SORAC: Journal of African Studies

Georges Agbango Bloomsberg University	Buluda Itandala Univ. of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
Funwi Ayuninjam Kentucky State University	Janet McIntosh Harvard University
Mongi Bahloul University of Sfax, Tunisia	Mutombo Nkulu Temple University
John Conteh-Morgan Ohio State University	Augustine Okereke University of Bielefeld, Germany
Muyiwa Falaiye University of Lagos, Nigeria	Karo Ogbinaka University of Lagos, Nigeria
Wail Hassan Western Illinois University	Valerie Orlando Illinois Wesleyan University
Kristof Haavik University of Botswana	David Pattison University of Lincolnshire, U.K.

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Cost per copy:

Volume 2: Click Here
Volume 1: Click Here

Make your check or international money payable to: SORAC/MSU

Send your check or international money order to:

Dr. Daniel Mengara
SORAC,
French Department,
Montclair State University,
Upper Montclair, New Jersey 07043,
USA.

Subscriptions:

To subscribe to SORAC JAS or become a member of SORAC, visit this page.

For inquiries, contact us.

Presentation

Available Issues

Volume 2 (2002): African & Diasporic Voices. See details.

Volume 1 (2000): Perceptions of Africa: Images, Visions & Revisions. See details.

First of all, let us wish you a warm welcome to the SORAC Journal of African Studies.

The SORAC Journal of African Studies (SORAC JAS) has now become a reality. The SORAC JAS is the material result of a once-upon-a-time desire by the Society of Research on African Cultures (SORAC) to launch its own journal of African studies as part of its contribution to a betterment of Africa's past, present and future through a clear understanding of where the continent is coming from, where it stands today, and where it should be going in this third millennium of post-Christ human history.

The idea of launching the SORAC JAS became prominent among the SORAC Executive Board after the huge success of SORAC's 1998 international conference that saw some 140 speakers gather at Montclair State University to discuss the "Images of Africa: Stereotypes and Realities." The papers read at SORAC 1998 were so qualitative and informative that the organization decided to seek the publication of some of the best among them.

Two volumes were therefore produced as a result of the SORAC 1998 International Conference. First, an edited book volume bearing the title of the conference (Images of Africa: Stereotypes and Realities) was produced and accepted for publication by the Africa World Press. This book includes contributions by renowned scholars such as the great Martin Bernal, author of the highly-acclaimed and revolutionary Black Athena. Second, a special conference edition of the journal (our first issue) was projected for publication on the occasion of the SORAC 2000 International Conference in April 2000.

We are looking forward to collaborating with you all, readers and scholars, in the publication of this most valuable tool.

General Information

SORAC Journal of African Studies (SORAC JAS) is published by SORAC (Society of Research on African Cultures) at Montclair State University. This issue was published in collaboration with OOP Publishers Ltd, a publishing company established in Lagos, Nigeria.

SORAC JAS is a refereed journal intended as an opportunity for scholars to discuss subjects, theories and ideas pertaining to all areas of African Studies past, present and future, including all matters related to the African diaspora worldwide.

SORAC JAS will appear on a yearly basis. SORAC JAS invites submission of scholarly papers, responses, and reviews for consideration for publication. SORAC JAS also welcomes notices, call for papers and advertising if the requesters will contribute a donation to the journal (see advertising notice below). Articles submitted to SORAC JAS are each reviewed by a three-member panel. Articles are accepted for publication only if recommended by two out of the three members of the review panel.

SORAC JAS will accept only articles submitted by mail on both a computer diskette (MAC or PC) and hard copy manuscript. Three paper copies of the article must be submitted and should be no more than 15-pages long, double-spaced. All articles must conform to the MLA style. Articles submitted should contain only endnotes and a section of "Works Cited" at the end. Contact information (address, university affiliation, telephone, fax, and email) should be provided. It is imperative that authors provide email addresses. Send submissions to: Dr. Daniel Mengara, SORAC, Department of French, German, and Russian, Montclair State University, 1 Normal Avenue, Upper Montclair, New Jersey 07043, USA.

Guest editorship: SORAC JAS will implement the revolutionary method of guest editorship. Thus, each issue will feature two or three scholars who instrumentally served as guest editors to the issue and coordinated its reviewership and publication. Only scholars who are current members of SORAC may apply to serve as guest editors.

Publication sequence: On the year when SORAC holds its bi-annual international conference, SORAC JAS will publish mostly articles resulting from SORAC's bi-annual international conference talks. However, on the year when SORAC is not holding its conference, articles submitted by the general scholar will be considered. SORAC's bi-annual conferences take place every two years. The next SORAC conference will be held in Spring 2002.

