Does Africa Need Interdisciplinary Humanities? Editorial

Abstract

This editorial explores the value and viability of interdisciplinary approaches within African humanities scholarship. It argues that complex contemporary issues require perspectives spanning traditional disciplines. However, African humanities faculties remain largely siloed in colonial-legacy models limiting theoretical synergy. Pursuing meaningful interdisciplinarity has the potential to dismantle ideological constraints, better comprehend multidimensional African realities, restore epistemological cohesion severed through Western knowledge fracturing, and develop contextual, analytical tools. However, the paper cautions against superficial interdisciplinarity lacking methodological rigor or merely signalling trendiness. It stresses retaining a disciplinary base while leveraging scoping reviews to chart relevance for other fields in addressing complex questions. Harnessing interdisciplinarity’s potential requires institutional structures and incentives to facilitate humanities scholars to cross boundaries without abandoning specialisation. This editorial seeks to continue the debate on pursuing deliberate, purposedriven interconnection.