Browsing by Author "Cibangu, Sylvain K."

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    The impact of mobile phone uses in the developing world: giving voice to the rural poor in the Congo
    (IGI Global, 2017-04-01) Cibangu, Sylvain K.; Hepworth, Mark; Champion, Donna
    In recent years, the rise of information and communication technologies (ICTs) contrasted with the dire living conditions of the world's poorest has been the subject of debate among industry and academia. However, despite the amount of writings produced on mobile phones, Western bias is surprisingly unbridledly prevailing alongside the fêted dissemination of mobile phones. Expansive literature tends to present the rapid adoption of mobile phones among rural individuals, with little to no indication of how local values and voices are respected or promoted. We undertook semi-structured interviews with 16 rural chiefs to inquire into ways in which mobile phones enabled socio-economic development in the rural Congo. Rather than using quantitative, large-scale, or top-down data, we sought to give voice to chiefs themselves about the role of mobile phones. We found that Western bias dominates the literature and deployment of mobile phones more than usually acknowledged. We suggested some paths forward, while bringing the African communal Utu or Ubuntu culture to the center stage.
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    Mobile phones for development: an information case study of mobile phone kiosk vendors in the Congo
    (Emerald, 2017) Cibangu, Sylvain K.; Hepworth, Mark; Champion, Donna
    Purpose – The paper relays an important line of Mark Hepworth’s work, which engages with information technologies and development. The paper aims to suggest a subfield of Library and Information Science (LIS) for development to reclaim the role of information services and systems for social change in rural areas. The paper looks at the extent of development gained with the advent of mobile phones. Design/methodology/approach – Rather than undertaking traditional large-scale, quantitative, context-independent and survey-type research, the paper employs a capability approach and semi-structured interviews to ascertain the experiences that mobile phone kiosk vendors in the rural Congo have of mobile phones. Findings – It was found that (1) mobile phones should be geared towards the liberation, and not utilization or commodification of humans and their needs, and (2) mobile phones are not a catalyst of human basic capabilities. Practical implications – The paper provides empirical evidence as to how an important group of mobile phone users could harness development with their mobiles. Research limitations/implications – Since the method employed is an in-depth qualitative analysis of mobile phone kiosk vendors, obtained results can be used to enrich or inform mobile phone experiences in other settings and groups. Originality/value – Most LIS literature has presented mobile phones along the lines of information freedom or access, mass subscription, adoption rates, technological and entrepreneurial innovation, micro-credits, etc. However, this paper places development at the heart of LIS debates.