Kiabàrà was founded by the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Port Harcourt, making it one of the longest-running peer-reviewed humanities journals in sub-Saharan Africa. The journal emerged during a period of intense intellectual energy in Nigerian academic life, when scholars were working to establish indigenous frameworks for the study of African culture and thought.

Over the decades, Kiabàrà has published work by some of the most distinguished scholars of African humanities, while also serving as a launching ground for emerging voices. The journal's archives represent an irreplaceable record of humanistic inquiry in Nigeria and across the continent.

The journal moved to its current fully digital format and is expanding its reach while maintaining the editorial standards that have defined it since its founding.

All submissions to Kiabàrà undergo double-blind peer review. Manuscripts are evaluated by at least two independent referees who are experts in the relevant field. The identities of authors and reviewers are withheld from each other throughout the review process.

To maintain anonymity, the main manuscript file must contain no identifying information. All personal details — including the author's full name(s), institutional affiliation, and contact information — must be confined to a separate cover page submitted alongside the manuscript.

The Editorial Board makes final decisions on all manuscripts, taking into account referees' reports. Reviewers are asked to evaluate manuscripts on structural originality, methodology, clarity of prose, and significance of contribution. We aim to return initial decisions to authors within eight weeks of submission.

The Editorial Board makes final decisions on all manuscripts, taking into account referees' reports. Reviewers are asked to evaluate manuscripts on structural originality, methodology, clarity of prose, and significance of contribution. We aim to return initial decisions to authors within eight weeks of submission.

Kiabàrà is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. The journal subscribes to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to these standards.

Submitted manuscripts must be original, unpublished work not under consideration elsewhere. Any allegation of misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, or improper authorship, will be investigated promptly and thoroughly in accordance with COPE guidelines.