Africa Spectrum, first published in 1966 by the GIGA-Institute of African Affairs in Hamburg, is an inter-disciplinary fully refereed journal, indexed by ISI, focusing on social science dealing with Africa. In 2009 it has become an open access journal and is published in cooperation with the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation. The journal is dedicated to promote a deeper understanding of African peoples and cultures. Since more than four decades Africa Spectrum provides regularly, three times a year, profound analyses of current issues of political, social and economic life, culture and development in Africa south of the Sahara. It is the only German academic journal exclusively devoted to this continent. Regularly articles included are on varied topics, but the journal also publishes special issues devoted to specific subjects. In addition, the journal carries debates, short contributions and book reviews. All contributions are original pieces not published elsewhere before.