AFRICAJOURNALS
We wish all our readers, authors and reviewers and their loved ones a healthy and safe 2021.
There are two special issues this year as stated below AND one general Issue is open for any suitable article submissions throughout the year. We look forward to your well researched submissions.
Call for Special Issue 1 (2021):
Angels, Ancestors, Alchemy and the Arts of Africa
This special Issue brings together articles that were first presented at an international colloquium hosted by the University of Pretoria in October and November 2020. Under the title “Angels, Ancestors, Alchemy and the Arts of Africa” scholars working in different disciplines and specializing in a variety of methods and topics convened to take a serious look at the ‘unseen’ in Africa – indeed, to take African spirituality, which had so often been misrepresented through colonial and missionary lenses, seriously. Artists, historians specializing in art, visual culture and religion, theologians, anthropologists, archaeologists, conservators, curators and literary scholars submitted papers that were presented in the following four categories, which are also the sub-themes for this special issue: a) Christ, Angels and Ancestors, b) Art and Spirituality, c) Spirituality and Medicine, d) Conservation of objects with spiritual meaning and e) South African literature, ethno-philosophy, political philosophy. The contributions to this special issue cover different historical periods, including the contemporary. They all contribute to challenge misrepresentations of African religious life in our own time.
The multifaceted topic of the colloquium aimed at a better understanding and appreciation of spirituality in Africa by investigating both scholarly and vernacular concepts and beliefs about the seen and the unseen. Through the analysis and assessment of orally transmitted knowledge and visual representations of icons, signs, symbols, rituals and rites, the imagined world can be better understood and duly appreciated. We are taking a long view of the tension, exchange, and convolution between Judeo-Christian and local African traditions of the enchanted word of the unseen. This longitudinal, multi-perspectival approach includes material forms as mediators of the unseen. The offering in this issue is not comprehensive. There are eras, areas and communities that are underrepresented or absent. Trusting that the contributions may encourage continued debate and further investigation, we begin our tour in the Ancient Near East and then wind our way, more or less chronologically, from east to west-central to southern Africa.
Guest Editors of Special Issue 1
Dr Raïta Steyn, Prof Dr Lize Kriel and Ms Deléne Human - University of Pretoria
The correct journal format and style of referencing are essential for any submission to be considered. There are also the usual processing fees to be paid if articles are accepted after double blind-peer reviewing. Word count -5000 to 6000
Call for Special Issue 2 (2021):
Religion, ethics and communication in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic
Submissions will be considered up until 13 April 2021 and should be submitted to esthermavengano@gmail.com or marevesat@gmail.com Papers will be published by 10 June 2021
The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a number of challenges in the areas of religio-socio-political and economic activities globally. Notably, Africa was not spared from this crisis. In light of these challenges brought by the coronavirus disease in contemporary period, the main goal of this Special Issue is to cast critical theoretical, conceptual and methodological reflections on the intersections of religion, ethics and communication in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. In so doing, the Special Issue underscores the importance of an interdisciplinary study of religion ethics and communication and their implications in the era of COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. The call invites researchers to interrogate behaviours, attitudes, values, lifestyles, expressive modes and practices of people in relations to the religious, ethical and communication patterns in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
The complex nature of religion provides what Appleby (2000) refers to as the ‘ambivalence of the sacred.’ Put differently, religion is an avenue for good morals but at the same time it has been fingered in atrocious activities. It is imperative to evaluate the ambiguous function of religion in light of the responses to COVID-19 pandemic. Religion and ethics become handy to assess the level of tolerance to the affected and infected as well as the dissemination of information where there is mis/information in light of coronavirus in Africa.
This Special Issue invites scholars in the fields of religion, ethics and communication to reflect on these issues mentioned and create academic conversations that can shape the post-COVID-19 future. Contributors should grapple with the questions like: What conceptual, theoretical, methodological and epistemological questions does COVID-19 pandemic invoke in 21 first century African societies? How can we progressively understand and dialogue about the interactions of religion, ethics and communication in light of COVID-19 without reifying and essentialising them? Thus, contributions deriving from and reflecting such an interdisciplinary orientation are welcome. Abstracts are invited from, but not limited to, the following thematic categories:
Biblical studies, politics and COVID-19 pandemic
Religion, communication and COVID-19 pandemic
Biblical studies, ethics and COVID-19 pandemic
Linguistics/communication, ethics and COVID-19 pandemic
Indigenous communication and African indigenous religions
Biblical studies, Gender dynamics and COVID-19 pandemic
Contributors may suggest other titles within the broad theme of religion, ethics and communication in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. Interested contributors should submit 250 words abstract to the addresses below. The correct journal format and style of referencing are essential for any submission to be considered. There are also the usual processing fees to be paid if articles are accepted after double blind-peer reviewing. Word count -5000 to 6000
Guest Editor of Special Issue 2
Prof Dr M. Masoga - Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Zululand, South Africa
Assistant Guest Editors:
Dr T. Marevesa - Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe marevesat@gmail.com
Dr E. Mavengano - Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe esthermavengano@gmail.com
Volume 102 (2021) is also open for new submissions
All article(s) should be submitted to our Editorial Office as e-mail attachment to africajournals@hotmail.com
We will consider original and significant contributions that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence. Articles submitted must not have been previously published or be under consideration elsewhere.
It is recommended that authors provide their once-off ORCID iD in each of their submission details.
This is however not mandatory. Authors must however provide full contact details including email and institutional addresses.
A warm welcome to our new 2021 appointed Editorial Board members from all the corners of the Earth, we thank you for your passion for education and willingness to guide the Pharos Journal of Theology to new heights!
The Pharos Journal of Theology, formerly known as the Ekklesiastikos Pharos was originally published in Alexandria (Egypt) directly by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate as a theological review at the beginning of the 20th Century. Consequently it is one of the oldest scholarly periodicals in Africa.
The Journal is an international, progressive, double blind reviewed journal of scholarship reflecting the history and philosophy of religious thought in all traditions and periods, including:
Systematic Theology, Biblical Studies, New Testament, Old Testament, Christianity, Spirituality, Church History, Jewish Studies, Theology, Pastoral Theology, Christian Ethics, Biblical Archaeology, Missiology, Pneumatology, Gospel and Culture, Religiousness, Religion and Comparative Religious Studies, Religious Education, Religious tourism, Inter-faith Studies, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam.
The Pharos Journal of Theology provides a forum for discussing theological issues in cross-cultural perspectives and features relevant articles and in-depth reviews on the latest publications in the field of Theology and is of great interest to academics and lay people as well as professional theologians.
The Pharos Journal of Theology is Indexed on ERIH PLUS - Norwegian Social Science Data Services LEVEL 1, DHET list, DOAJ - DIRECTORY OF OPEN ACCESS JOURNALS
we are also indexed in BIBP - Bibliographic Information Base in Patristics (Université Laval) and EZB Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek (EZB - electronic journals database) as well as in AcademicKeys
Special Editions: Two/Three are called for annually: A ‘Special Issue’ is a collection of papers focused on a specific topic. It may also be a collection of papers from a Conference associated with the journal.
Publication info
Our publication model has been carefully thought-out to allows minimal publishing costs. We are of the view that academic publishing is a not-for-profit enterprise undertaken for the good of universal dissemination, and it should not be determined by any exclusionary pay barriers. The authors of each accepted paper after a double blind peer reviewing are asked to pay nominal processing fees.
Archiving
We have an electronic backup system in place to maintain access to the content of the journal in the event that we no longer publish. All articles are kept in no less than three electronic places and also archived with the National Library of South Africa (NLSA Legal Deposit).
Article rejection
Please note that no reasons need to be furnished to prospective authors as to why an article has been rejected for publication in the journal. Additionally, if an article is beyond the scope of the journal it is rejected immediately.
Accessible knowledge base
We seek to make accessible a knowledge base in a wide range of related disciplines. The PHAROS JOURNAL OF THEOLOGY, with its quality articles, showcasing both current and applicable knowledge in a number of disciplines directly or indirectly related to Theology and from across the globe, is emerging as a favoured scientific research platform among academics.
