Abstract
This paper conducted a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) on top IS publication outlets in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim was to identify and critically evaluate taken-for-granted assumptions contributing to the marginalisation of indigenous finance institutions (IFIs). The scarcity of literature suggested absence of a discourse on IFIs in the ICT4D domain. Consequently, no substantive deductions were made on violations of validity claims. Habermasian CDA was nonetheless applied to the selected literature to highlight issues relating to comprehensibility, truth, sincerity and legitimacy. Majority of the literature extended the narrative of IFIs as part of the transient informal economy that is expected to dissipate as viral digital technologies such as mobile money aid the mainstream financial system to achieve total financial inclusion. Alternative perspectives were missing from this body of literature. Appropriate definitions, diverse research questions and methodologies are required to better understand IFIs, their history, contemporary practices and role in sustainable development.
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Njuguna, R., Tsibolane, P., Rivett, U. (2022). Digitalisation of Indigenous Finance Institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Critical Discourse Analysis. In: Zheng, Y., Abbott, P., Robles-Flores, J.A. (eds) Freedom and Social Inclusion in a Connected World. ICT4D 2022. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 657. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19429-0_15
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