Africa gives rise to unique research questions (and answers) that mainstream M&O research does not address. This conclusion emerges from our integrative evaluation of contextual features typically emphasized in Africa-based studies. In our review, we used a multiphase process that involves systematically searching, content-coding and synthesizing the 191 studies that made up our final sample. By interpreting each study and integrating patterns across all studies, we identified two overarching themes that capture the essence of Africa-based M&O studies (i.e., strong interest in a context shaped by the colonial past, and emerging attention to the social fabric governing economic, social, and political lives in Africa). Our data further reveals that, despite being frequently referenced as major sources of M&O challenges in Africa, neither Africa’s colonial past nor its lingering effects are studied, conceptualized, or leveraged as relevant features of the stories developed. Rather, they are framed as background and/or catch-all features in problem identification and/or discussions of findings. We suggest a research agenda for developing future Africa-based studies that can generate societal, practitioner, policy, and educational impact, in addition to the scholarly impact that is desired.
