What topics does Ìrìnkèrindò: a Journal of African Migration cover?

Updated

Ìrìnkèrindò: a Journal of African Migration is a peer-reviewed journal devoted to the study of African migration and immigration to other parts of the world. Its coverage centers on how African immigration relates to global social, political, and economic systems, along with its historical effects on culture. The journal also engages directly in debates on immigration, questioning assumed effects rather than treating them as settled.

Core subject areas

According to the journal's own description, its content addresses:

  • African migration and immigration worldwide — movement within the continent and from the continent to other lands.
  • Historical effects on culture — how migration has shaped cultural life over time.
  • Contemporary relevance to social, political, and economic systems — the place of African immigration in global structures.
  • Immigration debates — the journal "problematizes its assumed effects," meaning it interrogates common assumptions rather than accepting them at face value.

The name itself signals this scope: Ìrìnkèrindò is Yoruba for "incessant wanderings" or "travels," which the journal says captures past, contemporary, and future African migration.

Content types published

The journal creates a forum for scholars, analysts, and activists by publishing:

  • Original essays
  • Reprints of hard-to-find essays
  • Critical commentaries
  • Book reviews
  • Interviews of African immigrants

Who it is for

The journal describes its audience and contributors as scholars and intellectuals of African immigration, demographers, African immigrants themselves, and activists worldwide. Its stated purpose is to support debates, exchanges of ideas, and the creation and documentation of knowledge.

Examples of published focus areas

The site's "Special Focus" section illustrates the kind of material the journal carries. One featured item, Stateless: Left In Limbo On The Road To America, examines African migrants traveling through Central America and Mexico, and the consequences of Mexico freezing African migrants at its southern border with Guatemala in 2019 under U.S. pressure — leaving thousands in uncertainty over residence and legal status. Another item covers African diaspora families and changing gender relations, focused on gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV), presented at a Cornell University conference.

These examples show the journal moving between policy and migration routes on one hand, and family, gender, and diaspora life on the other.

Practical notes for readers

  • The site provides a Current Issue and an Archives section for browsing published content.
  • A Call for Papers is posted, indicating the journal accepts submissions.
  • The site includes a "subscribe" reference, but no pricing details or payment information are provided on the page, so subscription terms should be confirmed directly with the journal.