Subscription: see details here.

Individual issues of SORAC JAS can be purchased at the price indicated on the cover.

For more information, click on the links below:

Articles selection process
Looking to become a SORAC JAS Reader/Evaluator?
Our International Editorial Board
Apply to become a SORAC JAS Editorial Board Member

Articles selection process

The SORAC Journal of African Studies will publish articles submitted by African studies scholars just like any other traditional African studies journal. Every article submitted for publication in this scholarly journal will be sent to a committee of three independent readers who are specialists of the specific field addressed by the article. The selection will be based on a dual system of both "blind" and "peer" review, that is, the readers will not know whose article they are reading, and will therefore be able to render a fair and competent judgement of the works reviewed.

An article will be accepted for publication only if at least two out of the three evaluators, after blind review, agree on the qualitative publicability of the work submitted. Articles published in the "SORAC Journal of African Studies" will, thanks to a scrupulous selection of articles published therein, deserve the same sort of scholarly respect reserved to traditional publications in traditional print journals. The only difference here is that the "SORAC Journal of African Studies" will be issued both in print (limited printing) and online. The online edition will be accessible from the Internet and the WorldWide Web. As a result, it will just be cheaper to produce thanks to the sophisticated marvels of technology, while being available to a larger worldwide readership.

SORAC may, when necessary, publish in the "SORAC Journal of African Studies" some of the best articles from its annual conferences which were not selected for publication in a book. Such articles would equally be selected through a strict process of blind review.

READERS/REVIEWERS

SORAC is seeking readers/reviewers in all areas of African Studies and related fields. These include specialists in diasporic studies (African American and Caribbean studies with an Africanist perspective, etc.), and Classics (specialits of Ancient Egypt and Mediterranean).

To apply for a position of reader/reviewer in the "SORAC Journal of African Studies", the candidate must submit:

a CV clearly showing evidence of the candidate's scholarly achievements in his/her field(s) of competence.
a statement of his/her specific field(s) of competence (the African studies field(s) in which the candidate can scientifically and competently judge a scholarly work submitted by his/her peers). For instance: African literatures (French? English? Both?), Ancient Africa, Modern Politics, Oral Literatures, Religion, etc.).
a statement as to the candidate's level of availability.
a return self-addressed envelope with appropriate postage for response by mail.
include all necessary address and contact information (e-mail and/or fax recommended; free e-mail can be obtained from internet sites such as YAHOO, HOTMAIL, AFRICAHOME.COM etc.)

Mail your application packet to: Dr. Daniel Mengara, SORAC, French Department, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043. Only applications sent by mail will be considered. No application by e-mail, please.

APPLICATION TO OUR INTERNATIONAL EDITORIAL BOARD

SORAC seeks to gather a very international and interdisciplinary editorial board. About 20-30 positions are to be filled here. These include the managing editors (4-5) and the editorial board. This group will carry out the day-to-day duties of keeping the journal alive, and managing various aspects of its production.

To apply for a position in the editorial board of the "SORAC Journal of African Studies", the candidate must submit:

a CV clearly showing evidence of the candidate's scholarly achievements in his/her field(s) of competence.
a statement of his/her specific field(s) of competence (the African studies field(s) in which the candidate can scientifically and competently judge a scholarly work submitted by his/her peers). For instance: African literatures (French? English? Both?), Ancient Africa, Modern Politics, Oral Literatures, Religion, etc.).
a statement of how you can contribute to the production of the journal at the managerial level. This can included similar positions in other journals or institutions.
a statement as to your level of availability.
a return self-addressed envelope with appropriate postage for response by mail.
include all necessary address and contact information (e-mail and/or fax recommended; free e-mail can be obtained from internet sites such as YAHOO, HOTMAIL, etc.)

Mail your application packet to: Dr. Daniel Mengara, SORAC, French Department, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043. Only applications sent be post mail will be considered. No application by e-mail, please.

NOTE: One can be both a member of the editorial board and an evaluator of articles submitted. Candidates should make sure that they can indeed carry out their duties before applying. Only truly committed candidates will be selected.

For further information, please contact us.

Now available!!

Images of Africa: Stereotypes and Realities (Africa World Press, 2001). Details...

SORAC Journal of African Studies (Volume 2, November 2002). Details...

SORAC Journal of African Studies (Volume 1, April 2000). Details...

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