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Case Studies | Communication or Media Studies | Ivory Coast | Volume 10 Issue 12, December 2021

Changes in the Public Space of Cote d'Ivoire: the Example of the Transposition of the Palaver Tree on Facebook

Benoit Kouakou Oi KOUAKOU

Abstract: The palaver tree is presented as a space where the cultural and philosophical principle of traditional African debate on the affairs of the city unfolds. This study analyses the transposition of these palaver trees onto the digital network Facebook. For theoretical reflection, it calls culturalism, the theory of uses and the theory of public space. At the methodological level, it is based on a corpus of 4 texts (the "about" sections of the different groups) and 8 images (the 4 profile images of the 4 groups and 4 captures of publications). The analysis reveals that the discussion tree groups on the Facebook digital network, while they trigger optimism and make people dream (especially because of the freedom of expression), disillusion and make many Internet users distrust them (because of, among other things, the intolerance, aggressiveness and irreverence that prevail there). Hence the need for digital network education based on the principles of the African palaver tree.

Keywords: Palaver trees, digital social networks, public space deliberative space, Facebook, Cote d'Ivoire

Edition: Volume 10 Issue 12, December 2021,

Pages: 89 - 96