Digital Technologies and African Societies

ATCHOUA N'Guessan Julien, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Cocody, Abidjan. BOGUI Maomra Jean-Jacques, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Cocody, Abidjan. DIALLO Saikou, Virginia Modeling Analysis and Simulation Center.

Foreword xi
Nathalie PINÈDE

Introduction xvii
Julien ATCHOUA, Jean-Jacques BOGUI and Saikou DIALLO

Part 1 Social Media and the Public Space in Africa 1

Chapter 1 Civil Society in the Consolidation Process of Democracy in Burkina Faso: Balai Citoyen on Facebook 3
Marcel BAGARÉ

1.1 Problems 5

1.2 Theoretical and methodological approach 6

1.3 Good governance, the purpose of Balai Citoyen 8

1.4 The media construction of Balai Citoyen via Facebook: images and propaganda 10

1.5 Leadership: a factor of mobilization via social networks 14

1.6 Facebook and Balai Citoyen: an instrument of conquest and political struggle? 17

1.7 Conclusion 20

1.8 References 21

Chapter 2 Social Networks, New Barometers of Political Action in Côte d’Ivoire 25
Raymond Kouassi KRA

2.1 Positioning of the problem 25

2.2 Social networks and the question of their importance in the world, in Africa and in Côte d’Ivoire 27

2.3 Some message content broadcast on digital social networks 30

2.4 Mobilization and process implemented: a need for freedom met by the Internet 32

2.5 The real impact of mobilization on political action 33

2.6 Mobilization and messages 35

2.7 Social networks, political actors and the exercise of power in Côte d’Ivoire 37

2.8 Conclusion 40

2.9 References 40

Chapter 3 Mobilization for Collective Action: The Contribution of Digital Social Networks to Political Engagement 43
Gbati NAPO

3.1 State of play and theoretical framework 46

3.1.1 Digital social networks (DSNs): current situation 46

3.1.2 Theoretical positioning of research 47

3.2 Research results 48

3.2.1 Types and processes of collective action: the different types 48

3.2.2 Collective action process 49

3.2.3 Actions for collective mobilization: from the use of traditional media to digital social media 50

3.2.4 Broadening public debate on DSNs and mobilizing for socio-political demands 51

3.2.5 DSNs and broadening public debate in a context of democratic renewal 51

3.2.6 DSNs and mobilization for political participation: elections 53

3.2.7 DSNs and collective actions: examples of political engagement in Africa 54

3.3 Discussion 57

3.4 Conclusion 59

3.5 References 60

3.6 Webography 61

Chapter 4 Social Media Challenges in Citizen Participation in Africa 63
Oulaï Honoré KAHI

4.1 Theoretical context 64

4.1.1 Social media 64

4.1.2 Overview of the characteristics of the social web and social media 65

4.2 Digital public space 66

4.3 Citizen participation 67

4.3.1 Overview of citizen participation 67

4.3.2 Use of citizen blogs 69

4.4 Methodology 69

4.5 Main practical challenges 71

4.5.1 Communication challenges 71

4.5.2 Political challenges 74

4.5.3 Social challenges 76

4.5.4 Technical challenges 78

4.6 Conclusion 79

4.7 Appendix 80

4.8 References 82

Chapter 5 Medialism in the Societal Space of John Updike 85
Olivier Koffi KOFFI

5.1 A chorus of media voices 86

5.1.1 The voice of the radio: give-and-take 88

5.1.2 The voice of the telephone: a telephone narrative 88

5.1.3 The voice of television: literature on screen 91

5.2 A media description of fragmentation in social mediation 92

5.2.1 Work on the page 95

5.2.2 Media and cultural transfers 100

5.3 Conclusion 103

5.4 References 104

Part 2 Issues Linked to the Digital Economy in Africa 107

Chapter 6 “Je suis au bara” or the Deviant Use of the Internet among Abidjan’s Scammers 109
Ettien Franck Stéphane ADOU and Mahesse Stéphanie KOLÉ

