EDITORIAL NOTE

Editorial Note

Ross Truscott

Centre for Humanities Research, University of the Western Cape

This 2017 special issue of Kronos: Southern African Histories, on the question 'What is the University in Africa for?', marks a transitional point for the journal, being the first issue under a new editorial team comprised of Patricia Hayes, Paolo Israel, Nicky Rousseau and myself. We take over from Andrew Bank, who worked tirelessly for almost 20 years to ensure that the journal publishes high-quality articles by both leading and emerging scholars. We would like to pay tribute to the work that Andrew has done over the years, and thank him for guiding us through the first part of this year. During 2017, I also leaned on Leslie Witz, perhaps more than could be expected. For his generosity and for the keen interest he has taken I am very grateful.

We welcome four new editorial board members: Carlos Fernandes (Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique), Kwezi Mkhize (University of Cape Town), Napandulwe Shiweda (University of Namibia, Windhoek) and Adam Sitze (Amherst College, Massachusetts, US). We also want to sincerely thank the anonymous reviewers, some of whom are on the editorial board, who read the essays published in this special issue. All reports were written with rigour and, at the same time, collegiality, and without this labour of critique - and we dwell on the question of scholarly labour in the framing essay that follows, as do a number of the contributions here - a journal could not survive.

The journal would also not be able to function without a number of people who deserve mention. Jenny Sandler has worked on the design of the journal since 2001, and she, perhaps better than anyone, knows what it takes to bring an issue to completion. It would not have been possible without her experience and her attention to detail. Lee Smith did the copyediting for this special issue. Maurits van Bever Donker and I have worked with Lee on a previous project, and we were especially pleased that she was able to work through these articles, which required not only a careful eye but also a delicate touch. Last but by no means least, Janine Brandt and Jane Smidt in the History Department, and Lameez Lalken at the Centre for Humanities Research (CHR), are due particular acknowledgement for all they have done to keep the journal running. To all of these people, sincere appreciation is due.

As we move forward, Kronos will remain housed in the History Department and the CHR at the University of the Western Cape. It will continue to feature articles on the southern African region through its thematic special issues, and, as with this one, highlight new debates in the Humanities more generally. For information about the upcoming 2018 special issue on forensic history, please contact Nicky Rousseau (nrousseau@uwc.ac.za).