State and contours of research on roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) in Africa

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) - also called sorrel, Bissap or Karkadeh - is believed to be native to Africa. Research is needed to set a solid foundation for the development of roselle in the continent. Therefore, this article presents an analysis of the research landscape on roselle in Africa; it covers bibliographical metrics, the geography of the research, and the topics addressed in the scholarly literature about roselle. The systematic review drew upon 119 eligible articles identified through a search carried out on the Web of Science in March 2024. The research field is not well-established; the number of publications on roselle in Africa is limited, indicating an unstable and inconsistent interest. The research field is multidisciplinary but appears to focus more on biological sciences than social sciences and economics. The research geography is not balanced, with more than half of all studies on roselle in Africa conducted in just five countries, viz. Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, Ghana, and Senegal. The content analysis suggests that roselle holds the potential to contribute to food and nutrition security and the well-being of the populations. It can not only contribute to agricultural development but also to addressing many challenges the continent faces. Research is needed to unlock its potential. Future research should pay more attention, inter alia, to the relationships between roselle and environmental issues (e.g. climate change), social and economic aspects (e.g. livelihoods), and agronomy (cf. fertilization, pest management, irrigation). Given that roselle is grown across Africa, collaboration among African countries should also be encouraged.