This work by www.pharosjot.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at www.pharosjot.com. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.pharos.com. Unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article Copyright
When an article is published in the Pharos Journal of Theology, the author(s) of the article retain the copyright of article. Author(s) may republish the article as part of any book or other materials. When reusing an published article, author(s) should always cite that the article was originally published in the Pharos Journal of Theology and include the article DOI. The author should also accept that the article remains published by the Pharos Journal of Theology (except in occasion of a retraction of the article)
Disclaimer:
The PHAROS does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Any liability claims against the author in respect of damage caused by the use of the information provided, including any kind of information which is incorrect or incomplete, are therefore excluded. The journal reserves the express right to supplement, publish less or additional articles in a volume, modify or delete in part or in whole sections of articles in volumes posted on this website, without prior notice. The Editor-in-Chief and Africajournals disclaims responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any possible publication process oversight, rejection of an article, or ideas expressed in the articles. The text of this disclaimer is deemed legally binding. The author(s) of respective articles appearing in this Journal is/are solely responsible for the content of their article/s; the publication of an article shall not constitute or be deemed to constitute any representation by the Editors, or africajournals that the data presented therein are correct or sufficient to support the conclusions reached or that the design or methodology is adequate in totality. Readers should thus make their own evaluation as to the appropriateness or otherwise of any research methodology described in any article. The authors of articles must accurately reflect who did the work. All published work should be attributed to one or more authors. Authors must declare in their articles that they have acknowledged all significant contributions made to their publication by individuals who did not meet the journal's criteria for authorship, such as for example statisticians, translators etc. PHAROS is by no means responsible for the infringement by the contributing author/s for copyright infringement of a third party. The authors are responsible and should be held liable in such a case.
Articles are published and made freely available for all via open access online, this form of copyright agreement allows the owners of intellectual property (authors) to maintain copyright in their journal articles. The statements and opinions contained in the publications in volumes are solely those of the individual author/s and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or the publisher. Although efforts are made to ensure that the contents of the articles are correct, PHAROS will not be responsible for any errors made or damages suffered as a result of reliance being placed on information obtained from the Journal. Furthermore, opinions expressed by authors are their own and do not reflect the opinion or viewpoint of
PHAROS. Publication of an article/s does not imply endorsement or agreement with any particular statement made in an article/s. PHAROS is by no means responsible for the infringement by the contributing author/s for copyright infringement of a third party. The authors are responsible and should be held liable in such a case.
AFRICAJOURNALS Processing Fee Waiver Policy
We have a waiver policy in place for deserving authors. The provision for either a complete or partial fee waiver depends entirely on a case-by-case assessment. The waiver may allow for a 3/4 processing fee to be paid. A request for a waiver as stated, can only be considered if the request for a waiver has been sent to the related journal before submission of the manuscript. The Managing Editor will decide on the merits of each request. There is also a limit to waiver grants per year, so once reached, no further waivers are possible.
Please note that the journal does not charge any submission fee only a processing fee.
There are two special issues this year as stated below AND one general Issue is open for any suitable article submissions throughout the year. We look forward to your well researched submissions.
Call for Special Issue 1 (2021):
Angels, Ancestors, Alchemy and the Arts of Africa
This special Issue brings together articles that were first presented at an international colloquium hosted by the University of Pretoria in October and November 2020. Under the title “Angels, Ancestors, Alchemy and the Arts of Africa” scholars working in different disciplines and specializing in a variety of methods and topics convened to take a serious look at the ‘unseen’ in Africa – indeed, to take African spirituality, which had so often been misrepresented through colonial and missionary lenses, seriously. Artists, historians specializing in art, visual culture and religion, theologians, anthropologists, archaeologists, conservators, curators and literary scholars submitted papers that were presented in the following four categories, which are also the sub-themes for this special issue: a) Christ, Angels and Ancestors, b) Art and Spirituality, c) Spirituality and Medicine, d) Conservation of objects with spiritual meaning and e) South African literature, ethno-philosophy, political philosophy. The contributions to this special issue cover different historical periods, including the contemporary. They all contribute to challenge misrepresentations of African religious life in our own time.
The multifaceted topic of the colloquium aimed at a better understanding and appreciation of spirituality in Africa by investigating both scholarly and vernacular concepts and beliefs about the seen and the unseen. Through the analysis and assessment of orally transmitted knowledge and visual representations of icons, signs, symbols, rituals and rites, the imagined world can be better understood and duly appreciated. We are taking a long view of the tension, exchange, and convolution between Judeo-Christian and local African traditions of the enchanted word of the unseen. This longitudinal, multi-perspectival approach includes material forms as mediators of the unseen. The offering in this issue is not comprehensive. There are eras, areas and communities that are underrepresented or absent. Trusting that the contributions may encourage continued debate and further investigation, we begin our tour in the Ancient Near East and then wind our way, more or less chronologically, from east to west-central to southern Africa.
