The Saharan is a peer-reviewed, bi-annual journal which aims to promote an intersectional approach to the inquiry into the disciplines of Cultural Studies and International Development within the pan-African context. The journal intends to cultivate a creative engagement with contemporary Africa by focusing on how artistic output generates and sustains development on the continent and across its diaspora. Contributions are therefore expected to fit in broadly with this concern and should generally pursue to address an informed but diverse, audience.
The journal seeks to establish itself as the authoritative scholarly platform for original writers with a vision for strategies and solutions that achieve long-term impact. The Saharan aims specifically to promote a wide range of innovative approaches that reach across fashionable currents and demonstrate genuine foresight. ‘On the ground’ research from Africa, whether empirical or practice-based, is particularly welcome, but the journal is committed to encompassing a global diversity of angles.
The Saharan aims to fulfil the need for academic writing that meets a rigorous criteria of editorial filtering in terms of originality, vision, impact, structure and style. The reviewing process is overseen by the editors of the journal, and is subject to a strict qualitative assessment that meets the approval of the editorial board, and fulfils the submission guidelines. The editorial and advisory board are made up of high-ranking academics, scholars and specialised practitioners with a wealth of experience in academic work on Africa and elsewhere.
Our editorial policy remains committed to adopting a nonpartisan stance and avoids adhering to any particular ideologies and political views. The journal encourages controversial contributions which seek to demolish established trends and popular currents, but will generally desist from endorsing politically motivated polemic, in line with the journal’s wider scope of promoting an academically substantiated understanding of modern African matters.