I've been looking at some materials on information and communications
technologies (ICTs) for development in Africa. One publication of the UN ICT
Task Force is available free online at
http://www.ict4development.org/resources/books/ICTAfricanDev.pdf :
Okpaku, Joseph O., Sr. (ed.) 2003. Information and Communications
Technologies for African Development: An Assessment of Progress and the
Challenges Ahead. New Yok: ICT Task Force.
At over 300 pages including appendices, it's fairly lengthy, but worth a
look for those who are interested and can download a large PDF document.
I noted some references to African languages which I copy below FYI.
Don
Chapter 7
The Role of Information and Communications Technologies in the African
Development Agenda
Joseph O. Okpaku, Sr., Ph.D.
...
The Importance of Popular Participation in the Creation of a Common Vision
for Africa
Just imagine a different scenario, one in which we used the basic
facilitation of ICT - newspapers, radio and television - to discuss the idea
of Africa's vision for the twenty-first century clear across this continent.
Imagine that we printed millions of copies of the basic ideas, in as many
African languages as we could, distributed them to schools, churches, civic
organisations, companies, newspapers and more. Imagine if our leaders took
to the road to dialogue with the people, challenging them, being challenged
by them, in hearty disputation for which Africans are renowned. Just imagine
that during this process,we had the opportunity to hear from all corners of
this continent, diverse views about how each of us sees the world, our place
in it, what we truly want for Africa, what our dreams as Africans are, our
fears, our anxieties, our limitations, even our pain and hope.
Just imagine that at the end of the day, we then collated these expressions,
processed them, documented them in beautiful language reflective of our
sonorous heritage, and replayed them in all the media for the people to
review, absorb, internalise and regurgitate in their own voice and mind
frame. The result would be Africa's vision.
...
(pp. 111-2)
Chapter 9
Info-communication for Development in Africa: The African Connection
Initiative1
Emmanuel OleKambainei and Mavis Ampah Sintim-Misa
...
Through partnerships at local, national, regional and continental levels
coupled with cross-border ICT connectivity, Africa can consciously and
successfully develop and exchange local content. To achieve this, the use of
local languages, the exchange of local cultures and the development of local
programs have to be aggressively pursued and supported by governments,
businesses and civil society. Africa has a rich legacy of cultural products
that could be developed and packaged for new media dissemination on the
continent and outside. Furthermore, ICT should be used extensively to
increase general and digital literacy and expertise, especially among the
youth and children, while using them to enhance the development of local
content. When ordinary people can relate to ICTs in their languages, and
when these reflect and are reflective of their cultures and traditions, ICTs
are more likely to be embraced and become an integral part of the lives of
Africans, thus enabling them to benefit more fully from ICT applications.
...
(p. 165)
Chapter 10
Africa's Digital Rights
Dr. Nii Narku Quaynor
...
African languages must be available on the Internet and useable in software
applications. Hence all the languages need to be registered and the
corresponding alphabets properly included in Unicode. The eAfrica would
prepare for the introduction of Internationalised Internet Domain Names.
...
(p. 199)
Chapter 12
Digital Bridge to Africa - The Digital Diaspora Network for Africa (DDN-A)
Dr. Akhtar Badshah and Justin Thumler
...
DDN-A Supported Projects in Africa
The DDN-A is now taking the lead on all projects being developed and
supported in Africa. Examples include the following:
E-Academy, Tanzania
E-Academy will address the high cost and inadequate quality of education in
Tanzania via the creation of an on-line e-learning initiative that will make
teaching materials developed by the "best brains" in the country available
in the local Kiswahili language. E-Academy aims to provide quality,
affordable education through e-learning to facilitate greater reach while
establishing higher standards and creating Kiswahili content. 'Best brains'
in their particular fields will be responsible for the development of
quality courses in the Kiswahili language. E-Academy also aims to take
advantage of the mushrooming of cyber cafes throughout Tanzania to provide
Internet connectivity to subscribers of E-Academy, while CD Rom-based
education will be available to reach those without an Internet connection.
E-Academy requires development of a business/project plan and assistance
with its marketing strategy.
...
(p. 233)
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