Michigan State University West African Journal Celebrates Ten-Year Anniversary

The Journal of West African History (JWAH), founded at Michigan State University, will celebrate 10 years in publication on Friday, October 4, 2024.  

Founding editor-in-chief and Jack and Margaret Sweet Endowed Professor of History at MSU Nwando Achebe, led the effort to create the new journal that produces high-quality articles on West African history.  

“As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Journal of West African History, we celebrate a significant milestone that reflects a decade of scholarly excellence and interdisciplinary reach,” Achebe said. “Over the years, JWAH has established itself as a leading platform for rigorous research, enriching the global understanding of West African history and fostering connections to broader historical processes.”  

Michigan State University Press has published the journal since its inception. MSU Press director Elizabeth Demers praised the collaboration, saying, “MSU Press is proud to be a publishing partner for the premier journal supporting West African history and scholarship.”  

The anniversary conference will take place on Friday, October 4, at the Kellogg Center on MSU’s campus. The event is free and open to the public. It will include papers and panels in four subject areas: Archives, Sources, and Methods for West African History; West Africa and the World: Diaspora, Pan-Africanism, and Global Connections; West African History: Past Developments and Future Directions; and Environment in the History of West Africa. Michael A. Gomez, PhD, will deliver the keynote address, “Political Space in West Africa: Interplay of Innovation and Integrity over Time.”  

Several MSU departments, including the graduate school, have contributed to the journal’s success. Graduate School Dean Pero Dagbovie said, “The Graduate School’s partnership with the Journal of West African History exemplifies the university’s core values of collaboration and excellence.” 

Another major champion has been the MSU history department. Chair and Professor Michael Stamm said, “For decades, African history has been a signature strength of the MSU history department, and the founding of the Journal of West African History in 2014 was a major milestone in this record. For ten years JWAH has maintained a record of excellence and established itself as the leading academic journal focusing on one of the most dynamic regions in the world.”  

The College of Social Science is also a celebrated contributor. Dean Brent Donnellan said, “The conference to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Journal of West African History is a wonderful opportunity to bring together eminent scholars and outstanding students from around the world to honor the growth and impact of this landmark journal.”  

MSU African Studies Center Director Leo Zulu also shared his enthusiasm for the journal’s success. He said, “I congratulate the editor-in-chief and MSU Press on reaching this significant milestone, which sets the stage for future research and collaboration.”  

To mark this occasion, the JWAH team has selected an article from each issue of JWAH’s ten volumes to be freely available for the next ten months. This “10 for 10” campaign will make the journal’s scholarship accessible to readers worldwide. The articles will be hosted on Project Muse and the Scholarly Publishing Collective. For more information about the anniversary conference, visit: https://conference.jwah.msu.edu/. 

The Graduate School’s partnership with the Journal of West African History (JWAH) exemplifies the university’s core values of collaboration and excellence,” reflects the dean of the Graduate School Pero Dagbovie, “We are especially grateful to JWAH editor-in-chief Professor Nwando Achebe and her team for providing a diverse group of graduate students with hands-on professional development opportunities as well as access to advantageous transferrable skills, global and interdisciplinary engagements, and, of course, avenues of intellectual exploration. 

—  Dean of Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at MSU Pero G.  Dagbovie  

 

“The JWAH 10th Anniversary Conference is a vital platform for advancing scholarly discourse on West Africa’s rich and diverse history. It exemplifies MSU’s commitment to fostering global understanding, interdisciplinary collaboration, and impactful research. Celebrating a decade of excellence with the Journal of West African History, this conference offers an unparalleled opportunity for scholars, students, and policymakers from around the world to examine West Africa’s pivotal role in shaping both historical and contemporary global issues. I congratulate the Editor-in-Chief and MSU Press on reaching this significant milestone, which sets the stage for future research and collaboration.”

— MSU African Studies Center Director Leo Zulu 

“For decades, African history has been a signature strength of the MSU History Department, and the founding of the Journal of West African History in 2014 was a major milestone in this record.  For ten years now the JWAH has maintained a record of excellence and established itself as the leading academic journal focusing on one of the most dynamic regions in the world.  Through the efforts of founding Editor-in-chief Dr. Nwando Achebe, the dedicated editorial team, and many colleagues at the MSU Press, the JWAH has created a vibrant scholarly conversation engaging emerging and established scholars from across the disciplines.  The MSU History Department is pleased and proud to be acknowledging the JWAH’s ongoing and significant achievements, and we look forward to an even more impactful next decade for the journal.”

— MSU History Chair and Professor Michael Stamm