The University of Leeds and Boston University present the interdisciplinary symposium “Cultures of Platformisation in Africa”, exploring how digital platforms shape economic, social, and political life across the continent. The symposium examines both the opportunities and harms of platformisation, including innovation, entrepreneurship, social transformation, worker practices, cultural impacts, and policy dynamics. Participants will discuss how platforms interact with local knowledge, institutions, everyday life, and cultural practices, and consider emerging alternatives and resistance.
The committee welcomes presentations exploring the social, cultural, economic, and political impacts of digital platforms across Africa.
- Cultures of platforms
- The making and embedding of digital platforms
- The role of local knowledge, institutions, agencies and practices
- New professions, livelihoods, identities, and forms of expertise
- Everyday life of platform workers and platform-oriented professions
- Platforms and corporate culture
- Cultures of workplaces, worker (self) exploitation and organisation
- Influencers
- Self-help groups, including crowdfunding and savings groups
- Psychological dynamics of platform participation
- Successes and harms of platform participation
- Social impact and implications of platform-based services (e.g. 24/7 marketing; intensive platform use; safety of ride-sharing services; expanded commercialisation; ideas of success/good life)
- Platforms and cultural life, popular culture and entertainment, and religion
- Impact on public communication and discourse
- Projection of platforms in Africa
- Platforms and health-seeking behaviours
- Remaking cities and reshaping public space
- Platform policy, politics, and regulation (e.g. relationship between platforms and the state)
- Alternatives and resistance to platforms in Africa
Submission Requirements:
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Title of presentation
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Abstract (max 300 words)
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Name and email address of presenter(s)
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Deadline: 6 February 2026. Proposals should be sent to platforms.africa@leeds.ac.uk