Indigenous-language Media Research in Africa: Gains, Losses, Towards a New Research Agenda

Abstract

Research on indigenous-language media in Africa is often neglected for several reasons, such as an obsession with research on mainstream media that uses colonial languages of English, French and Portuguese and a general lack of scholarly interest. This semi-systematic review paper looks at the research trajectory of the last two decades, identifying gaps and proposing a new research agenda. Available research conducted from a cultural studies and critical theory perspective reveals the intersection of indigenous-language media with gender and health communication; democracy and development; economics and management; and digitalisation. A broadened new research agenda that follows the critical theory tradition is proposed to critique the dominance of mainstream media together with a decolonial reform agenda that appreciates the importance of indigenous-language media in Africa. Research highlighting new case studies, representations, audiences, business models, innovation and digital journalism by indigenous-language media is proposed.