In Collaboration with Journal Work Academy, and African Studies Association UK
In partnership with the British Academy funded Journal Work Academy and the African Studies Association of the UK (ASAUK), this ASAA African Studies Publishing Workshop will stimulate thinking and the publication of high-quality writing in African Studies towards launching the inaugural issue of Bokutani: Journal of the African Studies Association of Africa. It will support the work of editors and editorial boards and contribute to training the next generation of peer reviewers and journal editors, in collaboration with senior scholars and editors based at African institutions. Select contributions will be published in the inaugural issue of Bokutani, following the peer review processes of the journal.
Format:
The ASAA Bokutani Publishing Workshop will involve structured sessions of practical exercises and collaborative work. Scholars will provide guided feedback to one another’s work and each author will receive detailed feedback from the others in the group, as well as one-on-one feedback from senior scholars and journal editors. This has the aim of improving individual papers, but also of strengthening future scholarly networks and building intra-African networks of collaboration.
Outcome:
Participants will have the benefit of discussing their work with their peers from other institutions, and to think of their individual projects in terms of networked intellectual debates and future collaborations. The seminar style format encourages collaborative work and understands journal publishing not simply as a step to career advancement, but as an engaged and contextual scholarly practice. Through the collaborations between journal editors and the African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA) publishing cultures become a central part of a future-oriented academy. Select papers from the workshop will be considered for publication in the inaugural issue of Bokutani: Journal of the African Studies Association of Africa.
Eligibility & Application criteria:
- Applications are to be submitted in English or French
- The article under discussion must not have been submitted to a journal or already be under review by any journal.
- Journals and journal editors are invited to contribute by encouraging an eligible candidate to attend the workshop. Independent candidates are also eligible to apply.
- Should have submitted and abstract accepted for presentation at the ASAA 2023 conference in Lubumbashi.
This is a hybrid event. In order to be included in the workshop, participants need to be available on 24 October 2023 and must agree to submit their 2000-4000 word draft paper to the organisers by 19 October 2023 for distribution to others in the workshop.
Each participant will also be asked to write a peer review of no more than two other submissions. Our intention is to circulate the peer review assignments by 20 October. Participants should bring their peer reviews, anonymised and printed out, to the workshop.
Submission process:
Applicants should please prepare and submit the following documents by 19 October 2023:
- An abstract of no more than 200 words (draft papers are encouraged at this stage already if available)
- A personal statement of no more than 200 words
- A recent CV (not more than 2 pages) including all previous publications and editorial experience.
- A declaration that the work has not yet been submitted to a journal and is not under review with a journal.
For questions and inquiries, contact: Divine Fuh, at the address: divine.fuh@uct.ac.za.
Selection criteria:
Space will be limited to 15 participants. Participants in the Academy will be chosen carefully, in collaboration with our partner journals and with the organisers of the conferences, with regard to diversity of background, experience, theme, discipline, and other concerns. Applicants selected for participation will be notified by the organiser, ASAA by 20 October 2023. Successful applicants will have their conference registration paid and will be considered for sponsored accommodation. All participants will be responsible for their own travel costs. Each editor or editorial representative will work with no more than 3 participants.
Partners:
The British Academy
Journal Work Academy
African Studies Association of the UK (ASAUK)
Global Africa Journal
Institute for Humanities in Africa (HUMA)
