Over the past decade, Web 2.0—often referred to as the participatory or social web—has dramatically transformed the production, distribution, and consumption of African popular culture. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and blogging sites have reshaped how African films, music, television programs, news, and advertisements are created, circulated, and received. This panel seeks to explore the dynamic interactions between African popular culture and Web 2.0, examining the social, cultural, economic, and political implications of this digital shift. How have online platforms influenced creative industries across Africa? In what ways do they intersect with traditional media forms like radio and terrestrial television? We invite scholars, media practitioners, and cultural analysts to submit abstracts that critically engage with these questions, offering comparative perspectives or case studies on the evolving landscape of African digital and popular culture.
Please send your abstract (not more than 250 words) to iaodugbe@iu.edu by March 15.
Ibrahim Odugbemi
Indiana University, Bloomington
