Digital Pervasiveness and Divisiveness

A Vision for a Digital African Future

The African Digital Futures Project, an initiative and practice arm of the School of International Futures (SOIF), brought together a group of 22 next-generation change-makers and African futurists to explore digital governance in Africa.

The idea was simple. Use a series of stories or visions to spark conversations about the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and digital technology being developed and used by African communities with a focus on digital privacy, identity, inclusion, security and artificial intelligence.

"4IR is the fusion of the digital, biological, and physical worlds, as well as the growing utilisation of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics, 3D printing, the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced wireless technologies."

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Africa has a significantly low rate of internet usage compared to other regions. There is also a noticeable gender gap in mobile phone ownership, as well as the lowest rates of internet and mobile broadband penetration when compared to other continents. These rates stand at approximately 28% and 34% respectively.

As a result, many foreign developed digital innovations proliferate but fail to meet African needs. This disparity brings into sharp focus the need for homegrown digital innovations.

The group was divided into three teams representing Kenya, Nigeria, and Pan-Africa who then produced 11 visions and stories. They attempted to describe what healthy digital societies would look like across various spheres to help different stakeholders like governments, technologists, legislators and individuals plan for a digital Africa.

What the Stories Revealed

A summary of the insights from the project revealed a singular desire for African cohesion in a digital world. Although, each cohort prioritised different concerns within that overarching theme.

The Kenyans looked at technology and climate change, the Nigerians were concerned about technology in direct democracy while the Pan-African contingent were occupied by the role of technology in emotional and social experience. Collectively however, six areas of priority emerged:

What This Means for Digital Transformation

Bashir and Oyewale, along with other members of the African Futures team were able to distil the insights into a few key areas that governments, technologists and legislators need to focus on:

Data Needs to be Governed

Data is collected and abused by governments and private players with impunity. Without proper regulation citizens' have no way to own and protect their data.

Technology Without Education Impedes Progress

Citizens mistrust and resist progress when governments adopt new technologies without educating them on the opportunities, benefits and risks.

Legislators Need to Know More

Policy formulation is weak in Africa. Local governments rely heavily on global north templates and are often adopted without thought due to a lack of technical knowledge within governments.

"Part of securing a healthy digital future is the need to sensitise both the public and governments to the issues that affect them at a national level. The idea of data as a public good must be promoted at multiple levels."

To the extent that global tech companies and political leaders diverge from African societal aspirations, digital dissidents will innovate to disrupt them. Governments need to engage or face losing their power.

Bashir and Oyewale's paper on the Africa Futures Project demonstrates that the journey has already begun towards a healthy digital future. However, there is still a way to go before any of the visions produced by the 22 futurists can be realised.