Cameroon’s Hi-Tech Illusion

When African leaders or states intentionally pursue ‘development’ through systematic adoption of technology-centred reform policies, they are often lauded as ingenious or even visionary, aligning with the spirit of our time. In an era defined by pervasive technicization—where technology penetrates almost every facet of social life—such inclinations to transform society through technology are often supported by multinational corporations and other advocates of global capitalism. Technologies are often heralded as the new oracles of engineers and technicians; poised to liberate parts of the world from poverty, suffering and ‘underdevelopment’. Yet, this simplistic vision reduces technology to a mere artefact for acquiring, installing and utilizing in a domain, as though technology is neutral or detached from context. This simplistic vision also overlooks how embedded technologies are in socio-economic ecosystems endowed with certain infrastructures, institutions and resources. A classic example comes to mind: a technological project dependent on electricity but implemented in a political economy where energy supply is unreliable or non-existent.