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Social Media, Digital Peacebuilding and Youth Participation in Protests: A Focus on Nigeria
Full text linkSocial media has revolutionised youth participation in protests and has developed into a tool for peacebuilding, presenting a means for youth mobilisation, and political engagement. Nonetheless, social media also poses concerns like misinformation, radicalism and has recently forced governance surveillance. While there is much interest in how social media drives protests, there are limited studies focusing on how digital platforms influence peacebuilding activities along protest participation, particularly in the Nigerian context. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of social media on youth participation in protests and digital peacebuilding in Nigeria using the social movement theory and uses and gratifications theory. The study investigates how social media shapes youth participation in protests; examines how social media influence youth participation in digital peacebuilding; assesses the challenges of using social media for peacebuilding and reviews the impacts of social media on peacebuilding in protest contexts. Existing studies suggest that social media has transformed youth participation in protests, facilitating rapid mobilisation and organisation of youths, while also slowing down the influence of traditional media. It will also highlight critical risks that require immediate action. Social media also helps drive and promote inclusiveness in nation building and peace agendas. Nevertheless, challenges such as online opposition, hate speech, governmental scrutiny and tracking, and digital exhaustion threaten its benefits. The study recommends the prioritisation of digital literateness, online autonomy, and free speech while eschewing online intimidation
Technology, Electoral Malpractice and the Crisis of Election Administration in Nigeria
No full textThe integration of technology into the various elements of the electoral value chain has contributed significantly to election administration both in established and transitional democracies of the world. In Nigeria, the integration of technology into the electoral process began in 2011 and has continued since then with significant positive impact on the outcome of all the elections held since 2011, especially the 2023 general elections. However, the outcome of the 2023 presidential election has been enmeshed incontroversies and criticism from various stakeholders including local and international observers. One of the leading reasons for the controversy was attributed to technology (technical glitch) by INEC. This paper argues that the lack of transparency by INEC as revealed in its failure to electronically transfer results as promised and its refusal to upload results in real-time undermined the integrity of the 2023 presidential election. The paper examined the strategic contributions of the technological innovations used in the2023 general elections. Principal-agent theory provided the framework, while a qualitative desk research design was adopted for the study. The paper relied on secondary sources of data. Findings showed that the introduction and integration of technologies into the electoral process cannot deal with the problem of electoral malpractice as a standalone initiative without the complementary uprightness from the EMBs. The paper concluded that the failure by INEC to keep to its guidelines as provided has to some extentcompromised and eroded the confidence of Nigerians on the outcome of the 2023 presidential election
Reflecting on Diversity and Gender Equality in Artificial Intelligence in Africa
No full textMany ethical issues plague the field of AI, and several ethical solutions, mainly from the Global North, have been proposed. Among the issues inherent in ethical AI are bias and lack of diversity. Openair Africa reports, for example, an enormously low participation/visibility of women in today’s digital world. World Economic Report states that worldwide, only about 22% of women are in the field of artificial intelligence compared to 78% of men. In the 2022 Cybersecurity Workforce Report, women account for just 24%. The 2020 Gender Equality Index: Digitalisation and Future of Work also indicates that only one out of two women, 54%, perceive robots and AI positively compared to 67% of men. Thus, this paper discusses diversity and gender equality in AI from the African context. How should we safeguard AI systems from rehashing extant inequality? To what extent can we ensure AI eliminates biasand fosters equality? To this end, this paper proposes a communal approach to the conception, design, development, and deployment of AI systems to address this abysmal situation towards a gender-smart and truly inclusive AI in Africa
Challenges and Prospects of Deploying AI and Machine Learning for Clinical Diagnosis in African Healthcare
No full textThe integration of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and robotics into clinical diagnosis has become prevalent. For example, ML-driven image recognition has demonstrated remarkable efficacy, prompting clinicians to rely increasingly on these technologies for “accurate” medical diagnoses and prognoses of diseases. Although these advancements have exhibited their relevance and effectiveness in medically advanced regions of the Global North and selected areas in the Global South, the question arises as to their viability within the healthcare landscape of Africa, given contextual variations. In this paper, I delve into the potential efficiency of deploying these technologies within African healthcare, aiming to address these contextual concerns. Employing a phenomenological methodology, I demonstrate that the deployment of these technologies might inadvertently introduce biases anddiscrimination against Africans. This stems from the inherent nature of the data used to develop these technologies, primarily sourced from healthcare experiences in designing nations, coupled with the pervasive algorithmic biases prevalent in contemporary ML systems. I call for a paradigm shift in AI and ML development. I propose that African nations should proactively engage in the design of healthcare AI and ML technologies that are attuned to distinct African conditions, prevalent medical conditions, and prognostic methodologies. Key prerequisites include the establishment of robust infrastructure for efficient data collection and storage of electronic healthcare records and capturing the intricacies of day-to-day healthcare encounters across the African continent. 
