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Mobile phones, electoral songs and pastoral populism in northern Kenya: towards a political anthropology of file sharing
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 April 2026
Abstract
This article explores the impact of mobile phones on entertainment practices and electoral communication among pastoral communities following constitutional reform in Kenya in 2010. It examines the digital dissemination of music files among Samburu mobile herders, emphasizing the role of communication technology in shaping political identities and ideologies. Specifically, this analysis considers how the two main contenders for the governorship of Samburu County in the 2022 elections engaged with the content-exchange networks generated by the digital circulation of raid songs among pastoralists. The recording and dissemination of these repertoires via mobile phones fostered new patterns of interaction and entertainment, which in turn provided channels through which election songs could circulate in rural areas. By mobilizing these songs, candidates sought to project a more authentically pastoral identity, thereby appealing to rural voters. The analysis presented here unveils a consolidating form of rural populism grounded in pastoral political categories, institutional decentralization and the use of digital technologies. It situates mobile herding societies within larger global trends of digitally mediated politics and new forms of consensus building, shedding light on the changing foundations of Kenyan democracy.
Résumé
Cet article examine l’impact des téléphones portables sur les habitudes de divertissement et les modalités de communication électorale chez les communautés pastorales du Kenya après la réforme constitutionnelle de 2010. Il analyse notamment les processus de diffusion numérique de fichiers musicaux parmi les pasteurs nomades Samburu, en mettant l’accent sur le rôle des technologies de communication dans la formation d’identités et d’idéologies politiques. Plus précisément, cette étude s’intéresse à la manière dont les deux principaux candidats à la position de gouverneur du Samburu County lors des élections de 2022 ont mobilisé des réseaux prééxistant de partage de fichiers façonnés par les échanges numériques de chants de raid générationnels. L’enregistrement et la diffusion de ces répertoires par téléphone portable ont favorisé de nouveaux modes d’interaction et de loisir chez les pasteurs. L’émergence de ces nouvelles habitudes liées au numérique a facilité la diffusion de chants électoraux ayant pour objectif de présenter les candidats sous un jour plus authentiquement pastoral et d’affirmer ainsi leur proximité avec les électeurs ruraux. Cette enquête révèle une forme émergente de populisme rural fondée sur des catégories politiques pastorales, sur la décentralisation institutionnelle et sur l’utilisation des technologies numériques. Elle situe les sociétés pastorales mobiles dans le contexte plus large des tendances mondiales en matière des usages politiques du numérique et de la création de consensus, mettant en lumière les transformations contemporaines de la démocratie kenyane.
Resumo
Este artigo explora o impacto dos telemóveis nos hábitos de consumo de entretenimento e na comunicação eleitoral nas comunidades pastorais após a reforma constitucional no Quénia em 2010. Examina a disseminação digital de ficheiros de música entre os pastores nómadas Samburu, enfatizando o papel da tecnologia da comunicação na formação de identidades e ideologias políticas. Especificamente, esta análise considera como os dois principais candidatos ao governo do condado de Samburu nas eleições de 2022 se envolveram com as redes de troca de conteúdo geradas pela circulação digital de canções de invasão geracionais. A gravação e divulgação desses repertórios por meio de telemóveis promoveram novos padrões de interação e entretenimento entre os pastores, o que, por sua vez, proporcionou canais através dos quais as canções eleitorais podiam circular nas áreas rurais. Essas canções ajudaram os candidatos a projetar uma identidade pastoril mais autêntica, atraindo assim os eleitores rurais. Esta investigação revela uma forma emergente de populismo rural baseada em categorias políticas pastorais, descentralização institucional e uso de tecnologias digitais. Ela situa as sociedades pastorais móveis dentro de tendências globais mais amplas de política mediada digitalmente e novas formas de construção de consenso, lançando luz sobre as bases em transformação da democracia queniana.
Information
- Type
- Digitizing performance
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- Copyright
- © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The International African Institute
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