Home Library Support services THEOLOGICAL JOURNALS

OPEN ACCESS JOURNALS

Many of us who live on the African continent struggle to find access to good sources for our studies, even those of us who have access to one of the better academic (university or seminary) libraries. So to help all of us out, we’ve compiled a list of open access (or partially open access) journals that are pertinent to our studies. (“Open Access” means legally free PDF files are available.)

First, be aware of ACTEA’s own journal. The English-language title is African Christian Theology; it is also known as Théologie Chrétienne Africaine in French and Teologia Christã Africana in Portuguese.  The journal is available at https://AfricanChristianTheology.org.

Second, here are four sites that list a wealth of of journals concerned with Africa, many of which (not all) are open access (note well that many of the journals listed pertain to fields beyond the scope of theological education):

Next, here are specific journals of which all theological libraries and institutions in Africa should be aware (listed alphabetically):

Next, here are specific journals of which we should all be aware (listed alphabetically):
  • African Theological Journal for Church and Society
    .
  • BookNotes For Africa
    BookNotes for Africa was a specialist review journal that commenced publication in 1996 with issue #1, and then concluded publication in 2019 with issue #40. The journal was noted for providing one-paragraph academic reviews of recent Africa-related publications relevant for informed Christian reflection in Africa. All the reviews appearing in BookNotes issues #1–30 were published in 2018 as a permanent reference collection (with 1,200+ reviews, in 800 pages) entitled Christian Reflection in Africa: Review and Engagement and edited by Paul Bowers. Most libraries of ACTEA-related institutions received a copy of this remarkable publication for their reference shelves.  This volume is still in print in hardback and can be ordered directly from the publisher or from wherever you order books; the ISBN is 9781783688975.  Digital editions are available from a number of vendors.
    .
    A forthcoming second edition of Christian Reflection in Africa will be expanded to include the 400+ additional reviews that appeared in BookNotes issues #31-40, after publication of Christian Reflection in Africa’s  first edition, and before BookNotes was discontinued.  Today, the robust book review section of ACTEA’s own journal, African Christian Theology, builds on the legacy of BookNotes for Africa.
Third, these three open access journals often feature articles related specifically to African contexts:

 

TRADITIONAL JOURNALS
(for purchase by subscription)

Finally, these are some select journals to which every theological library in Africa should subscribe:

  • Journal of African Christian Thought
    Published by Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission & Culture in Ghana; founded by Kwame Bediako and Gillian Bediako; only available in paper hardcopy.  More information …
  • Journal of Religion in Africa
    Published by Brill; founded by Andrew F. Walls; currently edited by Elias Kifon Bongmba; available in paper hardcopy and/or in digital format; also available digitally through JSTOR.  More information …