TikTok Cultures in Contemporary Africa

Since its launch ten years ago, TikTok has become a global cultural phenomenon, with more than 1 billion monthly users worldwide, 100 million of which are in Africa. Investigating this transformation from a range of perspectives, this book demonstrates that TikTok is not merely a space for entertainment, but also a platform through which African youth articulate dissent, perform identity, and mobilize for social and political causes.

The book argues that rather than simply importing global digital trends, TikTok users in Africa use the platform to reflect and rework pre-existing cultural norms and values. The book begins by exploring political and social justice movements, youth engagement, and activism on TikTok. It then goes on to investigate how personal identities and culture are expressed on TikTok, and how the platform can be used for youth culture, livelihoods, performance and monetization. The book also shows how TikTok has introduced new modes of protest in Africa, via performative activism, hashtag dances, and meme politics that challenge traditional ideas of what political engagement looks like.

Overall, the book demonstrates that TikTok in Africa has become a key space where political consciousness, cultural identity, and creativity intersect. Its findings will be of interest to researchers and civil society actors across the fields of digital media, communication studies, popular culture, journalism, and African studies.