Guest Editors of Special Issue 1
Dr Raïta Steyn, Prof Dr Lize Kriel and Ms Deléne Human - University of Pretoria
The correct journal format and style of referencing are essential for any submission to be considered. There are also the usual processing fees to be paid if articles are accepted after double blind-peer reviewing. Word count -5000 to 6000
Call for Special Issue 2 (2021):
Religion, ethics and communication in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic
Submissions will be considered up until 13 April 2021 and should be submitted to esthermavengano@gmail.com or marevesat@gmail.com Papers will be published by 10 June 2021
The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a number of challenges in the areas of religio-socio-political and economic activities globally. Notably, Africa was not spared from this crisis. In light of these challenges brought by the coronavirus disease in contemporary period, the main goal of this Special Issue is to cast critical theoretical, conceptual and methodological reflections on the intersections of religion, ethics and communication in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. In so doing, the Special Issue underscores the importance of an interdisciplinary study of religion ethics and communication and their implications in the era of COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. The call invites researchers to interrogate behaviours, attitudes, values, lifestyles, expressive modes and practices of people in relations to the religious, ethical and communication patterns in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
The complex nature of religion provides what Appleby (2000) refers to as the ‘ambivalence of the sacred.’ Put differently, religion is an avenue for good morals but at the same time it has been fingered in atrocious activities. It is imperative to evaluate the ambiguous function of religion in light of the responses to COVID-19 pandemic. Religion and ethics become handy to assess the level of tolerance to the affected and infected as well as the dissemination of information where there is mis/information in light of coronavirus in Africa.
This Special Issue invites scholars in the fields of religion, ethics and communication to reflect on these issues mentioned and create academic conversations that can shape the post-COVID-19 future. Contributors should grapple with the questions like: What conceptual, theoretical, methodological and epistemological questions does COVID-19 pandemic invoke in 21 first century African societies? How can we progressively understand and dialogue about the interactions of religion, ethics and communication in light of COVID-19 without reifying and essentialising them? Thus, contributions deriving from and reflecting such an interdisciplinary orientation are welcome. Abstracts are invited from, but not limited to, the following thematic categories:
Biblical studies, politics and COVID-19 pandemic
Religion, communication and COVID-19 pandemic
Biblical studies, ethics and COVID-19 pandemic
Linguistics/communication, ethics and COVID-19 pandemic
Indigenous communication and African indigenous religions
Biblical studies, Gender dynamics and COVID-19 pandemic
Contributors may suggest other titles within the broad theme of religion, ethics and communication in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. Interested contributors should submit 250 words abstract to the addresses below. The correct journal format and style of referencing are essential for any submission to be considered. There are also the usual processing fees to be paid if articles are accepted after double blind-peer reviewing. Word count -5000 to 6000
Guest Editor of Special Issue 2
Prof Dr M. Masoga - Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Zululand, South Africa
Assistant Guest Editors:
Dr T. Marevesa - Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe marevesat@gmail.com
Dr E. Mavengano - Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe esthermavengano@gmail.com
Volume 102 (2021) is also open for new submissions
All article(s) should be submitted to our Editorial Office as e-mail attachment to africajournals@hotmail.com
We will consider original and significant contributions that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence. Articles submitted must not have been previously published or be under consideration elsewhere.
It is recommended that authors provide their once-off ORCID iD in each of their submission details.
This is however not mandatory. Authors must however provide full contact details including email and institutional addresses.
A warm welcome to our new 2021 appointed Editorial Board members from all the corners of the Earth, we thank you for your passion for education and willingness to guide the Pharos Journal of Theology to new heights!
The Pharos Journal of Theology, formerly known as the Ekklesiastikos Pharos was originally published in Alexandria (Egypt) directly by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate as a theological review at the beginning of the 20th Century. Consequently it is one of the oldest scholarly periodicals in Africa.
The Journal is an international, progressive, double blind reviewed journal of scholarship reflecting the history and philosophy of religious thought in all traditions and periods, including:
Systematic Theology, Biblical Studies, New Testament, Old Testament, Christianity, Spirituality, Church History, Jewish Studies, Theology, Pastoral Theology, Christian Ethics, Biblical Archaeology, Missiology, Pneumatology, Gospel and Culture, Religiousness, Religion and Comparative Religious Studies, Religious Education, Religious tourism, Inter-faith Studies, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam.
The Pharos Journal of Theology provides a forum for discussing theological issues in cross-cultural perspectives and features relevant articles and in-depth reviews on the latest publications in the field of Theology and is of great interest to academics and lay people as well as professional theologians.
