By Rorisang Modiba
- Chris Brown posted photos in academic robes on Instagram after Harvest Christian University awarded him an honorary doctorate in Visual and Performing Arts.
- The university’s only listed accreditation comes from a commission created in 2018 by a man who calls himself the king of Hawaiสปi, which is a US state.
Chris Brown has something new to celebrate. The American R&B singer posted photos of himself in full academic robes on Instagram over the weekend, holding an honorary Doctor of Philosophy certificate from Harvest Christian University.
“I DID A THING!” he wrote.
The certificate recognises his contribution to music, dance and entertainment. Brown has had a big year. He has multiple Grammy nominations, a stadium tour with Usher in the works, and last December he drew more than 92,000 fans to FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
He rose to fame in the mid-2000s with songs including Run It!, Forever and With You, and has won Grammy and BET Awards across a career spanning two decades as a singer, songwriter, dancer and performer.
The university behind the certificate is less straightforward. Harvest Christian University lists its accreditation through the Kingdom of Hawaiสปi Royal Accreditation Commission, known as KOHRAC. The body was established in January 2018 by a man who calls himself HRM King Edmund K. Paki-Silva Jr. Hawaiสปi is a US state. It does not have a king.
KOHRAC does not appear on any list maintained by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The university’s website says it is also recognised by “other international accrediting bodies” but does not name them.
Neither Brown nor Harvest Christian University have addressed the accreditation question.
Pictured above: Chris Brown.
Image source: @chrisbrownofficial