Analysing the manipulation of the youths, election violence and democratic retrogression in South Africa
No full textSince the introduction of elective democracy in the 1990s, South African youths have played a significant role in the democratic process. Sadly though, while some are building from the past experiences of the 1976 youths, others are deeply engrossed into crimes, violence, and thuggery. Several factors have been identified as the drivers of South African youths into different forms of criminalities. Prominent among them are the pauperization of the youths by the state, unemployment, and their manipulation by the political elite. Rather than replicating the character of the youths of the 1970s who fought for better education and life as well as the freedom of the black population during the dark days of apartheid, some youths have taken to drugs, election violence while others have become personal security to top politicians owing to difficult economic hardship. The paper opined that to address this anomaly, there is the need for the South African youths to rediscover themselves by positioning themselves into politics and never expect the government to empower them cheaply. Also, the voice of the youths must not only be heard but be felt through character, integrity, disciplined and quality leadership. Through this, they will be able to shape policies and direction of government, and the future of many unborn generations. The qualitative research techniques were used for this study. Data was collected through interviews and focus group discussions in five sampled locations in KwaZulu-Natal. The thematic and inductive method of analysis was used in aiding the analysis of the generated data
Queer(ing) touch and worldmaking in the music videos of Nakhane
No full textIn this article, I analyse three music videos by South African artist Nakhane using Connor’s concept of the skin as an “expressive screen”, Coetzee’s conceptualisation of reading what is “written under the skin” and Macharia’s framing of touch leading to pleasure, irritation, and even pain. Nakhane has created a significant body of literary, musical, and film work that not only explores what it means to be queer in Africa but, more importantly, what it means to be and become human. The music videos I examine are titled “In the dark room”, “Clairvoyant” and “Tell me your politik”. These videos demonstrate how touch and affect play a central role in making queer bodies and experiences visible. The main argument of this article is that skin, as an expressive screen, serves as a canvas on which queer affect and touch are negotiated and performed. The portrayal of touch on the skin, in various ways, is significant as it emphasises the importance of intimacy and embodiment in queer worldmaking
A Book Review of Joe Jackson’s Kahlil Joseph and the Audiovisual Atlantic: Music, Modernity, and Transmedia Art (Bloomsbury Academic 2024)
No full textThe first of its kind, this book offers unique and concentrated insight into Kahlil Joseph’s oeuvre. It takes seriously the role of black popular culture and the complex space that creators like Joseph occupy in the global capitalist imaginary. At the outset, Jackson opines that his assessment of Joseph is not merely a celebratory take, but one that immerses Joseph, and his work, in contemporary issues of class, capitalism, and race. What emerges is a careful exploration of the vibrant and productive contradictions that mobilise Joseph’s career. Jackson argues that Joseph’s success comes from navigating these tensions – as opposed to seeking to resolve them – which has made him a central figure of the Audiovisual Atlantic
BRICS Expansion and Future Prospects: Implications and Policy Consideration for Pakistan
Full text linkThe BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) bloc, representing a coalition of major developing nations, has recently expanded by admitting six new members—Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—effective from January 1, 2024. This expansion transforms the bloc into BRICS Plus (+), reflecting the rising multipolarity in global politics and economics. This paper examines the implications of BRICS Plus for Pakistan, assessing potential economic, geopolitical, and security benefits while addressing challenges such as Indian opposition and Western pressure. The study concludes with policy recommendations for Pakistan to leverage this opportunity by enhancing trade, investment, and diplomatic relations within BRICS
Brazil Assumed the Presidency of BRICS in 2025
Full text linkBrazil assumed the presidency on the back of a successful presidency of the G20, both dovetailing around the pursuit of political and economic cooperation of the Global South, encouraging the development of a sustainable and inclusive global governance, promoting intra-BRICS economic cooperation, advancing technology for development, and exploring financing tools against climate change
GPTs and digital superintermediaries: dynamics, dilemmas, dangers of generative AI – a conceptual framework
Full text linkThe arms race in generative artificial intelligence and artificial intelligence has transformed digital markets, with artificial-intelligence-powered platforms projected to drive market growth to nearly $740 billion by 2030. However, scholarly understanding of how these technologies affect platform competition remains limited. This article explores how generative pre-trained transformers influence digital superintermediaries’ market power and examines whether generative artificial intelligence capabilities reinforce or challenge existing platform dominance. Using a conceptual literature analysis of platforms and artificial intelligence development patterns, the research uncovers a critical paradox: While generative pre-trained transformers represent revolutionary advancement, they create novel forms of artificial intelligence market concentration. The findings reveal how digital superintermediaries leverage artificial-intelligence-powered platforms through control over computational resources and data access, creating self-reinforcing cycles of artificial intelligence capability enhancement. This research demonstrates how artificial intelligence capabilities, particularly generative pre-trained transformers, create new mechanisms of market power consolidation, suggesting the need for innovative regulatory approaches that address the unique characteristics of generative artificial-intelligence-enhanced digital multisided platforms