Digital Activism in the Social Media Era

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

   PDF

2. Political Engagements in Mediated Online Communities

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Dovetailing Desires for Democracy with New ICTs’ Potentiality as Platform for Activism

      • Bruce Mutsvairo

      Pages 3-23

   3. Engaging in Polarized Society: Social Media and Political Discourse in Ethiopia

      • Iginio Gagliardone, Matti Pohjonen

      Pages 25-44

   4. Baba Jukwa and the Digital Repertoires of Connective Action in a ‘Competitive Authoritarian Regime’: The Case of Zimbabwe

      • Admire Mare

      Pages 45-68

   5. Digital Activism in Uganda

      • Monica B. Chibita

      Pages 69-93

   6. Citizen Journalism, Cyber-Activism, and ‘Crowdsourcing’: Discussing the Sacking of Sierra Leone’s Vice President Sam Sumana on Facebook and Twitter

      • Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, Di Luo

      Pages 95-112

3. Digital Transformations: Civic Activism in the Africa Blogsphere

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 113-113

      PDF

   2. Engaged Online: Social Media and Youth Civic Engagement in Kenya

      • Samuel C. Kamau

      Pages 115-140

   3. An Engaged Chadian Artist’s Digital Itinerary Towards Political and Civic Success: Pitfalls of Oppression

      • Mirjam de Bruijn, Didier Lalaye

      Pages 141-157

   4. Twitter and Participatory Citizenship: #FeesMustFall in South Africa

      • Tanja Bosch

      Pages 159-173

   5. Scrutinizing Hashtag Activism in the #MustFall Protests in South Africa in 2015

      • Glenda Daniels

      Pages 175-193

   6. @SOS_ZA_#SABC: Civic Discourse and the Negotiation of PSB Principles

      • Viola C. Milton

      Pages 195-228

4. Gender and LGTB Movements Online: Emerging Debates

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 229-229

      PDF

   2. Digital Strategies and African LGBTI Organizing

      • Ashley Currier, Julie Moreau

      Pages 231-247

   3. A Resilient Unwanted Civil Society: The Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe Use of Facebook as Alternative Public Sphere in a Dominant Homophobic Society

      • Nhamo A. Mhiripiri, Sithandazile B. Moyo

      Pages 249-269

   4. Blogging, Feminism and the Politics of Participation: The Case of Her Zimbabwe

      • Shepherd Mpofu

      Pages 271-294

   5. Gender and Media Representations of Land Based Reforms in Zimbabwe

      • Patience Mutopo

      Pages 295-309

   6. Global Activism or Media Spectacle? An exploration of ‘Bring Back Our Girls Campaign’

      • Dorothy Njoroge

      Pages 311-325

5. Erratum to: Global Activism or Media Spectacle? An exploration of ‘Bring Back Our Girls Campaign’

   • Dorothy Njoroge

   Pages E1-E1

This book probes the vitality, potentiality and ability of new communication and technological changes to drive online-based civil action across Africa. In a continent booming with mobile innovation and a plethora of social networking sites, the Internet is considered a powerful platform used by pro-democracy activists to negotiate and sometimes push for reform-based political and social changes in Africa. The book discusses and theorizes digital activism within social and geo-political realms, analysing cases such as the #FeesMustFall and #BringBackOurGirls campaigns in South Africa and Nigeria respectively to question the extent to which they have changed the dynamics of digital activism in sub-Saharan Africa.  Comparative case study reflections in eight African countries identify and critique digital concepts questioning what impact they have had on the civil society. Cases also explore the African LGBT community as a social movement while discussing opportunities and challenges faced by online activists fighting for LGBT equality. Finally, gender-based activists using digital tools to gain attention and facilitate social changes are also appraised. 

• mobile innovation
• Digital Activism
• social networking
• Internet
• pro-democracy activists
• social change
• political change
• Sub-Saharan Africa

• Department of Social Sciences, Media Research Group, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  Bruce Mutsvairo

Bruce Mutsvairo is Senior Lecturer in Journalism at Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK. 

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