Philip Aigbona Igbafe (15 December 1936 – 26 April 2021) was a Nigerian historian, professor and public administrator noted for his work on the history of the Edo people of the precolonial Kingdom of Benin.
He belonged to the Ibadan History School and his major works examine the motives[1] for colonialism and highlight the political, social and economic consequences of British rule for the African kingdom.
Igbafe was born in Uzairue, part of the Etsako West local government area of Edo State in midwestern Nigeria.
He also taught briefly at the Western Boys High School, Benin City in 1958 before gaining admission and a federal government scholarship to study history at the University of Ibadan.
He continued to research, write, teach and supervise undergraduate, graduate and doctoral candidates at the university of Benin until December 2006 when he retired at the age 70.