33

This article offers a critical analysis of research practices in management sciences in Francophone Africa, based on 40 academic theses (2015–2023) and 12 interviews with scholars and doctoral candidates. It questions the contextual grounding, epistemological postures, and social purpose of research shaped by dominant Western paradigms. Findings reveal heavy reliance on standard models, limited engagement with vernacular practices, and marginalised social relevance. Yet, a few emerging works explore situated objects and alternative frameworks. The article advocates a fertile epistemic shift rooted in vernacular knowledge, critical reflexivity, and socially committed research. It calls for reforming curricula, criteria of scientific validity, and supervisory practices to foster a truly relevant management science for African societies.