Digital Technologies and African Societies: Challenges and Opportunities

The integration and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in African countries is increasingly observable in various sectors of activity (banking, education, trade, etc.) despite a digital divide still relevant. ICT has become a major sector of the recent growth of a new informal economy in African cities (Chéneau-Loquay, 2008). This question has been at the heart of various international meetings. An overall positive and even utopian momentum is generally heard about the contribution of digital technologies to the development of African states. The adoption or appropriation of digital technologies by Africans is presented in many speeches by politicians or institutions involved in the field of cooperation and international development as an important issue for the development of this continent. These different considerations give rise to reflections on the following themes. - Social Media and Public Space in Africa - Challenges of the digital economy in Africa - ICT and modernization of higher education in Africa

Table of Contents:
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

About the Author :
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.