The Pharos Journal of Theology is Indexed on ERIH PLUS - Norwegian Social Science Data Services LEVEL 1, DHET list, DOAJ - DIRECTORY OF OPEN ACCESS JOURNALS
we are also indexed in BIBP - Bibliographic Information Base in Patristics (Université Laval) and EZB Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek (EZB - electronic journals database) as well as in AcademicKeys
Special Editions: Two/Three are called for annually: A ‘Special Issue’ is a collection of papers focused on a specific topic. It may also be a collection of papers from a Conference associated with the journal.
Publication info
Our publication model has been carefully thought-out to allows minimal publishing costs. We are of the view that academic publishing is a not-for-profit enterprise undertaken for the good of universal dissemination, and it should not be determined by any exclusionary pay barriers. The authors of each accepted paper after a double blind peer reviewing are asked to pay nominal processing fees.
Archiving
We have an electronic backup system in place to maintain access to the content of the journal in the event that we no longer publish. All articles are kept in no less than three electronic places and also archived with the National Library of South Africa (NLSA Legal Deposit).
Article rejection
Please note that no reasons need to be furnished to prospective authors as to why an article has been rejected for publication in the journal. Additionally, if an article is beyond the scope of the journal it is rejected immediately.
Accessible knowledge base
We seek to make accessible a knowledge base in a wide range of related disciplines. The PHAROS JOURNAL OF THEOLOGY, with its quality articles, showcasing both current and applicable knowledge in a number of disciplines directly or indirectly related to Theology and from across the globe, is emerging as a favoured scientific research platform among academics.
This work by www.pharosjot.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at www.pharosjot.com. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.pharos.com. Unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article Copyright
When an article is published in the Pharos Journal of Theology, the author(s) of the article retain the copyright of article. Author(s) may republish the article as part of any book or other materials. When reusing an published article, author(s) should always cite that the article was originally published in the Pharos Journal of Theology and include the article DOI. The author should also accept that the article remains published by the Pharos Journal of Theology (except in occasion of a retraction of the article)
Disclaimer:
The PHAROS does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Any liability claims against the author in respect of damage caused by the use of the information provided, including any kind of information which is incorrect or incomplete, are therefore excluded. The journal reserves the express right to supplement, publish less or additional articles in a volume, modify or delete in part or in whole sections of articles in volumes posted on this website, without prior notice. The Editor-in-Chief and Africajournals disclaims responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any possible publication process oversight, rejection of an article, or ideas expressed in the articles. The text of this disclaimer is deemed legally binding. The author(s) of respective articles appearing in this Journal is/are solely responsible for the content of their article/s; the publication of an article shall not constitute or be deemed to constitute any representation by the Editors, or africajournals that the data presented therein are correct or sufficient to support the conclusions reached or that the design or methodology is adequate in totality. Readers should thus make their own evaluation as to the appropriateness or otherwise of any research methodology described in any article. The authors of articles must accurately reflect who did the work. All published work should be attributed to one or more authors. Authors must declare in their articles that they have acknowledged all significant contributions made to their publication by individuals who did not meet the journal's criteria for authorship, such as for example statisticians, translators etc. PHAROS is by no means responsible for the infringement by the contributing author/s for copyright infringement of a third party. The authors are responsible and should be held liable in such a case.
Articles are published and made freely available for all via open access online, this form of copyright agreement allows the owners of intellectual property (authors) to maintain copyright in their journal articles. The statements and opinions contained in the publications in volumes are solely those of the individual author/s and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or the publisher. Although efforts are made to ensure that the contents of the articles are correct, PHAROS will not be responsible for any errors made or damages suffered as a result of reliance being placed on information obtained from the Journal. Furthermore, opinions expressed by authors are their own and do not reflect the opinion or viewpoint of
PHAROS. Publication of an article/s does not imply endorsement or agreement with any particular statement made in an article/s. PHAROS is by no means responsible for the infringement by the contributing author/s for copyright infringement of a third party. The authors are responsible and should be held liable in such a case.
AFRICAJOURNALS Processing Fee Waiver Policy
We have a waiver policy in place for deserving authors. The provision for either a complete or partial fee waiver depends entirely on a case-by-case assessment. The waiver may allow for a 3/4 processing fee to be paid. A request for a waiver as stated, can only be considered if the request for a waiver has been sent to the related journal before submission of the manuscript. The Managing Editor will decide on the merits of each request. There is also a limit to waiver grants per year, so once reached, no further waivers are possible.
Please note that the journal does not charge any submission fee only a processing fee.
