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre on October 8, 2026. Fellow Zimbabwean businessman Strive Masiyiwa, who received the same honour in 2024, presented the medal.
Dr Manyika’s achievement adds to the growing international recognition of Zimbabweans who have risen to influential positions across global business, technology and academia.
He began his academic journey at the University of Zimbabwe, where he graduated with a first-class degree in engineering, before proceeding to the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
At Alphabet, Dr Manyika works in artificial intelligence, computing, and scientific research – fields shaping technological innovation and the global digital economy.
Established in 2000, the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal is named after the renowned African-American scholar, sociologist, and civil rights activist William Edward Burghardt Du Bois.
The award recognises individuals whose contributions have advanced African and African-American history, culture, and public life.
Previous recipients include media personality Oprah Winfrey, filmmaker Spike Lee, civil rights leader John Lewis, and Nigerian Nobel Prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka.
Dr Manyika was among eight recipients honoured this year, alongside actress Angela Bassett, former Ivorian football star Didier Drogba, and Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings.
His recognition highlights the international reach of Zimbabwean talent, tracing his progression from studying engineering at the University of Zimbabwe to holding a senior leadership position at one of the world’s leading technology companies.
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