African Studies Research Seminar: Instrumentalising disorder as political practice: Digital performances and politics in Kenya

Thursday 25 November, 3:30pm
Pavilion Room, St Antony's College and online via Teams

Conveners: Dr Peter Brooke and Dr Rachel Taylor

Speaker: Dr. George Ogola, University of Central Lancaster

 

george pic

Instrumentalising disorder as political practice: Digital performances and politics in Kenya  

As digital media platforms become relatively ubiquitous in Kenya, they are also increasingly assuming significant cultural and political agency in the country. My talk examines how Kenya’s notoriously ‘vocal’ online community #KOT (Kenyans on Twitter), fabricate and instrumentalise digital performances to create new spaces and aesthetics of political practice. I argue that even as we acknowledge the material and discursive limitations of these emergent digital practices, which manifest as a form of ‘disorder’, they are fundamentally subverting traditional regimes of public information controls, enabling the creation of important pockets of indiscipline, the loci of politics, and ultimately of power in Kenya, as in many parts of Africa. 

 

Join the Teams meeting here.

 

We have a limited number of seats due to Covid-regulations and only members of the University may attend in person. As a courtesy to others please wear a mask. Unfortunately we will not be able to admit anyone once capacity has been reached. As an alternative the seminar can also be accessed via Teams, where it is also open to members of the public. The Teams meeting details will be provided here ahead of the event.

 

Covid-19 Guidelines for university members attending in person:

  • St Antony's ask that attendees take a lateral flow test on the morning of the event. If positive, stay at home
  • Stay home if you feel unwell with symptoms of COVID-19, a member of your household is self-isolating, or if you are in quarantine
  • Wear a face covering where indicated, unless exempt
  • Be considerate of other people’s space
  • Wash your hands regularly with soap or sanitiser
  • You are asked to use the official NHS QR code posters displayed throughout the College site