Sociological Knowledge

This chapter presents the empirical foundation for the study of sociology in Africa. Drawing from multiple international and regional sources, the data used and analysed in this chapter lay the foundation for a deeper analysis of sociology through the examination of sociological research publications that appeared in the form of journal articles and book chapters. The analysis in this chapter focuses on publication trends between 2000 and 2020, the structure of authorship that reveals underlying collaborations within Africa and with authors from outside Africa, sectoral and departmental affiliations, the content of publications including themes and topics, the adopted methodologies and the context of the research that resulted in publications. The chapter offers a basic yet comprehensive overview of sociological knowledge about the continent, setting the stage for further in-depth analysis of the chosen themes in subsequent chapters of the book.