The BMJ Bibliometric Analysis: A Wake-Up Call for SSA Research Autonomy

A groundbreaking bibliometric study published in BMJ Global Health on March 6, 2026, titled 'Research capacity and decolonisation in Sub-Saharan Africa: a bibliometric analysis,' has spotlighted the persistent challenges in building independent research ecosystems across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Led by researchers including Raita Tamaki, the analysis draws on data from 1990 to 2021, revealing that while SSA represents about 15% of the world's population and 21% of the global disease burden, it accounts for just 2.7% of global citations in clinical and life sciences. This disparity underscores the urgent need for decolonising research capacity in SSA, particularly in South Africa where universities like the University of Cape Town (UCT), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), and Stellenbosch University lead continental efforts but still grapple with structural dependencies.

The study employs metrics like the Research Subordination Index (RSI) and Burden-Adjusted Research Intensity (BARI) to quantify autonomy and priority alignment, painting a picture of progress overshadowed by external influences. For South African higher education institutions, this analysis arrives at a pivotal moment, as local academics push for reforms amid global health inequities.

Defining Decolonisation in SSA Research Capacity

Decolonisation of research capacity refers to dismantling colonial legacies in knowledge production, where Global North institutions historically dominate funding, agendas, and authorship in SSA research. In the context of Sub-Saharan Africa, this means shifting from 'parachute research'—short-term external projects—to locally led initiatives that address regional priorities like neglected tropical diseases over externally driven foci such as HIV/AIDS. South African universities have been at the forefront of this discourse, influenced by student-led movements like #RhodesMustFall at UCT in 2015, which demanded curriculum and epistemological reforms to center African perspectives.

The BMJ study frames decolonisation through three lenses: research productivity and impact, structural autonomy (local vs. international authorship), and thematic alignment with disease burdens. For SA colleges and universities, this translates to bolstering PhD training, funding diversification, and equitable North-South partnerships, as seen in Wits' global health programs.

Bibliometric Methods: Data-Driven Insights into SSA Trends

The researchers analyzed over 100,000 publications from Clarivate InCites in clinical/life sciences across 48 SSA countries, tracking metrics from 1990–2021. Key indicators included Category Normalized Citation Impact (CNCI), top 10% cited papers, No Key Author (NKA) rate (papers without SSA first/corresponding authorship), and international collaboration rates. The RSI measures subordination by regressing NKA on citation impact, normalized against OECD countries (rRSI=100%). BARI assesses disease research alignment via PubMed counts regressed on Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).

• Publication growth: SSA output surged 694% from 1990–2021, yet citation share stagnated below 3%.
• Pre- vs. post-COVID: Analyzed 2016–2019 vs. 2020–2023 for pandemic effects on autonomy.
• South Africa spotlight: Disaggregated data shows SA outperforming SSA averages, with CNCI>1.0 and higher top-cited papers.

This rigorous approach provides a benchmark for South African universities evaluating their global positioning.

Publication Trends: Growth Without Global Impact

SSA's research output grew dramatically, but normalized impact remains low: average CNCI=1.02 (world=1.00), top 10% papers=8.0% (world=9.7%), total citations far below global peers. South Africa stands out, exceeding world averages in all metrics, thanks to institutions like UCT (Africa's top-ranked university per QS 2026) and Wits, which together produce a significant share of continental papers. Stellenbosch University complements this with strong agricultural and health sciences output.

However, most SSA nations lag, highlighting SA's pivotal role in elevating regional capacity. For aspiring researchers in SA colleges, this underscores opportunities in research jobs at leading unis.

The Collaboration Paradox: Boosted Impact, Eroded Autonomy

International collaborations correlate positively with CNCI (r=0.52), but strongly with NKA rates (r=0.91), revealing dependency: higher-impact papers often lack SSA lead authors. In South Africa, UCT and Wits frequently partner with Global North entities (e.g., NIH, Wellcome Trust), yielding high-impact global health papers but risking 'helicopter science' critiques.

SA universities counter this through initiatives like the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), promoting intra-African collaborations. Stellenbosch's SU-IDRC center exemplifies balanced partnerships.

Thematic Misalignment: Overemphasis on 'Big Three' Diseases

BARI reveals SSA over-researches HIV (4.2–4.6), TB (3.4–3.6), and malaria (3.3–3.5) relative to DALYs, while neglected tropical diseases score low/negative—misaligned with diverse local burdens. South African unis like Wits (HIV focus via Wits RHI) drive much 'Big Three' output, but calls grow for diversifying to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and climate-health links.

This misalignment perpetuates donor-driven agendas; SA higher ed must prioritize endogenous priorities via career advice for interdisciplinary researchers.

Quantifying Autonomy: SSA's High Subordination

RSI=326.8 pre-COVID (rRSI=602.7% vs. OECD), improving slightly to 319.0 (468.7%) post-COVID, but SSA subordination remains 4–6x higher. SA performs best among SSA, yet systemic issues persist, as noted in local bibliometric coloniality debates targeting Scopus/WoS biases.

UCT's decolonisation task teams and Wits' Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) advocate metric reforms.

South Africa's Universities: Leaders with Lessons

South Africa dominates SSA research, with UCT, Wits, and Stellenbosch producing ~50% of regional high-impact papers. UCT's global health division emphasizes African-led trials; Wits excels in epidemiology; Stellenbosch in biomedicine. Yet, foreign funding (e.g., Gates Foundation) influences agendas, echoing BMJ findings.

Initiatives like NRF's Thuthuka funding build emerging researcher capacity at SA colleges. Explore SA academic jobs to contribute.

Case Studies: Decolonisation Efforts at Key SA Institutions

At UCT, post-#RMF curriculum reviews integrate indigenous knowledge in health sciences. Wits' SAMRC/Wits Centre advances local authorship mandates. Stellenbosch's Africa Centre for HIV collaborates equitably with HICs. These align with BMJ recommendations for autonomy.

• UCT: Decolonising Global Health project fosters epistemic justice.
• Wits: Bibliometric studies critique Global North dominance.
• Stellenbosch: Ubuntu ethics in research methodologies.

Pathways Forward: Practical Steps for Decolonisation

The study urges SSA investment (1% GDP R&D), African consortia (e.g., ARUA), and HIC reforms like leadership transfer. For SA unis: diversify funding via NRF/IDC, mentor adjuncts (adjunct professor jobs), prioritize local journals.

Actionable insights: Train in open-access publishing, form South-South networks, use RSI/BARI for monitoring.

Photo by Bob Brewer on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Empowering African-Led Research

With SA leading SSA, scaling successes continent-wide could transform global health. Amid 2026 budget pressures, unis must advocate for capacity-building. Researchers, check Rate My Professor for mentors, explore higher ed jobs, and career advice. The BMJ analysis signals hope: decolonised research promises equitable impact.

For more, read the full study: BMJ Global Health or preprint medRxiv.