Open access: From hope to betrayal

This article examines key interventions by OA founders and funders such as transformative agreements (subscriptions) and the rights retention strategy (RRS) (copyright). We assert that these interventions gave rise to the transference from a movement with a purpose to a movement for a process. This transference consolidates the systemic inequalities that have resulted in the marginalization of African research voices. There is a desperate need to eradicate this betrayal and rebuild trust in the openness movement, at the same time ensuring Africa does not become a casualty to the “begging bowl syndrome.”1 Stakeholders in Africa need to develop interventions to address the accessibility and scholarly dissemination challenges of African scholarship.