The Complexity of Social, Cultural, and Political Affairs in Post-Colonial Africa

GROUP PRESENTATION ON POST-COLONIAL AFRICA

GROUP MEMBERS

  • TiiSetsO Morara: 202201190

  • Kentse Sebitiela: 202205815

  • Thuo Maokisa: 202202004

  • Fibi Shai: 202204487

  • Tsaone Kootse: 202207941

  • Pako Molatole: 202203121

INTRODUCTION TO THE COMPLEXITY OF SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS

  • Definition of Key Issues:

    • Addresses the challenges arising from the interplay of historical power relations and the ongoing impacts of colonialism in African societies (World Bank, 2022).

    • The complexities entail:

    • Social inequalities:

      • Poverty

      • Illiteracy

      • Gender inequality

    • Cultural dynamics:

      • Multilingualism

      • Local knowledge systems

      • Content relevance

    • Political situations:

      • Government practices

      • State policies

      • Uneven infrastructure allocations

DIGITAL DIVIDE AND PARTICIPATION DIVIDE

  • Definition:

    • A gap exists between individuals with access to digital technology and those without.

    • Additionally, the digital participation divide highlights inequalities faced by those with access but who are excluded from the benefits brought by digitization.

  • Broader Implications:

    • The digital divide in Africa extends beyond basic technology access to include socio-cultural and political dynamics that determine who benefits in the digital era.

    • Source: World Bank Annual Report 2022

    • Title: Helping Countries Adapt to a Changing World

    • Publication: Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group

    • URL: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099030009272214630

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

  • Digital Divide:

    • Previously defined as the unequal physical access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as devices, connectivity, and bandwidth.

    • Current understanding emphasizes that while connectivity is necessary, it does not guarantee sufficiency; disparities persist even with connectivity.

  • Digital (or Participation) Divide:

    • Refers to multidimensional disparities beyond mere access, including gaps in:

    • Skills

    • Literacies

    • Principal uses

    • Content generation

    • Ability to use connectivity for social, economic, or political advantage

    • This is known as the “second level” and “participation” divide in studies (Hargittai, 2002; van Dijk, 2005, 2006).

SOCIAL COMPLEXITY

  • Limited Digital Skills Training:

    • Lack of educational resources and information hampers development (Nyahodza and Higgs, 2017).

    • Historically disadvantaged universities in South Africa face challenges in meeting user demands for relevant infrastructure, services, and information-related skills needed for the digital information age.

  • Poverty:

    • Many African countries remain vulnerable to socio-economic issues, including poverty and disease, which restrict their capacity to engage in digital democracy.

    • Study by Shava and Ndebele (2023) indicates that poverty and unemployment in some South African provinces exacerbate digital marginalization due to inadequate infrastructure and issues such as load shedding.

  • Generational Gaps:

    • Younger individuals often possess better access and skills compared to older generations, who may lack the necessary digital skills to participate fully in the digital world, limiting their benefits from digital opportunities.

POLITICAL COMPLEXITY

  • Political Instability:

    • Armed conflicts have led to destruction of critical infrastructure including cell towers, fiber optics, and data centers, disrupting digital communication and access to information.

  • Government and Policy Framework:

    • A case study by Sarkar, Pick, and Johnson (2015) demonstrates that effective national policy-making in the ICT sector is vital for investment, deregulation, and access in underserved areas.

    • Many African governments have imposed restrictions on the internet and social media, calling for the cessation of such practices.

CULTURAL COMPLEXITY

  • Traditional Gender Roles:

    • Current disparities in internet usage hinder women’s participation in the digital sphere due to entrenched socio-cultural attitudes (Antonio and Tuffley, 2014).

    • Women in developing countries exhibit significantly lower participation rates compared to men because of these persistent traditional views on gender roles.

  • Language Barriers:

    • Digital platforms predominantly use colonial languages like English, French, and Portuguese, excluding millions who are only fluent in indigenous languages, thereby limiting their participation in the digital economy (Chimubu, S., 2019).

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Call for Action:

    • Addressing the digital divide in Africa requires a focus on the positive aspects of technology and the establishment of proper policy frameworks to facilitate digital literacy.

    • Emphasize engagement and the reduction of negative technological impacts.

REFERENCES

  • Antonio, A., & Tuffley, D. (2014). The gender digital divide in developing countries. Future Internet, 6(4), 673-687.

  • Nyahodza, L., & Higgs, R. (2017). Towards bridging the digital divide in post-apartheid South Africa: a case of a historically disadvantaged university in Cape Town. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 83(1), 39-48.

  • Sarkar, A., Pick, J. B., & Johnson, J. (2015). Africa's digital divide: Geography, policy, and implications.

  • Shava, E., & Ndebele, N. C. (2023). Data marginalization in South Africa: A quest for inclusive digital participation. Social Sciences and Education Research Review, 10(2), 122-131.

  • Evans, O. (2019). Digital politics: internet and democracy in Africa. Journal of Economic Studies, 46(1), 169-191.

  • The World Bank Annual Report 2022: Helping Countries Adapt to a Changing World (English). Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099030009272214630