Developments and trends in internal communication research in Africa: a historical view from 1990 to 2024

Purpose Internal communication plays a significant role in an organisation's success and the discipline is experiencing significant global growth. Africa, however, lags in its contribution and remains underrepresented. Facing particular difficult economic, political and diversity issues, Africa could make a substantial contribution. This study addresses the gap by assessing the published academic growth of internal communication research conducted in Africa, to highlight historical trends. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted through a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles on internal communication, published between 1990 and 2024, to evidence the growth in the field. The Web of Science and Scopus databases were used to capture articles containing specific keywords. A screening process then followed. The authorship and institutional information, publication journals, African country of research, theoretical frameworks, methodological trends and future research suggestions found in 79 articles were analysed. Findings There is clear evidence that internal communication is developing as a discipline in Africa. A strategic approach, diversity and limited African contributions to international discussion, have been ongoing themes. The research published is mainly found in African journals and is limited to only ten African countries. The lack of African insights restricts an inclusive and comprehensive understanding of the field. Originality/value This review, which addresses a notable gap in the literature, offers valuable insights into the development of internal communication in Africa over the past 35 years. This article calls for researchers to develop African-centred approaches to internal communication and participate in global discussions.