Experts Hail Book On ‘African Perspectives’ In Development Paradigm

Scholars from across Africa and Europe have praised the launch of ‘Communication and Social Change in Africa: Selected Case Studies’, a pioneering book that challenges Western-dominated perspectives on development and communication studies.

Speaking during the virtual launch of the book, the Director of Projects at the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), Dr. Stanly Ukpai, described the book as a “game-changing masterpiece” that addresses the imbalance in global knowledge production.

He announced plans to distribute the book to universities across Africa with support from the MacArthur Foundation.

“The book addresses the growing demand for decolonising knowledge production in communication studies, challenging the dominance of Global North perspectives. It offers insights into how communication is leveraged for social change in various African contexts, from health interventions to political campaigns,” Dr. Ukpai said.

In his presentation, the dRPC’s Director of Partnerships and Communication, Malam Hassan Karofi, commended the book for its diverse case studies from across Africa. He highlighted its focus on advocacy communication, citing a case study on family planning policy change in Northern Nigeria through a Gates Foundation-funded program (2015–2023).

Edited by Dr. Manfred A. K. Asuman, Dr. Theodora Dame Adjin-Tettey, and Professor Modestus Fosu, the book features contributions from African scholars and explores themes such as community radio’s role in social change, traditional cultural systems’ intersection with modern communication technologies, and the effectiveness of Communication for Social Change (CSC) initiatives in improving lives.

In the foreword, media scholar Franz Krüger emphasised the need to understand African media on its own terms rather than through a Western lens. Published by the Institute of Network Cultures in Amsterdam, the book is expected to be a valuable resource for academics, students, NGOs, and communication professionals seeking African perspectives on media and development.

Participants from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Canada, and other countries attended the launch, signalling a strong global interest in amplifying African voices in communication studies

The book’s unveiling marks a major step toward reshaping academic discourse and promoting more inclusive development paradigms.