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5 Africanist scholars (Moradewun Adejunmobi, Bhekizizwe Peterson, Juliana Nfah-Abbenyi, Tom Odhiambo &Adeleke Adeeko) responded to the question “Why wasn’t my article published?” from their positions are editors, reviewers & readers of academic essays.
The take-aways below:
The take-aways below:
The discussion was part of the African Literature Association’s ( @AfricanLitAssoc) lecture series focused on ways to decolonise knowledge, especially with reference to academic journals.
*Statements have been paraphrased for clarity.*
*Statements have been paraphrased for clarity.*
The speakers shared from two perspectives.
First: the would-be author wondering why their article was not published, rejected, or sent back for revision.
Second: the peer reviewer/editor wondering how do we evaluate articles without shutting out scholars from outside Europe?
First: the would-be author wondering why their article was not published, rejected, or sent back for revision.
Second: the peer reviewer/editor wondering how do we evaluate articles without shutting out scholars from outside Europe?
“There is an uneven perception of what constitutes scholarly writing around the world, yet it is important to foster journals that can compete with journals around the world. This entails choosing yet, how do we choose?”
On Peer-reviewing:
“The peer-review process is an invitation to dialogue, a dialogue between the author and the journal…My articles have frequently attracted a comment, recommendation for revision…an invitation to dialogue...
“The peer-review process is an invitation to dialogue, a dialogue between the author and the journal…My articles have frequently attracted a comment, recommendation for revision…an invitation to dialogue...
...It means there is something that I am trying to say that the person at the other end is not receiving. So, I need to pull back and rethink how I am saying what I am trying to say. It is important to ask: how can I say it better?”
Moradewun Adejunmobi
Moradewun Adejunmobi
On Originality (Bhekizizwe Peterson):
“Originality is often best dealt with in a nuanced&layered manner. It can take 2 forms.
1: presentation of new empirical research which can be arrived at through archival research, interviews...
2: by thinking through concepts."
“Originality is often best dealt with in a nuanced&layered manner. It can take 2 forms.
1: presentation of new empirical research which can be arrived at through archival research, interviews...
2: by thinking through concepts."
On Establishing Arguments:
“A particular argument may be best presented in a specific way. The argument must unfold in a logical and comprehensible manner…
The author must choose a structure that suits their argument..."
“A particular argument may be best presented in a specific way. The argument must unfold in a logical and comprehensible manner…
The author must choose a structure that suits their argument..."
...Is it the chronological/sequential structure especially if the argument requires historical grounding? Will it be a structure galvanized around thematic/aesthetic concerns? Is it a structure that utilises a comparative paradigm?”
On Introduction/Conclusion:
"The introduction shouldn’t just be seen as a bland sentence but should answer: in what ways do you indicate concisely & provocatively the aims & intentions of the study/arguments?...
"The introduction shouldn’t just be seen as a bland sentence but should answer: in what ways do you indicate concisely & provocatively the aims & intentions of the study/arguments?...
...The conclusion shouldn’t just be a 're-summary' of the arguments? How do you weave together the key elements/components of your essay? How do you indicate the significance of these key threads that inform the argument? Go beyond it being just a summary.”
On Style:
1: The article must advance an argument/discussion that makes a contribution to knowledge yet, how accessible is the argument presented?
2: How do you help the reader transition between the new lines of thoughts and how do you signpost these?
1: The article must advance an argument/discussion that makes a contribution to knowledge yet, how accessible is the argument presented?
2: How do you help the reader transition between the new lines of thoughts and how do you signpost these?
Often what one looks for, is a dominant way of thinking, to either re-contest, reformulate, or even reject it, but then one needs to get a clear sense of the basis of such interventions. They could be theoretical, historical or aesthetic...
Writing Tips (Juliana Nfah-Abbenyi)
1. Know & Use Your Terms Well
"I wonder: How has the writer used concept(s)? For example, in their introduction, there may be a number of terms…I expect to see the ways the terms & concepts are used to read the text...
1. Know & Use Your Terms Well
"I wonder: How has the writer used concept(s)? For example, in their introduction, there may be a number of terms…I expect to see the ways the terms & concepts are used to read the text...
Sometimes, there are concepts at the opening that are forgotten in the essay. Sometimes, they are brought up in the essay, they may just be used interchangeably and that becomes problematic because they are not synonymous
2.) Be Consistent
"Consistency is important when you use concepts&terms. For instance, when you use “Africanfuturism” & at some point decide to separate it as two words; it does not really clear how you are using the term...
"Consistency is important when you use concepts&terms. For instance, when you use “Africanfuturism” & at some point decide to separate it as two words; it does not really clear how you are using the term...
Sometimes authors do not clarify the terms they are using to explicate the text. You can add new meanings to a term, by building on already existing uses of such terms. Be mindful of the little deviations that happen when writing your essay."
3. Stick with the style of the journal.
“Every journal has its style. Sometimes, writers are not consistent in the way they are using the style. Sometimes they are using MLA&the next in-text citation, they'll use Chicago.”
“Every journal has its style. Sometimes, writers are not consistent in the way they are using the style. Sometimes they are using MLA&the next in-text citation, they'll use Chicago.”
4. What are you contributing to the field?
“One of the ways to answer this is by talking about the work that has gone before…I am moving this discussion in this new direction. However, if you are the first person doing the work, then you have to say: no one has done this.”
“One of the ways to answer this is by talking about the work that has gone before…I am moving this discussion in this new direction. However, if you are the first person doing the work, then you have to say: no one has done this.”
