Scientific Director & Chief Editor
Komla M. Avono (Ph.D.)
ISSN 2710-4699 Online
3 issues per year
The Indigenous Alienation in “The School Days of an Indian Girl” by Zitkala-Sa
Abstract
This article deals with the alienation of the Indigenous population by the white American policies as it is reflected in Zitkala-Sa’s “The School Days of an Indian Girl.” The contact of Native Americans with the Western settlers has negatively impacted their lives. Ranging from identity crisis to psychological disorders, the Indigenous experienced a profound sense of emptiness since their initial contact with Western culture. The ongoing study argues that the white boarding schools were well established structures that aimed to wipe out native Indians’ civilization through assimilation. By convincing young children to despise their own identity, the system brought many predicaments among the young generation. The study first looks at the system as a disconnection from home which causes trauma, and then judges the white assimilation as the death of native Indians’ identity.
Keywords: Alienation, Zitkala-Sa, assimilation, identity crisis, white boarding schools
Translation and Democratisation of Knowledge: Translation in Akan (Twi),A Remedy to Improve Cocoa Farmers’ Predicament
Abstract
Translation bridges communities, continents, and worlds that were previously unaware of one another’s existence. It is through translation that the transfer of knowledge from one society to another becomes possible. This implies that inventions and scientific advancements from one part of the world can be more effectively disseminated through the work of translators. This paper explores how agricultural knowledge can be made accessible to cocoa farmers through the Twi dialect of Akan. Spoken by more than 80% of the Ghanaian population, Twi serves as a crucial medium for communication among farmers. Translating agricultural labels and documents into Twi would significantly enhance farmers’ understanding and application of agricultural knowledge. Although English is Ghana’s official language, Akan (Twi) plays a vital role in the Western, Ashanti, and Bono regions, particularly among cocoa farmers. Given the linguistic realities of these regions, there is an urgent need to translate agricultural documents, labels on chemical products, and other essential agricultural terms and practices into Akan (Twi). This initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 17, which advocates for equal justice and opportunities for all, including access to information through language. This research is conducted within the framework of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, specifically Articles 19(2), sub-clauses (d) and (h); 26(1); and 39(3), as well as the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights. Ultimately, this paper seeks to strengthen the principle of information accessibility, which is crucial for enhancing farmers’ productivity, particularly in the proper application of pesticides.
Keywords:Translation, democratisation of knowledge, SDGs, official language, scientific Endeavour.
From the Motherland: Voodoo and Shaping of African American Identity
Abstract
The current research work intends not only to reveal the origin of Voodoo religion but also to highlight its contribution to African Americans’ identity building. Also known as Vodun, Voodoo is one of the main spiritual and religious beliefs practiced by Africans. Originating from Africa, this spiritual and religious practice has been brought to Americas by African slaves during the transatlantic slave trade, a remarkable period during which black people were forcedly brought to Europe and to the Americas. Ever since, Voodoo practice is anchored in the history of African Americans’ DNA and seems to be shaping their identity. During this research, qualitative method has been applied with a special reference to previous articles, books and publications dealing with Voodoo practices in the Americas. As cultural heritage, the results show that Voodoo practices influences African American’s identity in various ways. Apart from the magnificent role played by Voodooists while fighting against slavery, it is worth mentioning that the embodiment of Voodoo rhythms, songs and dances by some African American artists reflects their attachment to their motherland spiritual powers, and hence, shaping their cultural identity. With a view of successfully complete this research work, two literary theories have been used: New Historicism and African American Criticism.
Keywords:Translation, democratisation of knowledge, SDGs, official language, scientific Endeavour.
https://doi.org/10.59384/SOPN8493
Influence of Culture and Entrepreneurial Support on the Entrepreneurial Engagement of Ivorian Women
Abstract
Entrepreneurship in Africa is attracting growing interest due to its potential to create jobs and combat unemployment. However, despite government initiatives, its impact on employment remains limited due to high unemployment rates and a generally unfavorable perception of entrepreneurship as a career choice. This study focuses on female entrepreneurship in Côte d’Ivoire, examining two key factors: entrepreneurial culture and entrepreneurial support. It draws on the theories of Hayton, George, and Zahra (2002). on entrepreneurial culture and Schultz’s (1961). human capital theory. The main objective is to analyze the influence of these factors on the commitment of Ivorian women entrepreneurs. The study adopts a quantitative approach, surveying 645 women leading formal businesses that have been in operation for five years or less. The sample was selected using a combination of random sampling and quota-based methods. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess various dimensions, including entrepreneurial commitment, entrepreneurial culture, and entrepreneurial support. The findings reveal that entrepreneurial culture significantly influences women’s engagement in entrepreneurship. Furthermore, entrepreneurial support emerges as a crucial factor in strengthening and sustaining this commitment. This study enhances the understanding of female entrepreneurial dynamics in Côte d’Ivoire, highlighting the importance of cultural and institutional factors in fostering entrepreneurship.
Keywords:Women, resilience, support, culture, engagement, entrepreneurship
The Symbolism of Semiotic Objects in the Novels Johnny Mad Dog, Beasts of No Nation, and Their Film Adaptations
Abstract
This article is part of an interdisciplinary study (literature and cinema) focusing on the symbolism of semiotic objects used by child soldiers during civil wars. They use everything at their disposal to sow terror. Military equipment is what we call “semiotic objects”, and here, we will prioritize the Kalashnikov, the Bible and the other extras. Through the novels Johnny Mad Dog, Beasts of No Nation and the films Johnny Mad Dog and Beasts of No Nation, we will decipher how and why these objects carry meaning in the actions of child soldiers.
Keywords:Symbolism, semiotic object, other extras, novel, film, child soldiers
The Management of Taboos in Lyéla Funeral Rites: The Tension Between Traditional Practices and Modern Transformations
Abstract
This article examines how taboos are managed in the funeral rites of the Lyéla people of Burkina Faso, highlighting the tensions between tradition and modernity. These rites are marked by meaningful taboos that play a crucial role in social cohesion and reflect the Lyéla cosmological worldview. The study is based on field research revealing the coexistence of ancestral practices with contemporary influences such as urbanization, foreign religions, and globalization. In urban areas, Lyéla communities adapt their funeral practices—sometimes transforming them—without completely breaking from tradition. Younger generations, more exposed to modernity, participate in this redefinition while striving to preserve a connection with their cultural heritage. The article thus sheds light on a dynamic of adjustment, where some taboos are preserved, others reinterpreted or abandoned. This study raises questions about the resilience of traditions amid social and cultural change. It also opens avenues for further research on the impact of migration and public policies on the continuation or disappearance of traditional rites. Ultimately, the article explores how the Lyéla reinvent their funeral practices in order to preserve their identity in a changing world.
Keywords: Funeral rites, taboos, Lyéla, tradition and modernity, cultural identity
Social Pathways, Onto-Dynamic Security, and the Valorization of Women among the “Adan” of Togo’s Maritime Region: An Ethnographic Approach
Abstract
In the Adan community of the Maritime region of Togo, womanhood is not merely a biological given but a culturally constructed status attained through a prescribed social trajectory. This trajectory is deeply rooted in indigenous conceptions of femininity, symbolic cosmologies, and a profound understanding of the transcendental realm. Achieving full womanhood—and the accompanying privileges—requires the observance of a series of ritual practices that not only invoke ancestral spirits but also seek the intercession of tutelary deities. This study seeks to identify the fundamental requirements for acquiring the status of woman among the Adan of Badougbé and to analyze the socio-anthropological dividends of this transformation. The research adopts an ethnographic approach, engaging with ritual priests and priestesses, elders, adult women, and devotees of local deities. Findings reveal that the Adzifo initiation ceremony serves as a liminal passage, marking the transition between two existential stages in a woman’s life. Upon completion of the rites, the initiate is conferred full cultural legitimacy and access to the privileges of social ascent—signifying her complete self-actualization within the community.
Keywords:Womanhood, initiation, divinity, social ascension, Adan
Figures of Analogy, Both Descriptive and Meaningful, in Le coiffeur de Kouta by Massa Makan Diabaté
Abstract
Massa Makan Diabaté’s Le coiffeur de Kouta aligns with the works of authors like Zola, Balzac, and Mathias Kyelem through its notable use of stylistic devices, particularly metaphor and simile. This study focuses on these two analogical figures, excluding personification and allegory, to explore their descriptive and interpretive roles in representing the characters’ culturally rooted behaviors. The central question asks how metaphor and simile contribute both to the description and the meaning of endogenous habits in the novel. What referential images do these figures convey? And what meanings do these discursive strategies offer readers through the portrayal of characters and situations? The analysis suggests that metaphor and simile serve to express ideas differently, through evocative images embedded in the sociocultural context of the narrative. These figures act as lenses through which the reader can better understand local customs, by substituting one element with another drawn from a distinct and meaningful reality. To fully grasp this dynamic, the study draws on the semiotics of description, particularly the theories of Hamon and Greimas, to highlight the dual function—descriptive and interpretive—of these figures in Le coiffeur de Kouta.
