Technology & development: An African perspective

Dr Amaefule’s Afrophonic focus on the political economy and technology in development is a critical welcome addition to the narrative of African development. This comes at a crucial period in our development as the increasing commodification of technology has often left us questioning the extent to which we control the narratives of our lives. Modern […]

Dr Amaefule’s Afrophonic focus on the political economy and technology in development is a critical welcome addition to the narrative of African development.

This comes at a crucial period in our development as the increasing commodification of technology has often left us questioning the extent to which we control the narratives of our lives.

Modern communication technologies evolved to respond to changing dynamics and shifting paradigms in the use of technology for social development. They were a response to clearly identified problems and often, though not always, provide solutions to the problems. Nowhere is this more apt than in the rapid evolution of the internet. Not only did it spread extensively, but it also evolved away from academia and corporate offices to becoming part of the ecology of public culture. Its adoption and widespread use provided a rich tapestry for the development of African democracy by liberalising information generation and dissemination.

Dr Amaefule’s expert and incisive analysis of trends clearly proves his understanding of the history of technology. He is careful to point out the need for adapting the technologies to suit African environments. This can only be done by building internal capacities – both human and infrastructural – which will enable African technology users to tell their own stories.

In this exploration of technology and development, Dr Amaefule went beyond the condescending views of how African countries can utilise technology for development – he went to the roots of the evolution of the technology itself to demonstrate its humanity, and consequently, its universality in development communication, regardless of the political culture. This is a commendable contribution to the sociology of technology in African societies.

 Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu, is of the Department of Information and Media Studies, Faculty of Communication, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria