African history and culture studies
African history and culture studies is a research topic within Anthropology. Science Explorer counts 32k research works in it since 1950. 15.6% of them reached the world's top 10% most cited for their field and year.
This cluster of papers explores the complex dynamics of colonialism and post-colonialism in Africa, covering topics such as the social impact of imperialism, military history, labor and economy, gender dynamics, nationalism, and the cultural studies of post-colonial Africa. The papers delve into the historical, social, and cultural aspects of African societies under colonial rule and their transition to independence.
- Colonialism
- Post-Colonial Africa
- African History
- Cultural Studies
- Imperialism
- Social Impact
- Military History
- Nationalism
- Labor and Economy
- Gender Dynamics
- Research works
- 32k fractional, since 1950
- In the world top 10%
- 5k per year above
- Top-10% rate
- 15.6% share of its works in the world top 10%
- Growth, 2013–17 → 2018–22
- +16% the tick is no change
Which countries lead African history and culture studies research?
By volume, the United States and France publish the most (927 and 660 works in 2022–2025).
By volume, 2022–2025
- 1 United States 927 works
- 2 France 660 works
- 3 South Africa 437 works
- 4 United Kingdom 419 works
- 5 Nigeria 269 works
- 6 Brazil 199 works
- 7 Canada 182 works
- 8 Germany 181 works
- 9 Kenya 107 works
- 10 India 101 works
How concentrated that is
The same countries as shares of everything the list above accounts for. A node where two countries do two thirds of the work and one spread evenly across twelve read alike as a ranking and not at all alike here.
Shares of the rows listed above, not of the whole node.
Which institutions lead African history and culture studies research?
By volume in 2022–2025, University of Johannesburg publishes the most African history and culture studies research, followed by University of the Free State and Stellenbosch University.
By volume, 2022–2025
- 1 University of JohannesburgSouth Africa 63 works
- 2 University of the Free StateSouth Africa 53 works
- 3 Stellenbosch UniversitySouth Africa 43 works
- 4 University of PretoriaSouth Africa 39 works
- 5 University of the WitwatersrandSouth Africa 38 works
- 6 University of Cape TownSouth Africa 38 works
- 7 University of South AfricaSouth Africa 36 works
- 8 Les Afriques dans le MondeFrance 33 works
- 9 University of OxfordUnited Kingdom 31 works
- 10 University of GhanaGhana 28 works
Who are the leading researchers in African history and culture studies?
The most-cited researchers publishing on African history and culture studies include Peter Richardson, Immanuel Wallerstein and Gail M. Gerhart.
- 1 Peter Richardson United Kingdom 2.1k citations
- 2 Immanuel Wallerstein United States 1.7k citations
- 3 Gail M. Gerhart United States 1.7k citations
Ranked by citations received across their whole record, among researchers with at least three works on this topic.
Where is African history and culture studies research done?
The largest centres of African history and culture studies research in 2022–2025 are Paris (France), London (United Kingdom), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Pretoria (South Africa). Among places with at least 20 works in it, it is an unusually large share of all research in Pessac.
Largest cities, 2022–2025
- 1 Paris France 271 works
- 2 London United Kingdom 111 works
- 3 Johannesburg South Africa 110 works
- 4 Pretoria South Africa 85 works
- 5 Lisbon Portugal 61 works
- 6 Bloemfontein South Africa 55 works
- 7 New York United States 55 works
- 8 Nairobi Kenya 50 works
- 9 Moscow Russia 44 works
- 10 Stellenbosch South Africa 43 works
Where it is the local speciality
- PessacFR · 38.3 works48×
Location quotient: how much more of its research is in African history and culture studies than the world average.
Where is the best place to study African history and culture studies?
Among universities, judged by research, University of Dar es Salaam, University of Cape Town and University of the Free State score highest, combining excellence, specialisation, size, growth and international reach. Research strength is one signal when choosing where to study; it does not measure teaching.
One dot per university in the table below. The upper left is the interesting corner: small places doing unusually strong work.
| # | University | Score | Top 10% | Specialisation | Works | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Dar es SalaamTanzania | 75.8 | 27.1% | 33.5× | 21 | +213.4% |
| 2 | University of Cape TownSouth Africa | 74.0 | 27.9% | 23.7× | 38 | +7.5% |
| 3 | University of the Free StateSouth Africa | 72.8 | 19.0% | 44.9× | 53 | +93.0% |
| 4 | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyGhana | 72.5 | 35.9% | 8.2× | 8 | +368.8% |
| 5 | University of NigeriaNigeria | 72.3 | 23.6% | 14.0× | 18 | +538.5% |
| 6 | University of JohannesburgSouth Africa | 71.3 | 13.7% | 20.3× | 63 | +99.3% |
| 7 | University of ZambiaZambia | 71.0 | 24.4% | 11.8× | 8 | +200.0% |
| 8 | University of South AfricaSouth Africa | 70.9 | 24.0% | 16.6× | 36 | +76.2% |
| 9 | North-West UniversitySouth Africa | 70.4 | 23.1% | 14.0× | 20 | +154.8% |
| 10 | Stellenbosch UniversitySouth Africa | 70.2 | 25.1% | 23.1× | 43 | -6.4% |
Universities only. Score blends excellence (30%), specialisation (25%), size (20%), growth (15%) and international reach (10%), 2015–2022; growth compares 2010–14 with 2015–19.
Is African history and culture studies research growing?
Output in 2018–2022 was 16% higher than in 2013–2017, peaking in 2024. The fastest-growing topics are African history and culture studies.
The same series as a ribbon — one cell per year, darker for more. The line above answers how much; this answers when.
Which topics inside it are moving
Growth and decline on one axis around a shared zero. Two lists side by side hide the thing that matters: whether the growth dwarfs the decline, or the other way round.