Keywords: semiotics of description, novel, figures of speech, metaphor and comparisonKeywords:Womanhood, initiation, divinity, social ascension, Adan
Representing the Evience of not Wearing a Helmet in Bohicon in Central Benin: Attitude of thePopulation
Abstract
In Benin, especially in the city of Bohicon, wearing a helmet remains a major road safety challenge. Despite the government’s repressive measures, strong resistance persists among the population. This study aims to understand the causes of this non-compliance by examining economic factors, the limitations of enforcement strategies, and the influence of social norms. Using a mixed-methods approach that combined quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with 105 participants (motorcyclists, passengers, and police officers), the findings reveal that 80% of motorcyclists cite the high cost, quick wear, and lack of replacement of helmets as barriers to use. However, these reasons appear to be more social justifications than actual constraints, as many individuals spend more on non-essential, expensive goods. Moreover, enforcement strategies are often undermined by corruption and negotiations between users and law enforcement officers, as acknowledged by 60 of the 105 respondents. Social pressure also plays a key role: within certain groups, not wearing a helmet becomes a normalized behavior, trivializing the associated risks. The study calls for a reform of road safety policies that combines stricter punitive measures with a genuine shift in public perception about helmet use.
Keywords:Road safety, helmet use, enforcement, social norms, Bohicon
Processes of Lexical Creation in the Agro-Pastoral Domain Among the Náwdà
Abstract
The náwdm, like other African languages, has been the subject of significant linguistic research, with those conducted by Dr. Jacques Nicole remaining notable. This research has helped to stabilize the language, which now has a grammar and spelling system that enables it to be written and spoken according to standards. However, mastery of a language depends not only on its grammar and spelling but also on its lexicon, the driving force behind its vitality. This paper analyses the processes of lexical creation in the agro-pastoral domain among the Náwdbá, whose economy primarily relies on agriculture and livestock farming. The methodology combines a survey of twenty farmers in the canton of Koka and a literature review of dissertations, long essays and articles. The paper finds that agropastoral lexemes in Náwdm are formed by various processes, including simple, compound, complex lexemes and derivation. It is in line with the theory of structuralism of Benveniste and Maurice Houis.
Keywords:Languages, lexicon, náwdm, realia, terminology
Contribution of Endogenous Mechanisms in the Settlement of Community Conflicts Between Attie Indigenous People and Malinke Allogenes in The Village of Moape in the Department of Adzope
Abstract
In August 2006, the village of Moapé (Sous-préfecture of Adzopé) was shaken by the discovery of the body of a young Attié native near an allogeneic neighborhood. Despite attempts by the gendarmerie and traditional authorities to ease tensions, some residents organized a punitive expedition against the allogeneic community, accused of being responsible. Within a day, the traditional tribunal issued a drastic sanction: the banishment of this community for thirty years. This case highlights the limitations of endogenous mechanisms of social regulation, which, while essential for social cohesion, may lack objectivity in conflict resolution. The case analysis, based on phenomenology and historicity, questions the effectiveness and impartiality of these traditional systems in addressing community tensions. This study illustrates the fragility of local balances and the need for a fairer and more inclusive framework to manage inter-community disputes.
Keywords:Endogenous, allochthonous, allogeneic, autochthonous mechanism, conflict
The Political Subject in Literature, Between Ideal and Reality: From Seneca’s Treatise on Clemency to The Dialect of Vultures by Cheikou Diakité
Abstract
Writing, has always been the place par excellence for the expression of political facts and social problems. Far from being a simple method of approaching reality, it presents itself as a relay in the dissemination and transmission of the standards that it preforms and influences. Under the pen of Seneca, the figure of the king is the personification of typical virtues objects of conquest but also allow humans to realize themselves. From then on, the address to King Nero in Treatise on Clemency takes on a timeless dimension and becomes a speech from a tutor for every man exercising power. From the pen of French-speaking African novelist Diakité, the imaginary State of Worowila, the space of fiction in The Dialect of the Vultures, is only a pretext to present a man of power as he should not be. By comparing the two approaches, the analysis made it possible to see how writing succeeds in distinguishing the ideal from the fact.
Keywords:Scripture, power, clemency, authoritarianism, ideal
Fanonism and the Antillean Intellectual: A Study of Some Fictional Works of Maryse Condé
Abstract
This article examines the role of Caribbean intellectuals through Maryse Condé’s texts. It reviews the quest for the identity of postcolonial Caribbean individuals and Condé’s commitment to deconstructing stereotypes inherited from slavery and colonization. Deploying Frantz Fanon’s concept of postcolonial theory and textual analysis as a methodology, this study emphasizes the significance of Caribbean intellectuals, particularly Maryse Condé. Her texts significantly represent Caribbean intellectuals and their role in the struggle for the mental and sociocultural emancipation of Caribbean people. Maryse Condé, as an engaged Caribbean intellectual, exemplifies the importance of intellectuals in building a Caribbean identity free from the oppressive legacies of the past. We conclude that Maryse Condé positions herself as a mouthpiece, using her literary works to expose the struggles faced by Caribbean people and to seek remedies for them
Keywords:Intellectual, Caribbean, Maryse Condé, Fanonism, Hegemonic Decolonization
Systematic Review on the Determinants of Routine Vaccination Hesitance in Specific Contexts
Abstract
This article examines the role of Caribbean intellectuals through Maryse Condé’s texts. It reviews the quest for the identity of postcolonial Caribbean individuals and Condé’s commitment to deconstructing stereotypes inherited from slavery and colonization. Deploying Frantz Fanon’s concept of postcolonial theory and textual analysis as a methodology, this study emphasizes the significance of Caribbean intellectuals, particularly Maryse Condé. Her texts significantly represent Caribbean intellectuals and their role in the struggle for the mental and sociocultural emancipation of Caribbean people. Maryse Condé, as an engaged Caribbean intellectual, exemplifies the importance of intellectuals in building a Caribbean identity free from the oppressive legacies of the past. We conclude that Maryse Condé positions herself as a mouthpiece, using her literary works to expose the struggles faced by Caribbean people and to seek remedies for them
Keywords:Determinants, vaccine hesitancy, routine vaccination
A Consequence of the Administrative Decision to Attach the Six Circles of Upper Volta to Côte d’Ivoire: The Collective Naturalization of 1995 (1932-1995)
Abstract
In the 1920s, Côte d’Ivoire sought to develop its territory but faced a major labor shortage. After the prohibition of forced recruitment, considered a form of slavery, in 1933, Governor Dieudonné François Reste implemented a strategy to attract workers from Haute-Volta (now Burkina Faso). He established colonization villages for them in the departments of Bouaflé (Garango, Koudougou, Koupela, Tenkodogo) and Zuenoula (Kaya, Koudougou, Ouagadougou). This policy of attraction proved successful. From 1933 to 1960, the results far exceeded expectations, and colonial authorities integrated these immigrants into local populations upon their arrival. However, after Côte d’Ivoire’s independence, the Mossi people, despite having settled for several decades, were regarded as Burkinabé foreigners. This marginalization led to significant social and administrative difficulties for them and their descendants. In 1995, President Henri Konan Bédié ended this situation by adopting a collective naturalization decree, thus rectifying a historical injustice. This study aims to trace the steps of this administrative colonization policy and understand how it led to the collective naturalization of 1995, based on previous research and archival sources.
Keywords:Côte d’Ivoire, Haute-Volta, Consequence, Administrative Decision, Attachment, Collective Naturalization
The Social Determinants of Urban Agricultural Practice: A Study of Market Gardeners in the City of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Abstract
In the 1920s, Côte d’Ivoire sought to develop its territory but faced a major labor shortage. After the prohibition of forced recruitment, considered a form of slavery, in 1933, Governor Dieudonné François Reste implemented a strategy to attract workers from Haute-Volta (now Burkina Faso). He established colonization villages for them in the departments of Bouaflé (Garango, Koudougou, Koupela, Tenkodogo) and Zuenoula (Kaya, Koudougou, Ouagadougou). This policy of attraction proved successful. From 1933 to 1960, the results far exceeded expectations, and colonial authorities integrated these immigrants into local populations upon their arrival. However, after Côte d’Ivoire’s independence, the Mossi people, despite having settled for several decades, were regarded as Burkinabé foreigners. This marginalization led to significant social and administrative difficulties for them and their descendants. In 1995, President Henri Konan Bédié ended this situation by adopting a collective naturalization decree, thus rectifying a historical injustice. This study aims to trace the steps of this administrative colonization policy and understand how it led to the collective naturalization of 1995, based on previous research and archival sources.
Keywords:Abidjan, urban agriculture, market gardening, market gardeners
Tradition, Myth, and Culture in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
Abstract
This paper aims to demonstrate that, to a great extent, Things Fall Apart is an ethnographic novel. It emphasizes tradition, and puts it into perspective with the advent of modernity in Africa. Like an intertext, the Igbo culture operates in the novel as a set of references. Traditional Igbo beliefs and practices are central in Things Fall Apart. The practice of sacrifice with desacralized characters such as Okonkwo, haunted by a castrating father figure, and Ikemefuna, the son Okonkwo never had, are much telling about that. It is also noted that the “killing” of twins is condoned, and even practiced, for reasons that only a structural anthropology, emptied of all cultural and culturalist prejudice, is able to understand. The phenomenon of the Ogbanje, the gifted child, is also represented as it is experienced in Igbo culture.
Keywords:Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, ethnography, African novel, twinship, Ogbanje
Côte d’Ivoire and the Quest for Peace in Sierra Leone: Between the Legacy and Continuation of Houphouët-Boigny’s Policy of Dialogue
Abstract
Since its independence in 1960 and under the auspices of its first president Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte d’Ivoire has set itself the principle of working to bring together African states and work to preserve peace in Africa. This desire to remain an essential state in the search for peaceful solutions to conflicts, especially through dialogue, led Félix Houphouët-Boigny to become involved in the resolution of several crises. Sometimes crowned with success (Niger-Benin crisis, Mali-Burkina, Liberia…) but also mixed results (the question of Biafra, Apartheid in South Africa). Félix Houphouët-Boigny wanted to leave his country the fundamental principle of peacemaker through the use of dialogue. With his death on 07 December 1993, a period came to an end, raising questions about the preservation and continuation of of the peace work previously begun by Houphouët-Boigny. The objective of this study is to show the capacity of Houphouët-Boigny’s successors to continue the work of peace after his death. This was reflected in the Sierra Leonean crisis, illustrated by the first peace agreements signed in Abidjan in December 1996.
Keywords:Côte d’Ivoire, Houphouët-Boigny, dialogue and peace, legacy, Africa, conflict, Sierra Leone
The Influence of Socio-Cultural and Environmental Determinants on Students’ Attitudes to Suicide: The Case of 19–29-Year-Old Students at the UAO de Bouaké
Abstract
Every year, almost a million people die by taking their own lives (WHO, 2021). Suicide remains a major social and public health problem (WHO, idem). It is part of our social reality and has always existed in our cultures. As the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-old, suicide is more common among teenagers and young adults (WHO, 2021). The phenomenon is also present in Ivorian universities. The aim of this study, carried out at Alassane Ouattara University using an ethnographic approach, was to examine the influence of socio-cultural and environmental factors on students’ attitudes to suicide. The methodology is based on a qualitative method. Data was collected using an interview guide. Data were collected from a sample of 15 students aged 19 to 29 at the Alassane Ouattara University (UAO) in Bouaké (Cote d’Ivoire). The results show that the tendency of students to adopt suicidal behaviours is influenced by socio-cultural and environmental determinants. In other words, they state that family abandonment, violence in the university environment and academic stress contribute to and shape students’ negative attitudes towards suicide.
Keywords:Suicide, academic stress, family abandonment, university violence
The Trans-modalities of Peace with the Humanities: Institutionalisation of Updated Paths of Conviction
Abstract
Every year, almost a million people die by taking their own lives (WHO, 2021). Suicide remains a major social and public health problem (WHO, idem). It is part of our social reality and has always existed in our cultures. As the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-old, suicide is more common among teenagers and young adults (WHO, 2021). The phenomenon is also present in Ivorian universities. The aim of this study, carried out at Alassane Ouattara University using an ethnographic approach, was to examine the influence of socio-cultural and environmental factors on students’ attitudes to suicide. The methodology is based on a qualitative method. Data was collected using an interview guide. Data were collected from a sample of 15 students aged 19 to 29 at the Alassane Ouattara University (UAO) in Bouaké (Cote d’Ivoire). The results show that the tendency of students to adopt suicidal behaviours is influenced by socio-cultural and environmental determinants. In other words, they state that family abandonment, violence in the university environment and academic stress contribute to and shape students’ negative attitudes towards suicide.
