Decolonizing Development Communications: Examining the legacy of colonial communication practices and their impact on current development narratives

Abstract

This paper examines how colonial communication practices continue to shape global development narratives, even after formal independence. Colonial influences remain embedded in legal, educational, and media systems, perpetuating mental and cultural domination that benefits external interests. Using postcolonial and decolonial theories, including those of Edward Said, Frantz Fanon, and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the paper critiques the 1950s modernization paradigm, which positioned Western models as the universal standard and marginalized the Global South as perpetually deficient. The analysis highlights how "linguistic colonization" and the concept of "Othering" have fossilised an "us and them" dichotomy, in which Western-led development communication often marginalises indigenous knowledge and silences the subaltern. By examining the role of language, the research illustrates how the continued dominance of European languages in African media and governance limits access to information and creates an internalised sense of inferiority among indigenous communities. Furthermore, the study critiques the "white gaze of development," noting that institutional hierarchies in global organisations often exclude those with lived experience, instead favouring top-down, directive communication models inherited from colonial regimes. To dismantle these colonial residues, the paper advocates for a shift from decolonisation (a political process) to decoloniality, which seeks to transform knowledge production and culture. The proposed framework emphasises Human-Centred Design (HCD), the elevation of indigenous languages, and participatory, community-led communication models that empower beneficiaries as co-creators of their own development. Ultimately, this research argues that meaningful progress is only attainable when development is defined and articulated by the people it seeks to serve, reimagining Africa not as a problem to be solved, but as a powerhouse of innovation and cultural wealth