GUIDELINES AND CONSENT FOR ARTICLE SUBMISSION TO EXPLORE AFRICA MAGAZINE
Hello!!!
Thank you for choosing to showcase Africa with us. I am particularly delighted to have you on this fascinating journey. It will give the team and me great pleasure to help showcase you as you are showcasing Africa.
To ensure that we easily identify your articles and place them appropriately, kindly ensure that they conform to these guidelines. The purpose is to ensure a smooth experience for you and us.
1. Authenticity
I’m sure you bear this in mind when you write your articles. Just pardon me to address it for the sake of emphasis. The articles we feature in Explore Africa Magazine (print and on the website) are the legitimate work of the respective individuals who submitted them. We do not tolerate plagiarism. If we observe that an article was plagiarized, we will not publish them. If after publication, we observe plagiarism, we will take down the article at once. We will also enforce measures against the individual(s) who submit such articles. These may include publishing official statements, depriving the individual(s) of the privilege of sharing on Explore Africa Magazine temporarily or indefinitely and other actions that may become necessary based on prevailing laws.
To ensure the authenticity of articles, we encourage the writer to adopt the following strategies:
- Carefully research your articles and appropriately reference sources from which vital information is collected.
- Write in your terms. We have an expert team of editors that will help polish your articles, so feel free to express yourself when you write.
- Analyze your immediate locality. It is easier to write an authentic article on what is happening or existing within your neighbourhood than what is happening or existing across the continent.
- Verify the information you share. Try to avoid speculations in your article and verify sources before you cite them. Ensure to cite sources of renown such as the WHO and World Bank to ensure the authenticity of the information you share.
In cases where portions of your writing were inspired directly or replicated from a source, it is always a good practice to refer to the source. I know you’d love for people you influence to say that you did. Similarly, authors who influence your work deserve credit, especially when you have included portions of their work in yours.
2. Ownership
Explore Africa Magazine is owned by a non-profit organization committed to helping Africans rise out of hunger and poverty for good. As a result, we call for volunteers who help sustain the good work.
While we appreciate the efforts of our volunteers in diverse ways, we do not attach financial or other benefits to the volunteering efforts. Articles submitted to Explore Africa Magazine become the property of Explore Africa Magazine and due recognition is made to the individual(s) who wrote them. By submitting an article to Explore Africa Magazine, you consent that you will not contend with Explore Africa Magazine for the right of ownership of the article or for financial or other gains as proceeds for submitting such articles. There may be occasional appreciation that may or may not be financial, however, bear in mind that this work is voluntary.
3. Volume
The volume of articles sent for publication in Explore Africa Magazine is primarily at the discretion of the respective authors of the articles. They specify however that the minimum word count of articles be 300 words. Articles with more than 1,500 words may be split into sections and published as a series.
4. Content
The essence of Explore Africa Magazine is to showcase Africa and Africans. While there may be occasional articles centred around themes outside of Africa, such articles will have a direct connection to Africa and Africans. As a result, the content of articles submitted to Explore Africa Magazine should be Africa oriented. It may cut across any (or all) of the following areas:
- The profile, biography or auto-biography of Africans;
- The profile of an African relic or treasure;
- The profile of natural resources peculiar to, or predominant in Africa;
- The profile of man-made resources, resorts or other landmarks in Africa;
- The profile of an ethnic group, a language, cultural system, masquerade or other African highlight;
- Interviews with leaders, entertainers, innovators and other changemakers in Africa;
- Innovations in Africa (for example, the story of a new drone developed in Africa);
- A breakthrough achievement or discovery in Africa (for example, the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb);
- “How-to” or other “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) guides to making African masterpieces (for example, how to make Edikan-Ikong soup);
- Travel and tourism guides (for example, how to navigate through Kilimanjaro);
- Historical perspectives of Africa (for example, the first King of the Ashanti people), etc.
- Entertainment, sports, political or other occurrences (Authenticity of information is emphasized)
Articles may not be limited to these themes but may capture themes that help to showcase peculiarities in Africa. We know that there are several themes to write on concerning Africa. This is merely a glimpse into what you could delve into.
5. Financial Inclination
Explore Africa Magazine is a free magazine designed to showcase Africa. We do not sell the magazines, we do not pay for articles submitted and thus, we do not charge authors to publish their articles. All financial aids received by Explore Africa Magazine are freewill donations by well-meaning individuals, institutions and organizations to support our work. While we encourage people to support the initiative, we do not enforce it or charge for article publication.
Advertisements in the magazine may require a financial token to secure a slot. This token may depend on the size of the advertisement and such token is channelled back into the non-profit where it may become the school fees of someone, someone’s next meal, hospital bill, scholarship funding or skill acquisition support among others.
Do note that articles are published for free. “Advertisements” in this context refer to brands who seek to showcase their businesses through the magazine.
6. Our Discretion
Articles are received from Across the continent and beyond. All articles submitted receive the same consideration and treatment. We do not discriminate against authors or articles. We do not guarantee the publication of any article based on any reason except the due diligence of our editorial team. Submitting an article is not a guarantee for publication. Kindly refrain from consenting to any individual or group seeking favours (financial or otherwise) in exchange for publication certainty on Explore Africa Magazine. They are fraudulent and should be reported to us so that necessary actions can be taken.
Bearing these in mind, kindly proceed to upload your next masterpiece. The team and I are eager to work with you to showcase African content to the world. Feel free to reach out using the contact information here
Best Regards,
James Martins C.
Editor, Explore Africa Magazine