Internet and diasporic communication: Dispersed Nigerians and the mediation of distance, longing and belonging

Abstract

This research investigates Internet uses and the potentials for transnational connections, for the development of a sense of nationalism, and for the construction of identity. Its focal point is on the case of the Nigerian diaspora. Though focussing mainly on the Internet, the role of other media are also highlighted in order to understand the complexities of long distance communication and the meanings of mediated connection within the broader context of international communications. The work analyses migrant uses and appropriations of media and communication technologies that enable a triangular framework of possibilities (i.) for longing and belonging, (ii.) for connecting migrants with Nigeria and (iii.) for shaping diasporic connections among the migrants in transnational and national contexts. The project employs qualitative and quantitative research methods, which include interviews, participant observation and survey, in an attempt to locate the practices and the meanings of Internet connections and online media activities.