<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In this study a series of in-depth interviews were conducted with Cameroonians living in Oslo in order to analyze the role of media in the way they constructed their identities. The article showed how through the use of email and Cameroonian websites transnational social networks were strengthened, and ethnic identities were maintained. It examined the role of public discourse in the host country’s mass media in the way Cameroonians negotiated their relationship with the host country. It also showed how the popularity of Anglo-American audiovisual products indicated a willingness to embrace global popular culture. This article’s main argument was that the construction of diasporic identities involved a multi-directional gaze; looking inward to the local context of the host country, backwards to the home country, and all around to the global context, and that the media played a major role in all these processes.</p></abstract>

In this study a series of in-depth interviews were conducted with Cameroonians living in Oslo in order to analyze the role of media in the way they constructed their identities. The article showed how through the use of email and Cameroonian websites transnational social networks were strengthened, and ethnic identities were maintained. It examined the role of public discourse in the host country’s mass media in the way Cameroonians negotiated their relationship with the host country. It also showed how the popularity of Anglo-American audiovisual products indicated a willingness to embrace global popular culture. This article’s main argument was that the construction of diasporic identities involved a multi-directional gaze; looking inward to the local context of the host country, backwards to the home country, and all around to the global context, and that the media played a major role in all these processes.

Cameroonians in Oslo, Diaspora, and Uses of the Media

Ph.d. Student, Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Cameroonians in Oslo, Diaspora, and Uses of the Media"}

In this study a series of in-depth interviews were conducted with Cameroonians living in Oslo in order to analyze the role of media in the way they constructed...

Cameroonians in Oslo, Diaspora, and Uses of the Media

Published Online: Feb 07, 2017

Page range: 83 - 94

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0140

Keywords
diaspora, media, technology, Cameroonians, identity

© 2009 Henry Mainsah, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Cameroonians in Oslo, Diaspora, and Uses of the Media

Published Online: Feb 07, 2017

Page range: 83 - 94

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0140

Keywordsdiaspora, media, technology, Cameroonians, identity

© 2009 Henry Mainsah, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
diaspora, media, technology, Cameroonians, identity