New

ISBN	9789956554546
Pages	134
Dimensions	203x127 mm
Published	2025
Publisher	Langaa RPCIG, Cameroon
Format	Paperback

Ringtone Stories

Voices from Bamenda’s Mobile Generation

by Carine Kometa, Francis B. Nyamnjoh

In the bustling city of Bamenda, Cameroon, the symphony of mobile phone ringtones tells a story of individual expression and cultural identity. This book invites you to explore the fascinating world of ringtones, where mundane sounds transform into powerful statements. Through in-depth interviews and keen observations, the authors uncover the diverse meanings behind people’s ringtone choices. Discover how age, gender, faith, and socioeconomic status intertwine with personal preferences to create a vibrant tapestry of unique ringtones. From the young journalist who uses a humorous ringtone to express his easy-going nature to the devout Catholic who carries the Lord’s Prayer with him, each story reveals a deeper connection between technology and personhood. Join us on a journey through the streets of Bamenda, where the symphony of ringtones echoes the aspirations, anxieties, and identities of a community embracing the digital age.

“This book is more than just a study of ringtones; it’s an exploration of human connection, identity, and the evolving role of technology in our lives. It challenges us to reconsider our own relationship with our phones and the subtle ways in which they shape our interactions with the world around us.” Billan Omar, Doctoral Research Fellow at HUMA, University of Cape Town

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About the Authors

Carine Kometa

Carine Kometa (BSc) in Journalism and Mass Communication. Freelance journalist and writer. Founder coach and counsellor at Light To My Path Foundation. Research interests in culture and technological advancement.

Francis B. Nyamnjoh

Francis B. Nyamnjoh joined the University of Cape Town in August 2009 as Professor of Social Anthropology from the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), Dakar, Senegal, where he served as Head of Publications from July 2003 to July 2009. He has taught sociology, anthropology and communication studies at universities in Cameroon and Botswana, and has researched and written extensively on Cameroon and Botswana. In October 2012 he received a University of Cape Town Excellence Award for “Exceptional Contribution as a Professor in the Faculty of Humanities”. He is recipient of the “ASU African Hero 2013” annual award by the African Students Union, Ohio University, USA. He is: a B1 rated Professor and Researcher by the South African National Research Foundation (NRF); a Fellow of the Cameroon Academy of Science since August 2011; a fellow of the African Academy of Science since December 2014; a fellow of the Academy of Science of South Africa since 2016; and Chair of the Editorial Board of the South African Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Press since January 2011. His scholarly books include: Africa’s Media, Democracy and the Politics of Belonging (2005); Insiders and Outsiders: Citizenship and Xenophobia in Contemporary Southern Africa (2006); “C'est l'homme qui fait l'homme”: Cul-de-Sac Ubuntu-ism in Côte d'Ivoire (2015); and #RhodesMustFall: Nibbling at Resilient Colonialism in South Africa (2016).