The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Recolonisation of Africa

The Coloniality of Data

By Prof. Everisto Benyera

Chapter 3: Contextualising the colonial project in Africa

Page 33

This chapter analyzes how colonial projects in Africa have evolved and continue in new forms through technological means. It provides a deeper understanding of the structural mechanisms of colonialism that persist in the digital age.

Key Points

  • Analysis of the ideological foundations of colonialism and their persistence
  • Examination of how colonial administrative structures transformed into modern governance
  • Discussion of the role of technology in facilitating colonial control
  • Exploration of how digital technologies replicate colonial power dynamics

The chapter examines the colonial project not just as a historical period but as an ongoing structure of power relations. Prof. Benyera argues that colonialism established patterns of extraction and control that continue to shape Africa's relationship with global powers, now manifesting through digital technologies and data extraction.

By contextualizing the colonial project, the chapter provides a framework for understanding how the Fourth Industrial Revolution represents a continuation rather than a departure from historical patterns of exploitation. This analysis is crucial for developing strategies to resist digital recolonization and assert African sovereignty in the digital age.

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