Critiquing Generative AI in Africa's Media Ecosystems
London; New York: Routledge (2026), 215 pp.
Contains acronyms pp. xvii, index
Series: Routledge African Media, Culture and Communication Studies
ISBN 978-1-04-061753-3
"The book argues that as technology is a social construct reflecting existing power dynamics, those in the Global South, and in Africa in particular, are bound to be marginalised and have their knowledge, systems overlooked as the Global North dominates technological developments. The birth of AI has ignited debates about its benefits to lower income countries, with some highlighting its potential to advance businesses and grow economies. However, this book argues that AI tools have been produced to serve Western needs, and that instead there is a need for countries in Africa to have home grown solutions defined by local values. Drawing on case studies and analysis from across the continent, the book seeks to caution, challenge, and proffer solutions to the use and understanding of Generative AI for media and communication in non-western societies." (Publisher description)
1 The Janus Face: The Critical View of Generative AI in Africa / Lungile A. Tshuma and Trust Matsilele, 1
SECTION 1: TOWARDS A DECOLONIAL APPROACH TO AI
2 The Coming Coloniality: AI and Journalism / Shepherd Mpofu and Phumla Q. Mhlanga, 15
3 Sensible AI? An Apartheid Studies Treatise on Artificial General Intelligence / Nyasha Mboti, 30
4 Feminism and Algorithmic Bias in the Media: Is Gen AI a New Kind of Glass Ceiling for Women in the Global South?/ Sibongile Mpofu, 53
SECTION 2: THE POLITICS OF LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS
5 Generative AI and Digital Disruption in African Newsrooms: From Theories to Practice / Ayantola Alayande, Joshua Olufemi, Akintunde Babatunde, Ibilolia Akahome, 75
6 Enhancing Digital Visibility of Low-Resource Language (LRL) Content in Kenya / Njeri Ngaruiya, Esther Khakata, Fred Mucha, David Lemayian, 99
7 Data Journalism in the Age of Generative Al: Complexity of Data Extraction from Limited African Language Repositories / Limukani Mathe, 111
8 Media and Generative AI in Mozambique: The Limits of Digital Communication in A Disconnected Country / Dércio Tsandzana, 128
SECTION 3: UBUNTU CENTRED GENERATIVE AI
9 Generative AI and the Production of Ubuntu-Centric Journalism / Musawenkosi Ndlovu and Soligah Solomons, 145
10 Generative Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and Its Perceived Cultural Implications in Rwanda / Zimuto Nyasha Cefas, 160
11 Generative AI: An Africa-Centric Examination of Emerging Media Ethics in Southern African Newsrooms / Millie Phiri, 176
SECTION 1: TOWARDS A DECOLONIAL APPROACH TO AI
2 The Coming Coloniality: AI and Journalism / Shepherd Mpofu and Phumla Q. Mhlanga, 15
3 Sensible AI? An Apartheid Studies Treatise on Artificial General Intelligence / Nyasha Mboti, 30
4 Feminism and Algorithmic Bias in the Media: Is Gen AI a New Kind of Glass Ceiling for Women in the Global South?/ Sibongile Mpofu, 53
SECTION 2: THE POLITICS OF LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS
5 Generative AI and Digital Disruption in African Newsrooms: From Theories to Practice / Ayantola Alayande, Joshua Olufemi, Akintunde Babatunde, Ibilolia Akahome, 75
6 Enhancing Digital Visibility of Low-Resource Language (LRL) Content in Kenya / Njeri Ngaruiya, Esther Khakata, Fred Mucha, David Lemayian, 99
7 Data Journalism in the Age of Generative Al: Complexity of Data Extraction from Limited African Language Repositories / Limukani Mathe, 111
8 Media and Generative AI in Mozambique: The Limits of Digital Communication in A Disconnected Country / Dércio Tsandzana, 128
SECTION 3: UBUNTU CENTRED GENERATIVE AI
9 Generative AI and the Production of Ubuntu-Centric Journalism / Musawenkosi Ndlovu and Soligah Solomons, 145
10 Generative Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and Its Perceived Cultural Implications in Rwanda / Zimuto Nyasha Cefas, 160
11 Generative AI: An Africa-Centric Examination of Emerging Media Ethics in Southern African Newsrooms / Millie Phiri, 176
