Submissions

Author Guidelines

Articles are peer-reviewed, accepted and published on the recommendation of referees. Manuscripts should be original and unpublished contributions and should not be under submission to another publication. Articles should not normally exceed 5000 words, and must be typed double-spaced with wide margins. An abstract and a list of keywords must be included.

Contributors should use the Harvard Style for referencing. All references should be included in the text and indicated by surname(s) or author(s), year of publication and page number(s) in brackets, e.g. (Ukaegbu, 2013: 57). Further information for authors can be found by clicking on the 'About' button at the top of our home page. 

Authors need to register with the journal prior to submitting or, if already registered, can simply log in and begin the five-step process.

African Performance Review does not charge a fee to submit or publish articles.

Email enquiries should be sent to: editor@african-theatre-org

Plagiarism Policy

The African Performance Review, published by the African Theatre Association (AfTA), is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical scholarship. All submissions must be original work and must appropriately acknowledge the ideas, words, research, and creative work of others.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's words, ideas, research, arguments, or creative work as one's own without appropriate acknowledgement. It includes, but is not limited to:

• copying text without quotation marks and citation;

• presenting another author's ideas or arguments without attribution;

• closely paraphrasing a source without acknowledgement;

• reproducing or translating material without crediting the original source;

• using images, photographs, recordings, performance documentation, artwork, or other creative materials without appropriate attribution or permission;

• submitting another person's work as one's own; and

• reproducing substantial portions of an author's previously published work without appropriate acknowledgement (self-plagiarism).

Legitimate quotation, paraphrase, discussion of existing scholarship, and the reuse of an author's own previously published material are acceptable where they are appropriately acknowledged and comply with applicable copyright requirements.

Authors's Responsibility

Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

• their submission is substantially original;

• all sources are accurately cited;

• quotations and paraphrased material are appropriately acknowledged;

• previously published material is clearly identified;

• permission has been obtained where required for copyrighted material;

• the manuscript has not been simultaneously submitted to another journal; and

• all co-authors have approved the submitted version.

Authors should also disclose any substantial overlap between their submission and their own previously published or forthcoming work.

Plagiarism Detection

The journal may use plagiarism-detection software and other appropriate methods to identify unattributed textual or other forms of overlap.

A similarity report does not, in itself, constitute a finding of plagiarism. Similarity may result from legitimate quotations, references, standard terminology, or other appropriately attributed material. Any potential concerns will therefore be assessed by the editors in context.

Allegations of Plagiarism

Where plagiarism is suspected, the editors will investigate the matter fairly and confidentially. Authors may be asked to provide clarification or supporting information.

The African Performance Review may follow relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other recognised standards of scholarly publishing ethics when investigating allegations of misconduct.

Consequences

Depending on the nature and extent of the problem, the journal may:

• request corrections or clarification;

• require appropriate attribution or revision;

• reject the manuscript;

• withdraw a manuscript from consideration;

• publish a correction or editorial notice;

• retract a published article; or

• refer the matter to the author's institution or other relevant body.

The journal will distinguish between inadvertent citation or attribution errors and deliberate or substantial plagiarism.

Plagiarism Discovered after Publication

If plagiarism is identified after an article has been published, the journal may take appropriate corrective action to protect the integrity of the scholarly record. This may include publishing a correction, expression of concern, or retraction.

Artificial Intelligence

Authors remain responsible for the originality, accuracy, attribution, and integrity of their submissions when using artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

AI tools must not be used to fabricate sources, quotations, references, data, research findings, or other scholarly material. Authors must independently verify material generated or identified by AI and ensure that all sources are accurately cited.

Any use of AI must comply with the journal's Artificial Intelligence Policy.

Performance and Creative Materials

The African Performance Review recognises that research in African performance may draw on oral histories, community knowledge, embodied knowledge, performance practices, photographs, recordings, archival materials, and other forms of creative and cultural production.

Authors are responsible for appropriately acknowledging the intellectual, creative, cultural, and community sources of such material and for obtaining permissions where required.

Our Commitment

The African Performance Review is committed to promoting ethical, transparent, and responsible scholarship in African theatre, performance, and related fields. Authors, editors, reviewers, and contributors are expected to uphold these standards and to contribute to the integrity of the scholarly record.

Corrections Policy

The African Performance Review, published by the African Theatre Association (AfTA), is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record. The journal recognises that errors can occasionally be identified after publication and provides mechanisms for correcting the published record in a transparent and appropriate manner.

Corrections to Published Articles

Authors and readers are encouraged to notify the journal of significant errors identified in a published article. Corrections may be considered where an error affects the accuracy, interpretation, or reliability of the published work but does not invalidate the article as a whole.

Requests for corrections should clearly identify:

• the article and its publication details;

• the error or errors identified;

• the location of the error in the published article; and

• the proposed correction and, where appropriate, supporting evidence.

All correction requests will be assessed by the editors. Where necessary, the editors may consult the author, reviewers, or other relevant experts before determining the appropriate course of action.

Minor Errors

Minor typographical, grammatical, formatting, or bibliographical errors that do not affect the meaning, interpretation, or scholarly integrity of an article may be corrected without publishing a separate correction notice. Where possible, such changes will be recorded in the article's publication history.

Substantive Corrections

Where an error materially affects the article but does not undermine its overall findings or conclusions, the journal may publish a formal Correction.

A correction notice will:

• identify the original article;

• describe the error;

• state the correction clearly; and

• provide a link to the corrected article where appropriate.

The original publication will normally remain part of the scholarly record, with the correction clearly associated with it. Corrections will not be made in a manner that obscures the history of the published article.

Author-Initiated Corrections

Authors may request corrections to their published work. Such requests do not automatically result in a correction. The editors will determine whether the proposed amendment is necessary and appropriate in accordance with this policy.

Authors should notify the journal as soon as possible if they discover a significant error in their published work.

Reader-Reported Errors

Readers may bring possible errors to the attention of the editorial team. The journal welcomes such reports and will assess credible concerns in accordance with its editorial and publication-ethics procedures.

Where a reported error has substantive implications, the editors may seek a response from the author before determining whether a correction or other editorial action is required.

Corrections and Copyright

Corrections will be made in accordance with the journal's copyright and licensing arrangements. Where an error concerns third-party material, images, performance documentation, or other copyrighted material, the journal may also seek clarification or permission from the relevant rights holder.

Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

A correction is appropriate where an error can be addressed without invalidating the article as a whole.

Where there are serious unresolved concerns about the reliability, integrity, or ethical basis of a published article, the journal may publish an Expression of Concern while the matter is investigated.

Where the evidence demonstrates that an article is substantially unreliable, has been published as a result of serious misconduct, or otherwise requires removal from the scholarly record, the journal may consider retraction in accordance with recognised publication-ethics standards.

The journal may follow relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when determining whether a correction, expression of concern, or retraction is appropriate.

Post-Publication Changes

The African Performance Review will not normally alter the published record simply because an author wishes to change their interpretation, wording, or argument after publication.

Changes will be made where they are necessary to correct an error, address an ethical or legal issue, or otherwise protect the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

Transparency

The journal is committed to handling corrections transparently and consistently. Where a formal correction is made, the correction notice will remain permanently linked to the original article so that readers can understand what was changed and why.

The objective of this policy is to ensure that the African Performance Review maintains an accurate, transparent, and trustworthy scholarly record while respecting the integrity of authors' published work.