The African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA) is pleased to announce the establishment of its journal, Bokutani, which was officially launched during ASAA's 5th Biennial Conference and 10th Anniversary Celebration in Lubumbashi, DRC, in October 2023. Bokutani, the concept for encounters in Lingala, represents the association’s core mandate, values, principles, and aspirations as a convivial space for Africa-centered intellectual convenings.
Bokutani: The Journal of the African Studies Association of Africa sets out to maintain an intellectual agenda centered on the latest developments in African studies, emphasising Africa-centered perspectives. The aim is not only to produce knowledge on Africa but also to produce knowledge on the world from an African perspective. Africa is not understood, in this instance, as a geographical space but rather as a concept, a fundamentally pluriversal idea. Given its main objectives—to contribute to current debates in the humanities and social sciences, both inside and outside academia—Bokutani will start by producing articles written in English and French, summaries of articles in other African languages, and podicles (articles in podcast form) in French, English, and other African languages. Bokutani's multi-disciplinary nature, the diversity of languages used, and the plurality of formats (scientific articles, oral articles, podicle) all contribute to an innovative renewal of thinking about and from Africa.
Bokutani is a multidisciplinary journal covering all areas of African studies, publishing original texts and translations in French and English. It looks at all questions relating to Africa and the world from an African perspective, in accordance with the highest academic standards. Bokutani is vested in elevating research on the continent and the African diaspora. Therefore, Bokutani is committed to rethinking conventional frameworks of analysis, reformulating problematics, and innovating theoretically and methodologically.
Bokutani publishes one issue per year. Issues are alternately varied and thematic. Under the responsibility of a guest editor, the thematic issue focuses on the theme of the year's biennial. The first issue, “Ecology of African Knowledges,” will be the exception because it will be a thematic issue that does not focus on the biennial theme.
A peer-review process, overseen by a leading panel of experts who constitute the editorial and editorial-advisory boards, ensures a fair and rapid publication experience. This is further supplemented by a rigorous double-blind peer review process by the global community of scholars, ensuring that each article is published based on its merits.
The journal is supported through ASAA membership, external funding, and donations, ensuring that all articles are made freely available worldwide upon publication.
We welcome your submissions for the inaugural issue via Bokutani's abstract submission platform. Please visit the ASAA homepage at https://www.as-aa.org/ to learn more about the association and become a member.
For more inquiries about the journal, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..