Distinguished African Studies Scholar and Professor Emeritus Pablo Idahosa Named Co-Editor-in-Chief of Nokoko
OTTAWA, CANADA — Nokoko, the interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, open-access journal of the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University, is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Pablo Idahosa of York University as its new Co-Editor-in-Chief.
A distinguished scholar of African Studies, development studies, and political economy, Professor Idahosa brings to this leadership role more than twenty-five years of teaching, research, and academic engagement with some of the most pressing questions shaping contemporary Africa and its diasporas.
His appointment represents an important milestone in the journal’s continuing commitment to advancing rigorous, innovative, accessible, and interdisciplinary scholarship on Africa and its global connections.
Professor Idahosa’s intellectual contributions span African political thought, development ethics, African modernities, the politics of health and disease, inequality, national development, and African diasporic experiences. His scholarship is distinguished by its critical interrogation of development paradigms, power relations, and the complex historical and contemporary forces shaping African societies.
Among his notable publications are The Populist Dimension of African Political Thought, as well as the co-edited volumes The Somali Diaspora and Development’s Displacements. His wide-ranging scholarly interests and commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry closely align with Nokoko’s mission of fostering critical conversations across the humanities, social sciences, and the wider field of African Studies.
Beyond his publications, Professor Idahosa has demonstrated sustained academic leadership at York University, including serving as Head of Founders College and contributing to the development of African Studies teaching and scholarship. His career reflects a longstanding commitment to intellectual mentorship, institutional service, and the advancement of African-centred scholarly inquiry.
A Longstanding Relationship with Nokoko
Professor Idahosa is no stranger to Nokoko. He has been associated with the journal for many years as a member of its editorial board and an active contributor to its scholarly review processes.
His contributions have included extensive manuscript reviewing, notably for the journal’s 2017 special issue on African philosophy, where his editorial assistance received explicit acknowledgment. He was also recognized among those providing editorial assistance for Volume 11, published in 2024, on Militarization and Shifting Dynamics of Power in Africa.
His appointment as Co-Editor-in-Chief (joining Prof. Nduka Otiono) therefore builds upon an established record of dedicated service, intellectual generosity, and commitment to the journal’s development.
Strengthening Nokoko’s Global Reach and Intellectual Mission
Professor Idahosa joins the journal’s editorial leadership at a time when African Studies continues to confront urgent questions concerning decolonization, knowledge production, political transformation, inequality, cultural creativity, and Africa’s changing position in the world.
As an open-access publication, Nokoko seeks to overcome barriers to scholarly communication by making research freely available to readers across Africa, its diasporas, and the international academic community.
Professor Idahosa’s appointment is expected to strengthen the journal’s international scholarly networks, deepen its interdisciplinary orientation, and support its commitment to publishing original research, critical essays, book reviews, and innovative intellectual interventions.
The appointment also underscores the value of collaboration across Canadian universities and with African and diaspora scholars worldwide in building more inclusive and equitable platforms for the production and circulation of knowledge.
Looking Ahead
With Professor Idahosa joining its editorial leadership, Nokoko looks forward to expanding its scholarly reach, strengthening its editorial processes, and creating new opportunities for established and emerging scholars to participate in critical conversations about Africa and its diasporas.
The journal remains committed to promoting intellectually adventurous, socially engaged, and accessible scholarship that challenges disciplinary boundaries and contributes meaningfully to contemporary debates.
About Nokoko
Nokoko is the interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, open-access journal of the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Its name derives from a Ga word associated with something new, novel, surprising, and interesting. The journal provides a platform for critical scholarship and public intellectual engagement with Africa, the African diaspora, and the continent’s relationships with the wider world. The journal also hosts podcast series called Nokokopod.
Journal website: https://ojs.library.carleton.ca/index.php/nokoko
Media and editorial inquiries:
Nokoko Editorial Office
Institute of African Studies
Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Email: nokoko@carleton.ca
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