5. A Second Eye
“Share your essay with someone who can pick up proofreading errors before submitting.”
Sometimes a resubmission/reject is an opportunity for a second eye:
“If your essay is rejected, you can use some of the comments to work on the essay and resubmit.”
“Share your essay with someone who can pick up proofreading errors before submitting.”
Sometimes a resubmission/reject is an opportunity for a second eye:
“If your essay is rejected, you can use some of the comments to work on the essay and resubmit.”
Without mincing words, Tom @todhiambo1 approaches academia publishing with a focus on the economic rules of demand and supply.
“Nobody tells people who are starting out that the intellectual economy is an economy nevertheless. It is a competition. There is a hierarchy.”
“Nobody tells people who are starting out that the intellectual economy is an economy nevertheless. It is a competition. There is a hierarchy.”
Intellectual Work/Scrutiny
“The key thing about submitted papers is that they are exposed to public scrutiny. Whether the public is the editor or reviewers…You can never be a closet intellectual. By saying you are an intellectual, you are making a public declaration...
“The key thing about submitted papers is that they are exposed to public scrutiny. Whether the public is the editor or reviewers…You can never be a closet intellectual. By saying you are an intellectual, you are making a public declaration...
If you make a public declaration, you have to accept that people will read your work & say that they are not convinced."
"Every editor asks: what is the argument you are making? There are too many papers submitted that do not make an argument from the first sentence.”
"Every editor asks: what is the argument you are making? There are too many papers submitted that do not make an argument from the first sentence.”
On What Editors Want:
“Editors are always on the lookout for new things but not new things that lose the track of the argument. I always look out for the argument…As long as the argument is well-written enough to communicate, you have started a conversation...
“Editors are always on the lookout for new things but not new things that lose the track of the argument. I always look out for the argument…As long as the argument is well-written enough to communicate, you have started a conversation...
We can disagree about other things but it should essentially communicate. The way it communicates is that it poses an argument…So, what is the argument of your essay?”
“Academic editors look for the argument. If it is there, they find out if it is actually communicating. A proposition may be made but it may not be followed through…the original idea of the thesis is not that the reader agrees with you, they should ask: why are you saying this?
Reviewers do not need to agree with all that you have said. In fact, if they agree with it, there is something fishy there. They should agree to an extent, in order to provoke a conversation.”
On Style:
“Style is the key thing in any form of writing. What is your style? The style of your writing is important. What language have you adopted? Lawyers have their language. Priests have their language. You as an academic, what is the language you have adopted?"
“Style is the key thing in any form of writing. What is your style? The style of your writing is important. What language have you adopted? Lawyers have their language. Priests have their language. You as an academic, what is the language you have adopted?"
“There are too many articles that do not provoke anything so the reader comes back to ask: exactly what are you saying? We need to provoke the reader from the word go by adopting a style that reminds the reader that the essay is worth reading.”
On theories (Moradewun Adejunmobi):
"Some authors throw around popular theories whether/not they have digested them. This is immediately visible to a peer reviewer. In another case, they are familiar with a given theory, as if knowing the theory displaces knowing the text.
"Some authors throw around popular theories whether/not they have digested them. This is immediately visible to a peer reviewer. In another case, they are familiar with a given theory, as if knowing the theory displaces knowing the text.
In other instances, scholars who know what critics have written about the theory without knowing what the leading figures have said...
Sometimes, articles are sent to journals in African Studies... and they know what scholars have said about that theory but they don’t know what African Studies scholars have said about it. So, why are you submitting your article to a journal of African Studies?
On the Politics of Location:
“The constitution of editorial boards and reviewers from the continent is one way to balance things out.”
Bhekizizwe Peterson
“The constitution of editorial boards and reviewers from the continent is one way to balance things out.”
Bhekizizwe Peterson
“ If we want to diversify, we need reviewers from the continent as well. This is a plea to colleagues on the continent. If we want that balance, we cannot achieve it without reviewers from the continent.”
Juliana Nfah-Abbenyi
Juliana Nfah-Abbenyi
"The challenge is how do we create the next cohort of Africanist scholars that will feed the demand, local and global? Pretty much the way we produce coffee in Kenya that serves a local and global market." ( @todhiambo1)
"The conversation needs to be broadly spread&should key in people from all the regions of the continent. We need to think like economists rather than scholars of culture & literature..." ( @todhiambo1)
"I will advocate that editors be given teaching relief before accepting to start a journal. Those in positions to do that, grant them time. Give them grad students and use this for promotion criteria..." @AdelekeAdeeko
“Junior scholars on the continent should not shy away from reaching out to scholars for help. So, reach out...Create networks of collaborations. I think many of them will be happy to lend a hand... You don’t have a network if you don’t work at creating one.” Juliana Nfah-Abbenyi
"There is a need to embark on specific interventions & projects. What kinds of relationships are formed on the continent? It is important to consistently work on the challenges, by taking small steps...Consistent application goes a long way.” Bhekizizwe Peterson
"Make use of the internet to create networks. Lots of young scholars have energy. Remember that many of them were brought up in a regime of intimidation. This conversation should be part of a broader one on how we create network systems for them to tap in?" ( @todhiambo1)
Watch the insightful conversation on the @AfricanLitAssoc's Youtube page:
Also, subscribe, RT and share the link.
Our next session comes up later in November.
Follow the Journal of African Literature( @JournalAfLit)& ( @AfricanLitAssoc) for updates
Also, subscribe, RT and share the link.
Our next session comes up later in November.
Follow the Journal of African Literature( @JournalAfLit)& ( @AfricanLitAssoc) for updates