Keywords:Institution, peace, organization, human sciences, epistemology
Management of Non-Isolation of the Patients of Tuberculosis and its Community Risks in the Department of Bouake (Ivory Coast)
Abstract
Tuberculosis management remains a major challenge in Côte d’Ivoire, with significant implications for public health. The objective of this study is to understand the reasons for the non-isolation of tuberculosis patients, as well as to analyze the associated risks for the community in the Bouake department. To achieve this, the study relied on techniques (direct observation, participant observation, document review, focus group, and semistructured interview) and tools (interview guide and field diary) for qualitative data collection. It also mobilized theories of social representations and social behavior change to deepen the analyses. The results of this research have shown, on the one hand, that the lack of infrastructure, insufficient awareness, priority to care, surveillance and monitoring constitute obstacles to management. On the other hand, it showed that the spread of the disease, the increase in cases requiring treatment, the living conditions of populations, accessibility to care as well as stigmatization and social exclusion are all risks for communities. This requires a holistic approach with innovative approaches in order to contribute to better public health.
Keywords:Management of non-isolation, tuberculosis, community risks, Bouake
Therapeutic Responses to Cultural and Artistic Activities in a Young Mentally Ill Patient Followed at the Abidjan Addictology and Mental Hygiene Service (SAHM)
Abstract
The therapeutic virtues of artistic and cultural activities have long been known. They have beneficial effects on the physical and mental health of patients. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of cultural and artistic activities on the health and well-being of a 24-year-old patient with a mental disorder. The method of investigation was based on listening to music concerts coupled with the vocal expression of the patient, who was being treated at the Abidjan Addictology and Mental Hygiene Department. The clinical case benefited from eight sessions of elaborate therapies constantly adapted to the patient’s evolving capacities. In short, the therapies developed and constantly readjusted to the emotional, social and other cognitive abilities of the young patient enabled him to be satisfied with his life.
Keywords:Elaborate therapies, impact, young patients, mental illness, cultural and artistic activities
Representation of Incest in Christine Angot’s Le marché des amants: Expression of the Unspeakable
Abstract
The theme of incest has a particular resonance in Christine’s novel, which focuses on a family story. The author perceives it in its social and psychological; which makes it a major and current concern in which various critics are interested. Research essentially approaches the concept from a social and phenomenological angle that does not always allow us to identify its indescribable character, which also makes it complex. This is the whole point of the article which adopts an approach based on Claude Levi-Strauss’s theoretical work on the elementary structures of kinship. The importance of this prism lies in the ambivalent perception of a problem which questions both the cultural and the natural. Also, to answer the questions induced by this research, structural methods were used. Two axes will be exploited: the description of incestuous figures and the cathartic apprehension of a transgression. These points of analysis made it possible to arrive at study which demonstrates that the discourse on what can be described as unspeakable leads to a poetics of violence, enjoyment and freedom.
Keywords:Family secret, transgression, trauma, sexuality, body
The digital economy and Africa’s informal sector: how are technologies being appropriated
Abstract
The informal sector in Africa, within endogenous logics of African societies, incorporates digital technologies. This sector, being considered as offside compared to the official and formal economy, maintains relationships complex and further than adaptation or accommodation to these technologies. In fact, singular, creative and contextualized practices are emerging. The contribution focuses on issue of appropriating digital devices in Africa’s non formal sector. How do digital tools affect interactions within sector? How do informal sector actors, particularly women, use digital tools? Does it exist any correlation between a kind of digital tools and the specificity of actors? The analysis is based on empirical data collected in Senegal and from research in different parts of Africa. A comparative approach between these different realities is taken, based on the analytical frameworks of the sociology of uses. What emerges is that informal sector actors adopt an appropriation of digital technologies by contextualizing, drawing inspiration from traditional practices and combining solidarity needs with commercial offerings. For example, women who are so representative of that sector use payment platforms as solidarity savings frameworks to help each other, or as platforms for securing funds for revolving loans to finance themselves. From this point of view, money exchange and deposit platforms are becoming alternatives for women and informal sector actors against the inaccessibility of conventional banks and microcredit.
Keywords:Informal sector, digital appropriation, Africa