Scholars of communication from Africa and Europe have called for the deployment of strategic communication as a tool for social change and improved standard of living.
At a virtual meeting to formally launch the book, “Communication and Social Change in Africa: Selected Case Studies,” they insisted that works over, strategic communication plays a transformative role in fast-tracking the development of nations.
The new book, according to the Director of Project at the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), Dr. Stanly Ukpai, explores the transformative role of communication in Africa.
He described the book as a groundbreaking work that addresses the imbalance in development and communication paradigms typically shaped by Western views.
Dr. Ukpai said that “The book responds to the demand for decolonizing knowledge production in communication studies, challenging Global North dominance and showcasing how communication fosters social change in various African contexts, from health initiatives to political movements.”
Ukpai also revealed that plans are underway to distribute the book to universities across the continent with support from the MacArthur Foundation.
While noting the various case studies in the book, Director of Partnerships and Communication, dRPC, Malam Hassan Karofi, said the book is essential to championing issues of focus, such as advocacy communication for family planning and policy changes funded by the Gates Foundation in Northern Nigeria from 2015 to 2023.
The book was edited by Dr. Manfred A. K. Asuman, Dr. Theodora Dame Adjin-Tettey, and Professor Modestus Fosu, and features contributions from scholars across various African countries.
It emphasizes the need to view African media through an indigenous lens rather than in alignment with Global North trends, as noted in the foreword by Franz Krüger.
Published by the Institute of Network Cultures in Amsterdam, the book is expected to serve as a vital resource for academics, students, NGOs, and communication professionals interested in African perspectives on media and social change. Key highlights of the Book include an emphasis on community radio’s impact, an exploration of traditional African cultural systems with modern communication technologies, and an examination of Communication for Social Change (CSC) initiatives.
The book’s launch, according to the experts, represents a significant advancement in communication studies, providing a platform for African scholars to contribute their research and enhance the understanding of communication dynamics in the region.
