Multilingual African Digital Semiotics and E-lit Journal (MADSEJ)

About the Journal

Multilingual African Digital Semiotics and E-lit Journal (MADSEJ) is a peer-reviewed multilingual scientific journal owned by African Electronic Literature Alliance & African Diasporic Electronic Literature (AELA & ADELI), The Nigeria French Language Village, Ajara-Badagry in partnership with Digital Humanities Unit of the Faculty of Arts (DHuFArts), University of Uyo, Nigeria.

ISSN: 1115-5884

Announcements

Call for Papers: Multilingual African Digital Semiotics and E-Lit Journal (MADSEJ) Vol. 3, Issue 1 – June 2025

14-02-2025

The Multilingual African Digital Semiotics and E-Lit Journal (MADSEJ) invites contributions for its June 2025 issue, focusing on the intersection of African literature, digital semiotics, and environmental knowledge. African literature has long reflected a dynamic interactivity with its environment, blending oral traditions, folktales and written forms to shape unique literary landscapes. This issue will explore botanical imaginaries—the representation of plant life in African literary and digital narratives—through geospatial, semiotic, and e-literary lenses.

We welcome submissions that critically engage with:

The role of flora as cultural and literary motifs in African narratives (prose, poetry, drama, digital literature).
Geospatial and cartographic approaches to mapping botanical knowledge in African literary traditions.
Indigenous environmental philosophies and digital archiving of African ecological knowledge.
Semiotics of African environmental storytelling in oral and digital cultures.
Digital representations and interactive aesthetics of flora in African e-literature.
The role of AI, geospatial mapping, and creative coding in preserving and visualizing botanical narratives.
African diaspora literature and the transmission of ecological knowledge across geographic spaces.

Keywords: African literature, botanical imaginary, Digital Humanities, Geospatial analysis, Database, ecocriticism, cartography

Submission Guidelines:

Abstracts (150–300 words) should outline the research focus, methodology, and key arguments.
Full papers (5,000–9,000 words) should follow MLA 9^th edition
Creative digital works (e-literature, multimedia projects) should be accompanied by a 500-word critical introduction.
Deadline for abstracts: March 30, 2025
Notification of acceptance: April 15, 2025
Full paper submission deadline: May 15, 2025

Current Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2024): The Integration of Artificial Intelligence into the African Humanities Scholarship

The rapid increase of internet connectivity has resulted in 5.52 billion global internet users in 2024, including approximately 570 million in Africa. This exponential growth has catalysed significant sociocultural transformations and computationally-assisted studies, forming the foundation for contemporary African digital culture. African users, in particular, leverage platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) as tools for liberation and social activism, often operating beyond the direct influence of global powers, including the United Nations. Notable examples include the socio-political upheavals of the Arab Spring in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya; the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria; and the recent Gen Z-led protests in Kenya.

African digital culture, undoubtedly, has become an enduring phenomenon, yielding substantial benefits. These include enabling digital activism, providing pathways to stardom through video content creation, and compelling governments to address pressing societal issues. The youth, in particular, have embraced digital technologies for their socio-technological and socioeconomic advantages, fostering a collective sense of empowerment and social responsibility. While challenges inherent to these digital transformations exist, this discourse emphasises their positive impacts.

Unlike traditional African cultural practices—such as the communal decision-making that required a market-day assembly—modern digital platforms like WhatsApp forums, Facebook Village Groups, Zoom, and Google Meet now facilitate instantaneous interactions and conversations. These tools have reshaped social exchanges, fostering sustainable and harmonious environments, physically or virtually.

Moreover, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into African digital ecosystems has further transformed its socioeconomic dynamics. Platforms such as Facebook Reels, YouTube, and TikTok have enabled Gen Z creators to achieve financial independence through their innovative digital skits and content creation. These advancements underscore the transformative potential of AI in alleviating poverty and redefining African digital culture.

The transformative landscape of African digital humanities inspired the theme of Volume 2, Number 1 of the Multilingual African Digital Semiotics and e-Lit Journal (MADSEJ), October 2024: The Integration of Artificial Intelligence into the African Humanities scholarship.

Published: 07-12-2024