Theorizing the Communication of Digital Religion as Popular Culture in Africa: The Case for Alternative Epistemological Models

Abstract

The conceptual lens and epistemological models employed by theorists determine their observations and conclusions. This discourse demonstrates how adopting nontraditional conceptual models can lead to better understanding of common phenomena that fall outside the purview of dominant theorizing approaches. Using the metaphors of theories as lenses, nets and maps, it articulates the significance of and approaches to theorizing outsize the dominant paradigm. It highlights the changing grounds of digital religion and popular culture in Africa as case in point for applying new theoretical tools and epistemological models. It argues for culture-relevant and culture-sensitive theorizing to better illuminate knowledge of cultural phenomena and realities beyond the West. It shows how proper theorizing can account for Africa’s changing media and cultural landscape, as well as correct the myth of Africa as being stuck in the pre-Information Age. It recommends non-binary multi-modal frameworks that transcend old-new, sacred-secular, spiritual-physical, folk-popular binary thought systems.

Keywords:

• Alternative paradigm
• culture
• digital
• epistemology
• popular
• religion
• social media
• theorizing
• world view