African Arguments is a pan-African platform for news, analysis and opinion. We seek to analyse issues facing the continent, and amplify a diversity of voices. The roots of the project are in the African Arguments book series, published since 2005.
We cover topics related to politics, economics, gender, the environment, culture, social affairs, and more. We welcome work of contemporary relevance connected to ongoing research on and from the continent.
African Arguments provides a crucial and unique platform for predominantly African writers to reach an African, and international, audience. A majority of our articles are by authors of African descent, as are the majority of our readers.
We publish original and critical analysis and insight on contemporary affairs in Africa that can be understood by an international audience.
Submissions are welcomed of around 800-1,200 words. Proposed longer pieces can be discussed with the editors.
Please also include a brief author biography as well as a suitable photograph with your submission that you have permission to publish on this site.
The editors reserve the right to make minor copy editing and proofreading changes of your article, in line with house style. More substantive editing will be discussed and agreed. All articles will be published using a Creative Commons licence.
African Arguments is an editorially-independent platform hosted by the Royal African Society (RAS) and the International Africa Institute (IAI). It was co-founded with the World Peace Foundation and is supported by the British Institute in Eastern Africa.
African Arguments is an editorially-independent platform hosted by the Royal African Society (RAS). It was co-founded with The World Peace Foundation and International Africa Institute.
Our current and past funders include:
- Open Society Foundation
- Miles Morland Foundation
- Garfield Weston Foundation
- Energy Transition Fund
- Africa No Filter
- Oxfam
- Open Society Initiative
- Humanity United
- US Institute of Peace
- Expertise on Central Africa
- Nigeria Leadership Initiative
- University of Edinburgh
- SOAS, University of London
Articles are published on a Creative Commons licence.
“African Arguments is one of my rare reliable sources of in-depth, well-researched, and timely investigations about major events and leading debates…Its audacious boldness includes comprehensive analyses of widely silenced, invisibilised, and tabooed issues. Being an online platform facilitates easy access while one is at home in Africa, and when one is temporarily in exile or even permanently embedded in networks of African diasporas…
Even I drew lessons and gained confidence in the process when working [as a writer and guest editor] with [editor] James Wan.”
Stella Nyanzi, medical anthropologist, radical queer feminist scholar, social justice activist, human rights defender, non-violent protester, poet.
“African Arguments is a ‘must read‘ for anyone who truly wants to understand Africa today. It brings African voices and perspectives about key issues in an original, insightful and impactful way. “
Zeinab Badawi, award-winning BBC journalist.
“African Arguments is one of the truly valuable resources for Africa watchers. Inevitably succinct and well-argued. I have found the releases invaluable and treat them as high level briefings.”
Stephen Chan, Professor of World Politics at SOAS, University of London.
“With a mix of traditional journalistic skills, compelling expressions, and unmistakable clarity, African Arguments has succeeded in giving strength to unheard voices of great importance…Writing for African Arguments has been a watershed moment in my short journalism career. I have developed the confidence to put the spotlight on issues that would otherwise have remained in the shadows…African Arguments is an amazing news organ.”
Nalova Akua, Cameroonian journalist and winner of the 2022 Michael Elliott Award and 2022 Wache Francis Young Journalist Award for an article with African Arguments.
“African Arguments is an excellent platform that provides diverse voices analysing a broad range of developments across the continent. A helpful source because of its many facets of stories, well-researched with rich investigative analysis that rises above the superficial to explain developments across Africa’s varied continent. Useful too because it provides important and insightful policy analysis that makes it a good source for decision-makers working on the continent.”
Comfort Ero, President & CEO, International Crisis Group
“African Arguments is an invaluable source of information for the general public but also for journalists like us. It manages to recruit the best writers in a wide range of African countries, who produce outstanding journalism.”
Ana Carbajosa, Editor-in-Chief, Planeta Futuro, El Pais.