Interrogating Epistemologies and Methodological Frameworks in Nigerian African Studies, 2000–2024

The field of African Studies within the country has been characterised by ongoing debates concerning its theoretical foundations and research practices. Critiques have emerged regarding the dominance of Western epistemological frameworks and the marginalisation of indigenous knowledge systems, creating a need for a systematic analysis of contemporary scholarly production. This study aimed to critically analyse the dominant epistemological orientations and methodological approaches employed in Nigerian African Studies research. Its objectives were to map the prevalence of specific theoretical frameworks, evaluate the integration of mixed methods designs, and identify key methodological challenges reported by scholars. A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was employed. A systematic quantitative content analysis of published journal articles was conducted, followed by in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a purposively sampled cohort of established researchers and early-career academics to contextualise the quantitative findings. Quantitative analysis revealed a continued predominance of Eurocentric theoretical frameworks, utilised in approximately 70% of the sampled articles. Qualitative data identified a recurrent theme of institutional constraints, including limited funding for fieldwork and pressures to publish in internationally indexed journals, which shape methodological choices. The study concludes that while there is a growing discursive commitment to methodological pluralism and epistemic diversity, structural and institutional factors significantly constrain their practical application within the field. Recommendations include the development of dedicated funding streams for methodological innovation, the strengthening of postgraduate training in mixed methods and indigenous research methodologies, and editorial policies that incentivise epistemic diversity in local and continental journals. epistemology, methodology, mixed methods, African Studies, decolonisation, research practice This paper provides the first comprehensive mixed methods analysis of epistemological and methodological trends in post- Nigerian African Studies, introducing a novel framework for evaluating epistemic integration in scholarly output.