The Fourth Industrial Revolution is reshaping Africa, particularly in urban tech hubs such as Lagos, Nairobi, and Dakar, with the rapid integration of digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). These technologies go beyond functional utility, embedding themselves within African cosmogonic and ontological frameworks, where material and immaterial realities are interconnected. Digital platforms, such as social media, are catalysts for cultural transformation, adapting traditional African practices like orality and community exchanges into digital formats, offering new spaces for cultural expression and identity.
This harmonious integration of emerging technologies within Africa’s social and traditional structures enables societies to balance modernity with cultural continuity. It underscores the ingenuity of African cultures in addressing the challenges and opportunities of the digital revolution, creating a modernity rooted in ancestral values while engaging with global technological progress.
This discussion will be led by Dr. Mahamadou Sagna, Associate Professor, Social Science & Policy Studies. This event will be held on Thursday, April 17th, from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM in Salisbury Labs, Room 223A. Additionally, viewers can also log on to Zoom to view the live session or using the following ID information:93514410359.
Flyer of Digital Technologies and African Cultures: The Anthropological Foundations of the Virtual Revolution image of Dr. Mahamadou Sagna