Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines African Journals Online (AJOL) as a bibliometric resource, providing a structured dataset of journal and publication metadata. In addition, it integrates AJOL data with OpenAlex to enhance metadata coverage and improve interoperability with other bibliometric sources.
Design/methodology/approach
The journal list and publications indexed in AJOL were retrieved using web scraping techniques. This paper details the database construction process, highlighting its strengths and limitations, and presents a descriptive analysis of AJOL’s indexed journals and publications.
Findings
The publication analysis demonstrates a steady growth in the number of publications over time but reveals significant disparities in their distribution across African countries. This paper presents an example of the possibility of integrating both sources using author country data from OpenAlex. The analysis of author contributions reveals that African journals serve as both regional and international venues, confirming that African journals play a dual role in fostering both regional and global research engagement
Research limitations
While AJOL contains relevant information for identifying and providing insights about African publications and journals, its metadata are limited. Therefore, the kind of analysis that can be performed with the database presented here is also limited. The integration with OpenAlex aims to overcome some of the limitations. Finally, although some automatic citation procedures have been performed, the metadata has not been manually curated. Therefore, if errors or inaccuracies are present in the AJOL, they may be reproduced in this database.
Practical implications
The database introduced in this article contributes to the accessibility of African scholarly publications by providing structured, accessible metadata derived from the AJOL. It facilitates bibliometric analyses that are more representative of African research activities. This contribution complements ongoing efforts to develop alternative data sources and infrastructure that better reflect the diversity of global knowledge production.
Originality/value
This paper presents a novel database for bibliometric analysis and offers a detailed report of the retrieval and construction procedures. The inclusion of matched data with OpenAlex further enhances the database’s utility. By showcasing AJOL’s potential, this study contributes to the broader goal of fostering inclusivity and improving the representation of African research in global bibliometric analyses.