Urban Ghana and Privacy in the Digital Age: An Ethnographic Exploration

This book explores privacy practices and the role of digital technologies in the lives of urban Ghanaians, focusing on the harbour town of Tema. It demonstrates how transformations such as Pentecostal reformation, neoliberal reforms, and rapid digitisation raise the need for privacy among middle-class urbanites, and how digital anthropology enhances our understanding of the offline as much as the online.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 172 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate world of privacy practices and the profound impact of digital technologies on the lives of urban Ghanaians. It explores how these individuals utilize language, materiality, and culture to establish robust boundaries between their private and public realms. Through a focused examination of the bustling harbor town of Tema, the book presents rich ethnographic portraits that encompass a wide range of topics, including nightlife, domestic architecture, religion, and social media.

What makes this volume truly remarkable is its ability to demonstrate how transformations across Africa, such as the Pentecostal reformation, neoliberal reforms, and rapid digitization, have sparked a growing demand for privacy among middle-class urbanites. These individuals employ innovative strategies, drawing upon both modern and traditional elements, to uphold an image of their economic or religious status.

The book highlights the intricate interplay between digital technologies and local cultures and histories, emphasizing how digital anthropology expands our understanding of both the offline and online realms. It makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing discourse about the right for privacy and surveillance in the digital age, appealing to scholars from anthropology and African studies alike.

In conclusion, this thought-provoking book offers a profound exploration of privacy practices and the role of digital technologies in shaping the lives of urban Ghanaians. It provides a rich tapestry of ethnographic portraits that shed light on the complex ways in which individuals navigate the boundaries between privacy and publicity in a rapidly changing world. Through its insightful analysis, the book contributes to our understanding of the multifaceted dynamics of the digital age and underscores the importance of safeguarding individual privacy in an era of increasing surveillance and technological advancements.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032034690