Taylor & Francis
Safundi-The Journal Of South African And American Studies
(ISSN 1543-1304)
Aims and scope
Safundi is a peer-reviewed quarterly academic journal that addresses southern Africa and its transnational relationships to other parts of the world. Originally founded as a venue for analyses of the United States and South Africa from a comparative perspective, the title derives from the initial letters of South Africa and America and the word fundi, which comes from the isiXhosa verb - funda, which translates as “to read” or “to learn.” The journal remains committed to publishing work on South Africa and the United States, while also expanding its scope to include the whole of southern Africa and its historical, cultural, and political connections to the Global North and the Global South.
The appropriateness of submissions to the journal are ultimately at the discretion of the Editors. We encourage interdisciplinary perspectives, and we seek submissions from a range of academic fields, including anthropology, literature, political studies, human/cultural geography, history, communications, sociology, art history, visual cultures, and film. While seeking to be inclusive, the journal does not consider papers in certain specialized areas for which other outlets may be more appropriate, including quantitative economics and quantitative development studies. Authors who are unsure whether Safundi is an appropriate journal for their work are welcome to contact one of the editors for informal discussion and guidance prior to submission.
Research articles are the mainstay of Safundi , though the Editors invite submissions of review articles, interviews, political briefings, cultural briefings, roundtable discussions, and personal essays informed by scholarship. We invite special issue proposals that meet the aims and scope of the journal.
“Many of the essays in Safundi draw illuminating comparisons and contrasts between how race is represented in South Africa and the United States."
- Paul Giles & R.J. Ellis, American Quarterly
“An indispensable academic resource for their pursuit of insightful contribution to this topic.”
- T. Tantelinirina, American Studies International
“ Safundi has produced some remarkable pioneering essays in its comparative field...”
- Paul Giles, Comparative American Studies
Peer Review Statement
All research articles and essays published in this journal have undergone rigorous peer review, based on initial Editor screening and subsequent double anonymous refereeing by at least two referees. Review articles, round table discussions, interviews and book notes are assessed by the Editors but are not externally peer reviewed.
Authors can choose to publish gold open access in this journal.
Read the Instructions for Authors for information on how to submit your article.