Bigger cities, smaller screens: urbanization, mobile phones and digital media trends in Africa

Africa will become predominantly urban within 20 years, according to a United Nations report, with cities tripling in size and megacities developing throughout the continent. This suggests significant changes for Africans’ consumption of media in general and digital media in particular, with implications for Africa’s cities, politics, and civil society. The convergence of African urbanisation and technological change, including the rise of digital media, is driving major change. Perhaps most dramatic, use of cellphones and other mobile devices, already widespread, are becoming a nearly universal platform, not only for telephony but also for audio and video information and entertainment. &nbsp