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 xiNathalie PINÈDEIntroduction xviiJulien ATCHOUA, Jean-Jacques BOGUI and Saikou DIALLOPart 1 Social Media and the Public Space in Africa 1Chapter 1 Civil Society in the Consolidation Process of Democracy in Burkina Faso: Balai Citoyen on Facebook 3Marcel BAGARÉ1.1 Problems 51.2 Theoretical and methodological approach 61.3 Good governance, the purpose of Balai Citoyen 81.4 The media construction of Balai Citoyen via Facebook: images and propaganda 101.5 Leadership: a factor of mobilization via social networks 141.6 Facebook and Balai Citoyen: an instrument of conquest and political struggle? 171.7 Conclusion 201.8 References 21Chapter 2 Social Networks, New Barometers of Political Action in Côte d’Ivoire 25Raymond Kouassi KRA2.1 Positioning of the problem 252.2 Social networks and the question of their importance in the world, in Africa and in Côte d’Ivoire 272.3 Some message content broadcast on digital social networks 302.4 Mobilization and process implemented: a need for freedom met by the Internet 322.5 The real impact of mobilization on political action 332.6 Mobilization and messages 352.7 Social networks, political actors and the exercise of power in Côte d’Ivoire 372.8 Conclusion 402.9 References 40Chapter 3 Mobilization for Collective Action: The Contribution of Digital Social Networks to Political Engagement 43Gbati NAPO3.1 State of play and theoretical framework 463.1.1 Digital social networks (DSNs): current situation 463.1.2 Theoretical positioning of research 473.2 Research results 483.2.1 Types and processes of collective action: the different types 483.2.2 Collective action process 493.2.3 Actions for collective mobilization: from the use of traditional media to digital social media 503.2.4 Broadening public debate on DSNs and mobilizing for socio-political demands 513.2.5 DSNs and broadening public debate in a context of democratic renewal 513.2.6 DSNs and mobilization for political participation: elections 533.2.7 DSNs and collective actions: examples of political engagement in Africa 543.3 Discussion 573.4 Conclusion 593.5 References 603.6 Webography 61Chapter 4 Social Media Challenges in Citizen Participation in Africa 63Oulaï Honoré KAHI4.1 Theoretical context 644.1.1 Social media 644.1.2 Overview of the characteristics of the social web and social media 654.2 Digital public space 664.3 Citizen participation 674.3.1 Overview of citizen participation 674.3.2 Use of citizen blogs 694.4 Methodology 694.5 Main practical challenges 714.5.1 Communication challenges 714.5.2 Political challenges 744.5.3 Social challenges 764.5.4 Technical challenges 784.6 Conclusion 794.7 Appendix 804.8 References 82Chapter 5 Medialism in the Societal Space of John Updike 85Olivier Koffi KOFFI5.1 A chorus of media voices 865.1.1 The voice of the radio: give-and-take 885.1.2 The voice of the telephone: a telephone narrative 885.1.3 The voice of television: literature on screen 915.2 A media description of fragmentation in social mediation 925.2.1 Work on the page 955.2.2 Media and cultural transfers 1005.3 Conclusion 1035.4 References 104Part 2 Issues Linked to the Digital Economy in Africa 107Chapter 6 “Je suis au bara” or the Deviant Use of the Internet among Abidjan’s Scammers 109Ettien Franck Stéphane ADOU and Mahesse Stéphanie KOLÉ6.1 Materials and methods 1116.2 From the robot launcher to scamming master: routes and upward mobility of the scammer 1126.2.1 Access logic and scamming transmission mode 1126.2.2 Phases, success models and rewards of the scamming career 1136.3 The scamming practice 1166.3.1 Being in the bara: a typical day at the Internet café 1166.3.2 Processes mobilized within bara: between psychology, technology and mysticism 1176.4 The dynamic identity of scammers 1196.4.1 Reflective identity (self-image and practice) 1206.4.2 The scammers and their entourage 1216.5 Discussion: scamming, a persistent deviant profession 1226.6 Conclusion 1246.7 References 125Chapter 7 Money Transfers via Mobile Phones and Contributions to the Socio-Economic Well-Being of Populations in Africa 127Évariste DAKOURÉ7.1 Methodology 1307.2 The notion of financial inclusion and mobile money 1317.3 Mobile phone penetration rate in Africa and mobile money transfer 1327.4 Factors promoting the development of money transfers via mobile phones 1347.5 Presentation of the results 1367.5.1 The issue of migrant fund transfers in Western Africa 1367.5.2 Money transfers from African migrants via mobile phones and human development in Africa 1387.5.3 Development of money transfer services in rural areas 1407.5.4 Mobile money transfer and inclusion in Africa 1437.6 Conclusion 1447.7 References 145Chapter 8 Geographic Concentration of Monetary Activities and Spatial Dispersion induced by Digital Technology in Côte d’Ivoire 149Alain François LOUKOU8.1 Theoretical framework of the study: a fundamental disruption to traditional economic models, linked to the digital revolution 1518.2 Description of the spatial framework of the study 1528.3 Methodology 1538.4 Results 1548.4.1 The classic model of concentration of monetary activities in Côte d’Ivoire 1548.4.2 The model of decentralization of monetary transaction activities, driven by the vitality of digital and electronic technology 1568.5 The interpretation of geographical space through digital services 1588.6 The financial inclusion of a significant proportion of the population through digital technology 1598.7 Discussion 1608.7.1 Limits of geographical coverage of mobile transmission networks and technical difficulties of inclusion 1608.7.2 The mobile payment solution: advantages and disadvantages 1618.8 Limitations of the study from a methodological point of view 1618.9 Conclusion 1628.10 References 163Part 3 Digital Technologies and Human Development 167Chapter 9 Digital Technology, “Smart City” and Video Surveillance in Côte d’Ivoire 169Julien ATCHOUA and Jean-Jacques BOGUI9.1 Smart city in Côte d’Ivoire: prospects 1709.2 Video surveillance in Abidjan: state of controversy 1729.3 Surveillance cameras between hopes and fears 1749.4 Conclusion 1779.5 References 179Chapter 10 The Integration of ICT in Higher Education in Senegal 181Ousmane SALL, Mouhamadou S DIALLO, Insa BADJI, Moustapha CISSÉ, Abdoulaye SY and Marie NDIAYE10.1 State of ICT in Senegal 18210.2 Integration of ICT into education 18210.3 E-learning in Senegal 18410.3.1 Background information 18410.3.2 Issues 18510.4 E-learning initiatives in higher education institutions in Senegal 18610.4.1 E-learning initiatives in public institutions 18610.5 E-learning initiatives in private institutions 18810.5.1 IAM initiatives 18810.5.2 MIT Initiatives 18810.6 Advantages, disadvantages and problems encountered by e-learning in Senegal 18810.6.1 Advantages of e-learning in Senegal 18910.6.2 Disadvantages and problems encountered by e-learning in Senegal 19010.7 Conclusion 19110.8 References 19210.9 Webography 193Chapter 11 Connected Objects in Africa: The Case of Telemedicine with Genesis Telecare in Cameroon 195Gilbert TOPPÉ11.1 General information on telemedicine 19611.2 Study of telemedicine in Africa 19811.3 Specificity of Genesis Telecare in Cameroon 20111.4 The Genesis Telecare approach in Cameroon 20211.5 Telemedicine and technological innovation in Africa 20411.6 Conclusion 20711.7 References 20811.8 Webography 208List of Authors 209Index 211