[Commlist] CfP New Book - Communication and Social Change in Africa

CALL FOR CHAPTERS Communications and Social Change in the 21st

Century. New Perspectives from Africa.

(To be published by Routledge)

Editors

1. Manfred Kofi Antwi Asuman, PhD – University of Western Ontario, Canada.

2. Theodora Dame Adjin-Tettey, PhD – University of Ghana, Ghana.

3. Modestus Fosu, PhD – University of Media, Arts and Communications 
(Ghana Institute of Journalism), Ghana.

Background and Objectives

Despite the growing body of knowledge and research in communication 
practice and social change worldwide, much of the research have been 
focused on and in the Global North (Ekdale et al, 2022a). Even from the 
turn of the 21st Century when research and publications on development 
and communications began to focus on Africa with some emphasis, they 
have been led by principal investigators from or affiliated to 
institutions in the Global North (Ekdale et al, 2022b; Ekdale, 2021, 
Cheruiyot, 2021). For example, an important work by Okigbo and Eribo 
(Eds) (2004), Development and Communication in Africa and Servaes (Ed) 
(2008), Communication for development and social change, although 
focused on Africa, have most of the contributors being non-African 
and/or African scholars living outside Africa. And the trend has largely 
persisted over the decades.

The above goes to illustrate the trudging trajectory of the academic 
study and profession of communications on the African continent; the 
growth of this field has not been all rosy. The positive role of 
communication in development, no matter how construed, has not been in 
doubt (Mohammed and Olabode, 2007). And the role of communication to 
either advance or inhibit development, to manipulate minds and 
behaviours to achieve various purposes, among others, constantly play 
out in human societies, not less in Africa, where the need for 
communication-led approaches, strategies and initiatives are regarded as 
avenues that can advance or negate crucial social, economic and 
political development (Okinda, 2009). Contemporary experience of Africa 
is lucid about how the media through communications has been used as a 
propaganda tool by political leaders, politically exposed persons and 
their collaborators. In other cases, mass media and communications have 
been used as weapons to stifle minorities and clamp down on different 
and opposing views (De Vreese., Esser, and Hopmann, 2022), much as they 
can also advance socio-political and economic transformations if 
properly contextualised, understood and appropriately harnessed.

This book aims to capture case studies, original research and essays on 
how communication has affected social change in theory and practice 
since the turn of the millennium (year 2000), and how it can continue to 
do so into the future. The book’s orientation is to provide an 
opportunity for African based communication researchers and academics to 
share their research with the African academic community, students and 
the global academic community generally. This book will promote the most 
appropriate socio-cultural contexts for the publication of research and 
knowledge about communications and social change on the African 
continent. It will also encourage a deeper appreciation and 
understanding of the various issues and arguments raised in the various 
chapters of the book, as authors and contributors will have the 
necessary background to address their arguments and situate them within 
necessary socio-cultural African contexts. This

book aims to explore the practice of communications both as a profession 
and as an academic discipline, thereby aiming to give credence to the 
theoretical motivations for the study of communications and the 
professional foundations for the practice of communications in Africa. 
Additionally, this collection aims to confront how the growing 
democratic political dispensation of nations in Sub-Saharan Africa is 
shaping, influencing and encouraging social change communications, 
through the training of professionals, the liberalisation of the media, 
the development and establishment of broadcasting enterprises and how 
the media is shaping how people participate in the issues and 
discussions that bring them development. The book will provide insights 
on how communities in Africa use their agency through communications to 
demand accountability from their leaders and elected representatives. 
Furthermore, the book aims to provide knowledge on how communications is 
practised within indigenous African contexts, how communication is 
taught as an academic discipline and how communications is used to 
stimulate change within African contexts, with a specific focus on 
sub-Saharan African communities, African professional settings and 
citizen-government relations. The book will equip university lecturers, 
students and researchers with a compilation of experiences, activities, 
case studies and essays on communication theory as well as teaching and 
research methodology on communication studies grounded within the 
ontological and epistemic realities of Africa. There are very few books 
on the market presently that focus on this body of knowledge in the 
African context even though the field of communication studies has seen 
an increase in scholarship globally within the last couple of years 
(Ekdale et al, 2022a). The book will be a valuable companion to academic 
or industry personnel who are interested in communications training, 
global media studies, African cultural studies, and anthropology.

Scope and Topics of Interest

We welcome chapter proposals in the form of case studies, essays and 
original research in, but not limited to the following areas of 
communications, society and social change. Contributions are encouraged 
from academics, industry practitioners as well as civil society.

1. Communications, media and gender

2. Inter-cultural communication and communication practices

3. Health communications

4. Communication and social movements

5. Peace and conflict communications

6. Indigenous knowledge and perspectives of communications

7. Theories and concepts of communications in Africa

8. Communications and multi-party democracy

9. Communications pedagogy and education in Africa

10. Language use and communications

11. Communications and public health

12. Communication and the arts

13. Ethical foundations of communication in the African context

Interested contributors are encouraged to submit a maximum 300-word 
abstract summarizing the chapter background, mission, and goals. The 
submission must also contain the names of all contributing authors, 
institution of affiliation, contact details and a 100-word biography of 
all authors.

The final chapter should be 6000 words maximum, including references, 
tables and figures. The chapters will be reviewed through a double-blind 
review process.

All submissions must be sent to the editors:(s221511024 /at/ mandela.ac.za) 
<mailto:(s221511024 /at/ mandela.ac.za)>with the subject “Communication and 
Social Change Book”

Deadline for submission is 28th February, 2023.

Important Dates

28th February, 2023 – Deadline for Submission of Abstracts 30th March, 
2023 – Author Notifications and Author Instructions 30th December, 2023 
– First Draft of Chapter Due

1st February, 2024 – Reviewed First Draft Returned to Authors 15th 
April, 2024 – Final Chapters Due

1st November, 2024 – Final Book Published

Kindly direct all queries (totheodoradame /at/ yahoo.com) 
<mailto:(theodoradame /at/ yahoo.com)>(andmodestus.fosu /at/ gij.edu.gh) 
<mailto:(modestus.fosu /at/ gij.edu.gh)>

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