Objective The project aims at analysing the ways in which Kinshasa's old aged make meaning of the diverse ICTs on offer in their city. Via ethnographical research, we want to understand (a) the perceptions of Kinshasa's elders on mobile telephones, television, radio and internet, (b) their uses of these ICTs, (c) the ways in which these ICTs impact on the elders' social relations, and (d) the role of these ICTs in the elders' religious lives. The intersection of ICTs and senectitude opens up a fascinating field that has not yet been addressed in an African context. The topic is until now even hardly studied in the West. The findings of the project will be of interest to anyone working on one or more of the following fields: urban studies, communication studies, development in the South, and third age. The project also links up with the the 'Social and Economic Concerns' theme of the FP7 Cooperation Programme, which acknowledges the implications of ageing and the complexity of technology and society interrelationships. The proposed research program involves (a) 12 months of indepth fieldwork in Kinshasa, divided into 4 field visits over the three years of the fellowship and (b) participation in research communities in the US and in Europe. Fieldwork will include participation, observation and interviews with Kinshasa's elders, opinion leaders and ICT brokers. In order to benefit from current cutting-edge anthropological research on technology and society, half of the duration of the project will be carried out as a visiting researcher at MIT (Boston), a leading centre in the development of new technologies and the cultural implications of these.The final part of the project will be hosted by the Institute of Anthropological Research of the K.U.Leuven (Belgium), a centre with longstanding expertise on anthropological research in DR Congo. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternethumanitiesartsmusicologyethnomusicologysocial sciencessocial geographyurban studiesnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyphysical cosmology Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IOF - Marie Curie Action: "International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IOF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) Coordinator KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN EU contribution € 237 159,40 Address OUDE MARKT 13 3000 Leuven Belgium See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Stijn Delauré (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
