Editorial Policy

Genesis of the Project

The genesis of the Revue d'Histoire Contemporaine de l'Afrique stems from an initial observation: Francophone academic outlets in the humanities and social sciences continue to overlook the modern history of the African continent. Admittedly, several interdisciplinary journals focus on the African continent and publish articles on its history (Cahiers d'études africaines; Politique Africaine; Afrique Contemporaine; Journal des Africanistes, etc.). A new online journal, Sources, has recently been launched, focusing on materials, fieldwork and methodological approaches in the construction of knowledge about Africa. The journal Afriques focuses on the history of the continent from periods prior to the 20th century, while Afrika Zamani, a journal published by CODESRIA in Senegal, covers all historical periods. General history journals also publish special issues dealing specifically with Africa (20 & 21. Revue d'histoire; Le Mouvement Social; Cahiers d'Histoire. Revue d'histoire critique, etc.). One fact remains, however: in the French-speaking world, there is no longer a journal that focuses exclusively on the continent's modern history, after the short-lived Afrique & Histoire experiment, from 2003 to 2009.

Far from any kind of ‘disciplinary,’ linguistic or cultural retreat from the study of the dynamics of the African continent, it should instead be affirmed that its rich and complex history, particularly from the 19th century to the present day, deserves a journal devoted entirely to it. While continuing discussions between historians and Africa and those in other social science disciplines, and continuing to push the geographical boundaries of where we are investing intellectually, one thing is certain: the Revue d'Histoire Contemporaine de l'Afrique is rooted in the historical study of the continent. The journal intends to focus on recent events that shed light on current dynamics, without overlooking their more ancient origins. More than other subjects, a handful of chronological divisions structure our imagination and our ways of understanding African historical realities. It is especially the case for the colonial era, from the ‘conquest’ phase to independence. But these scientific constructs which established the usual periodisation of African history—precolonial, colonial, postcolonial— are also ready to be challenged.

The challenge is twofold. On the one hand, we need to think critically about the mechanisms—economic, political, institutional and disciplinary—that make it possible to play around with traditional chronologies, while at the same time reflecting on the appropriate source treatment for interpreting and writing the history of the continent after the colonial era. This sequence deserves greater attention while also reflecting on access issues—to African archives, to underknown research fields or to local research, insufficiently disseminated or acknowledged at the global scale. All in all, we need to move away from methodological nationalism. We will instead contribute to multiplied narratives and historical processes, whether completed or unfinished. It is also necessary to reconsider geographical divisions, to stop considering sub-Saharan Africa separately from North Africa. Instead, we shall consider the Sahara as an area for exchange and intermingling, not as a definitive barrier. Similarly, both the Atlantic and Indian Ocean islands should be given a more prominent place among French-language academic outlets. Finally, we need to reconsider the traditional imperial divisions, to take better account of regional interactions.

A French-language journal

RHCA publishes double-blind peer-reviewed articles on innovative research that employ historical methods and offer original perspectives on the modern history of the African continent. The journal publishes two thematic issues a year, as well as miscellaneous articles and book reviews. Two other sections, aimed at a wider readership, have been added to these standard features. The first, ‘Sources, Fieldwork and Contexts,’ presents fieldwork, sources or researchers’ reflections on their relationship with the historical discipline. The second, in an interview format, showcases history makers and actors, focusing on their personal trajectories and their relationship with the past. The permanent call for submissions may be found here, and the authors’ guidelines, here.

RHCA is a French-language journal, and as such is first and foremost francophone in its organisation. It is hosted by the University of Geneva and its international editorial team now comprises researchers at all career levels from Europe, North America and Africa. RHCA is also francophone in its approach to publishing. The journal aims to be both a place for publishing articles in French and a meeting place for historians of Africa, whether they are based in Africa, in Europe, North America or elsewhere. This unique position enables us to report on the work of French-speaking researchers as well as to translate the work of non-French-speaking researchers on areas of the continent that are often not accessible in French-language academic literature.

A Conscious Journal

Finally, the journal aims to be accessible, both in terms of distribution and evaluation policy. It is distributed entirely on an open access basis and is organised as follows: two thematic issues are published each year and the articles in the sections (‘Miscellanea,’ ‘Book Reviews’, ‘Sources, Fields and Contexts’, ‘Interviews’) are published on the go. This approach is guided by our desire to facilitate publication processes and to make ongoing research results accessible to a wider audience. We also build our evaluation policy, for both special issues and miscellaneous articles, on supporting authors throughout the publication process. Instead of rejecting innovative but insufficiently developed articles, we offer authors, whatever their experience, detailed discussions on their text before it is sent for external evaluation.

Last but not least, RHCA is aware that the asymmetry of power relations between the Global North and the Global South, inherited from our history, leads to academic divides and hierarchies, as well as within the universities of the Global North itself. Thus, RHCA grants particular importance to making work produced in and by the South visible. At the same time, the journal encourages the publication of texts written by people with a variety of statuses, whether these relate to academic functioning, and/or to gender, class, race relations, and so on.

Far from discouraging us, the difficult context in which the journal is being launched strengthens our objectives and encourages us to do what we do best: tell, write and think about the history of Africa.

Bonne lecture !