On August 23, Academician Apollon Borisovich Davidson turned 85 years old. Those who know him find it hard to believe. He teaches at two universities (the National Research University Higher School of Economics and Moscow State University), heads the Africa Department at the Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, is President of the Association for British Studies of Russia and a member of the editorial boards of various journals, including the journal "Vostok (Oriens)", publishes extensive scientific works, publishes multi-volume collective works, he writes scientific and journalistic articles, comments on the burning problems of our time. It is in demand-just as it was decades ago. In his house, the phone rings incessantly, "TV people" and radio programs are interviewed, friends, colleagues and acquaintances run in "on the light", students come for consultations. His gait may have slowed down, but the pace of life isn't. ¹

Just five years ago, Africanists and Orientalists celebrated the 80th anniversary of Apollo Borisovich. Over the years, Apollon Borisovich, whose research interests cover all topics of African studies and general history, once again turned to the topic of historical ties between Russia and South Africa. In 2010 and 2012, the publishing house of the Higher School of Economics published two of his books: "Russia and South Africa. Three centuries of relations" and " Russia and South Africa. Building Bridges "(co-authored with I. I. Filatova), and in South Africa in 2013 the book " The Hidden Thread. Russia and South Africa in the Soviet Era " ², which won the prize of the South African publishing conglomerate "Media 24" as the best book of the year in the non-fiction category.

Apollon Borisovich is a born teacher and a bright lecturer. Today, he continues to teach courses at the ISAA of Moscow State University, at the Faculty of History of Moscow State University, and at the Higher School of Economics. The breadth of Apollon Borisovich's research interests can be judged by the courses of lectures that he gives at the Higher School of Economics: the history of the XX century, the Afroatization of the modern world, the Silver Age of Russian literature, and the culture of the Soviet era. Some of these courses are electives, but students come to them from year to year. Their friends from other universities also come. Apollon Borisovich has trained more than 30 candidates of science; some of his former students and postgraduates have defended their doctoral theses.

A. B. Davidson's contribution to the development of cooperation between Russia and African countries was highly appreciated both in Russia and in South Africa. In 2000, Apollon Borisovich was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples, and in 2012-the South African Order of Companions of Oliver Tambo.

In 2000, Apollon Borisovich became President of the Association for British Studies in Russia and made a great contribution to the development of Russian English studies. He organized annual joint Anglo-Russian conferences; several collections of Russia and Britain have already been published under his editorship.

Apollo Borisovich's outstanding scientific achievements were recognized when he was elected a full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2011.

Life of Apollon Borisovich was not easy, but his memoirs ³-the testimony of many pages of our history-amaze with kindness and generosity.

Apollo Borisovich is full of new plans and new topics. History as an ideological battleground. Africa in the history of Russia. Racial and national problems and their peaceful solution-

¹ For a biographical sketch by A. B. Davidson, see: Orient (Oriens). 2009. No. 4. pp. 205-209.

² Filatova I., Davidson A. The Hidden Thread: Russia and South Africa in the Soviet Era. Cape Town, Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball Publishers, 2013.

³ Davison A. I love you guys. Strantsy zhizni, Moscow, 2008.

Meanwhile, he is very interested in the lessons of the peace settlement in South Africa and the figure of Nelson Mandela. A new book of memoirs, this time about South Africa.

Let's hope we're lucky enough to read all of this.

Staff of the Institute of World History, Moscow State University, Higher School of Economics, members of the Association of British Studies of Russia, editorial Board of the journal " Vostok (Oriens)" We wish Apollo Borisovich unbreakable health and new creative success.

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