"The journals in which academics publish can make or break their career. A journal's impact factor is a measure of the frequency with which an average article in it has been cited in a particular year.
"For a number of reasons, most of these prestigious journals happen to be Western. Today, many African academics seeking to build a strong name in their fields are aggressively seeking entry into such journals. Having published in these smoothens the promotion process, for you have less to 'explain'.
Conversely, there is widespread disregard for our own journals and other publication outlets. Of course we have a couple of unserious publication outlets with suicidal politics and very loose editorial procedures. But even the more serious ones scarcely fetch as much local regard as their mediocre cousins from the West. Sometimes it is our inferiority complex at work.
"In effect, because the best brains target Western journals and publishing houses, we mainly write for the West and according to their interests and standards. For many Africans, most of these publications are difficult to access – both in terms of language, availability, and cost. Often even where many contributors to the Western 'high-impact-factor' journals are African, the 'impact' is rarely on Africa! So, who do we write for?"
- FROM THE ARTICLE IN THE LINK BELOW
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Jimmy Spire Ssentongo <jssentongo@umu.ac.ug>
To: Chambi Chachage <chambi78@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 7, 2015 11:45 AM
Subject: Who do African academics write for?
Dear Colleagues,
Please find my article published in today's The Observer on the subject
of academic publication by African scholars.
http://www.observer.ug/viewpoint/39815-who-do-african-academics-write-for
Kind regards
--
Jimmy Spire Ssentongo
Center for African Studies
School of Arts and Social Sciences
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