New Initiatives: Community Conversations & Experimental Essays
The Journal of Africana Religions is excited to announce two new initiatives, through which we hope to encourage innovation and a sense of community in the study of Africana religions.
Community Conversations
The Journal of Africana Religions will now include a section titled “Community Conversations,” where we will feature essays from religious leaders and other devotees of Africana religions. Building upon insights from our roundtable “Theorizing Africana Religions” (JOAR, vol. 2, no. 1, 2014), we are interested in revisiting questions about the where, who, what, when and how of Africana religions by centering contemporary devotees’ perspectives and experiences.
For the inaugural Community Conversations, we invite essays on the theme of “What does your faith/tradition/religion mean to you?” For example, contributors might describe their faith for someone who is unfamiliar with it, debate the usefulness or appropriateness of categories like “tradition” and “religion,” or discuss whether their interpretation of their faith aligns with public perceptions of it. These are just a few examples. This theme is intended to be very broad and authors should interpret it in any way that makes sense to them.
Typical submissions will be approximately 1,000 to 3,000 words in length. If desired or necessary, journal editors will be happy to work with contributors to edit submissions for clarity and format.
The deadline to submit an essay to the inaugural issue is September 1, 2026. To submit to Community Conversations, click here.
To suggest a theme for a future issue, contact us at journal@africanareligions.org
Experimental Essays and Creative Works
The Journal of Africana Religions invites experimental essays and creative works for consideration. This category is designed to create a space for the JOAR to publish works that describe the author’s experiences teaching or researching Africana religions, introduce new theoretical frameworks, are creative or experimental, or otherwise fall outside conventional boundaries for journal articles. Manuscripts submitted in this category will not undergo peer review; they will be evaluated by the editorial team.
Depending on the nature of the submission, essays typically will range from 1,500 to 8,000 words. Manuscripts must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document (Times New Roman font, size 12, flush left, double spaced). All manuscripts must follow the current edition of the Chicago Manual of Style and should use endnotes. Do not use in-text citations and do not include a bibliography.
Materials submitted to Journal of Africana Religions (JOAR) must not have been previously published nor submitted for publication elsewhere while under review by JOAR editors. All manuscripts accepted are subject to editorial modification.
Book Reviews Editor Position Open
Position Overview
The Journal of Africana Religions seeks a knowledgeable and collegial scholar to serve as Book Reviews Editor. The Book Reviews Editor plays a vital role in shaping the intellectual conversation within the field by identifying significant new works, commissioning timely and rigorous reviews, and ensuring that the journal’s book reviews section reflects the breadth and depth of Africana religious studies. This is a service position, held in the spirit of reciprocal contribution to the field of Africana religious studies, and is typically held for a renewable term of three years.
About the Journal
The Journal of Africana Religions(JOAR) is a peer-reviewed publication dedicated to the scholarly study of religions of African peoples and their diasporas. Published by Penn State University Press, JOAR publishes original research on Africana religious broadly construed, including but not limited to African traditional religions, Christianity, Islam, and African diasporic religious traditions including Vodou, Candomblé, Santería/Lucumí, Rastafari, and other communities. The journal is committed to interdisciplinary, theoretically engaged, and methodologically diverse scholarship.
Current Editorial Team:
- Sylvester A. Johnson, Co-Editor and Co-Founder, is Chair and Professor of Black Studies at Northwestern University
- Danielle Boaz, Co-Editor, is Professor of Africana Studies at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte
- Ayodeji Ogunnaike, Co-Editor, is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at McGill University
- Ahmad Greene-Hayes, Managing Editor, is Associate Professor of African American Religious Studies at Harvard University.
Primary Responsibilities
- Monitor new and forthcoming book publications in African religions, African diasporic religions, African American religions, and related fields in religious studies, African studies, African American studies, Latin American studies, anthropology, history, and sociology
- Solicit and commission book reviews from qualified scholars, including advanced doctoral candidates, early-career faculty, and senior scholars
- Maintain a pipeline of books received and reviews in progress, ensuring timely publication
- Correspond with publishers to request review copies on behalf of the journal
- Work with reviewers to ensure reviews meet the journal’s standards for length (typically 800–1,000 words), scholarly rigor, and constructive critical engagement
- Edit and proofread accepted reviews for clarity, style, and adherence to journal guidelines
- Coordinate with the Managing Editor on scheduling and layout of the reviews section in each issue
- Maintain organized records of books received, assignments made, and reviews submitted
- Participate in editorial board meetings and contribute to the journal’s broader intellectual mission
Qualifications
Required:
- M.A. or Ph.D. in religious studies, African studies, African American studies, anthropology, history, or a closely related field
- Active scholarly engagement with Africana religious studies, broadly construed
- Existing professional networks with scholars across subfields and career stages
- Demonstrated familiarity with the publishing landscape in the field, including key presses, series, and emerging areas of scholarship
- Strong organizational and communication skills
- Ability to meet editorial deadlines and manage multiple correspondences simultaneously
Preferred, not required:
- Prior editorial experience (journal editor, manuscript reviewer, guest editor, or similar)
- Reading proficiency in at least one language other than English (e.g., French, Portuguese, Spanish, Yoruba, Twi, Haitian Kreyòl) relevant to Africana religious studies
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following to the Managing Editor, Ahmad Greene-Hayes, Ph.D., at managingeditor@africanareligions.org:
- A 1-page cover letter describing your scholarly background, your vision for the book reviews section, and any relevant editorial experience
- A current curriculum vitae of no more than 5 pages
- A brief list (one page) of fields and subfields you are prepared to cover and any areas where you would rely on external expertise
The Journal of Africana Religions is committed to building an inclusive editorial team that reflects the diversity of the field and its scholarly communities.
Please forward to your networks. Thank you!