6.1 Materials and methods 111

6.2 From the robot launcher to scamming master: routes and upward mobility of the scammer 112

6.2.1 Access logic and scamming transmission mode 112

6.2.2 Phases, success models and rewards of the scamming career 113

6.3 The scamming practice 116

6.3.1 Being in the bara: a typical day at the Internet café 116

6.3.2 Processes mobilized within bara: between psychology, technology and mysticism 117

6.4 The dynamic identity of scammers 119

6.4.1 Reflective identity (self-image and practice) 120

6.4.2 The scammers and their entourage 121

6.5 Discussion: scamming, a persistent deviant profession 122

6.6 Conclusion 124

6.7 References 125

Chapter 7 Money Transfers via Mobile Phones and Contributions to the Socio-Economic Well-Being of Populations in Africa 127
Évariste DAKOURÉ

7.1 Methodology 130

7.2 The notion of financial inclusion and mobile money 131

7.3 Mobile phone penetration rate in Africa and mobile money transfer 132

7.4 Factors promoting the development of money transfers via mobile phones 134

7.5 Presentation of the results 136

7.5.1 The issue of migrant fund transfers in Western Africa 136

7.5.2 Money transfers from African migrants via mobile phones and human development in Africa 138

7.5.3 Development of money transfer services in rural areas 140

7.5.4 Mobile money transfer and inclusion in Africa 143

7.6 Conclusion 144

7.7 References 145

Chapter 8 Geographic Concentration of Monetary Activities and Spatial Dispersion induced by Digital Technology in Côte d’Ivoire 149
Alain François LOUKOU

8.1 Theoretical framework of the study: a fundamental disruption to traditional economic models, linked to the digital revolution 151

8.2 Description of the spatial framework of the study 152

8.3 Methodology 153

8.4 Results 154

8.4.1 The classic model of concentration of monetary activities in Côte d’Ivoire 154

8.4.2 The model of decentralization of monetary transaction activities, driven by the vitality of digital and electronic technology 156

8.5 The interpretation of geographical space through digital services 158

8.6 The financial inclusion of a significant proportion of the population through digital technology 159

8.7 Discussion 160

8.7.1 Limits of geographical coverage of mobile transmission networks and technical difficulties of inclusion 160

8.7.2 The mobile payment solution: advantages and disadvantages 161

8.8 Limitations of the study from a methodological point of view 161

8.9 Conclusion 162

8.10 References 163

Part 3 Digital Technologies and Human Development 167

Chapter 9 Digital Technology, “Smart City” and Video Surveillance in Côte d’Ivoire 169
Julien ATCHOUA and Jean-Jacques BOGUI

9.1 Smart city in Côte d’Ivoire: prospects 170

9.2 Video surveillance in Abidjan: state of controversy 172

9.3 Surveillance cameras between hopes and fears 174

9.4 Conclusion 177

9.5 References 179

Chapter 10 The Integration of ICT in Higher Education in Senegal 181
Ousmane SALL, Mouhamadou S DIALLO, Insa BADJI, Moustapha CISSÉ, Abdoulaye SY and Marie NDIAYE

10.1 State of ICT in Senegal 182

10.2 Integration of ICT into education 182

10.3 E-learning in Senegal 184

10.3.1 Background information 184

10.3.2 Issues 185

10.4 E-learning initiatives in higher education institutions in Senegal 186

10.4.1 E-learning initiatives in public institutions 186

10.5 E-learning initiatives in private institutions 188

10.5.1 IAM initiatives 188

10.5.2 MIT Initiatives 188

10.6 Advantages, disadvantages and problems encountered by e-learning in Senegal 188

10.6.1 Advantages of e-learning in Senegal 189

10.6.2 Disadvantages and problems encountered by e-learning in Senegal 190

10.7 Conclusion 191

10.8 References 192

10.9 Webography 193

Chapter 11 Connected Objects in Africa: The Case of Telemedicine with Genesis Telecare in Cameroon 195
Gilbert TOPPÉ

11.1 General information on telemedicine 196

11.2 Study of telemedicine in Africa 198

11.3 Specificity of Genesis Telecare in Cameroon 201

11.4 The Genesis Telecare approach in Cameroon 202

11.5 Telemedicine and technological innovation in Africa 204

11.6 Conclusion 207

11.7 References 208

11.8 Webography 208

List of Authors 209

Index 211