#11: More than a cog ?????

TECH

Chinese Hurdles to Global Dominance?—?If you’re interested in global tech policy, this informative article by Rebecca MacKinnon on Chinese tech giants will interest you. In summary, she points out that it is obvious that Chinese tech giants like Alibaba and Tencent are seeking to gain as much international and global dominance as similar companies which provide similar services or products. However, concerns about their practices and approach to government interference on their platforms makes it difficult for mass adoption by the rest of the world. MacKinnon states that while the companies have made noticeable progress in improving privacy and transparency, particularly in response to foreign pressure and new regulations like China’s Cybersecurity Law, becoming more accountable by disclosing data breaches and being more transparent about how they handle user information. The Chinese government still holds ultimate control over these companies. In truth, the Communist Party of China (CCP) demands its tech companies censor and surveil users , often in violation of universal human rights as.

She ends by adding that, no matter how much progress is made in areas like privacy protection, as long as the Chinese government controls the internet ecosystem, these companies will continue to operate under the shadow of state power. Thus making their global adoption a lot more complex.

LAW

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill?—?The UK Government is preparing the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to Parliament in 2025, following its announcement in the King’s Speech of July 2024. The Bill focuses on safeguarding essential public services, such as healthcare, universities, and government bodies, in light of increasingly frequent cyber attacks, cybercriminal activity and hostile state actors. The Bill will serve as an upgrade to the existing NIS (Network and Information Systems) Regulations, which are rooted in EU law. Post-Brexit, the UK aims to maintain pace with developments in EU cyber security regulations, particularly as the NIS2 Directive comes into effect this month. While the UK won’t be adopting NIS2 directly, this Bill is designed to strengthen the nation’s cyber defences in a way that aligns with these EU advancements.

Recent high-profile attacks, such as those targeting the NHS and Ministry of Defence , highlight the urgent need for stronger legislation to address the increasing complexity of cyber threats. The Bill will expand the current regulatory framework to cover more digital services and supply chains, require better incident reporting, and give regulators more power to enforce security measures. However, the success of these new measures will depend on whether regulators can enforce them effectively. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, this is a step in the right direction, but ongoing adjustments will be necessary to keep the UK prepared for these evolving challenges.

MEDIA

Spotify Offline Backup?—?Spotify has always been great at bringing features we love?—?the personalised Spotify AI DJ called X, Spotify Blend, or the year-end Wrapped. But their new Offline Backup feature is a real game-changer, especially for frequent travellers or anyone who finds themselves off the grid. Ever been ready to take off on a flight or set out on a hike, only to realise you forgot to download your go-to playlist? Spotify’s new Offline Backup feature, automatically pulls together a playlist from your recently streamed and queued songs, no downloads or data needed.

The playlist is curated from the songs already stored on your device and adjusts to your taste over time. Need to set a vibe? You can filter it by artist, mood, or genre to match whatever moment you’re in. Whether you’re mid-flight, lost in the mountains, or just saving data, your music keeps going.

This feature was rolled out globally yesterday for Premium users and works seamlessly across Android, iOS, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Just open the app when you’re offline, and your custom playlist is waiting?—?ready to play, no matter where you are. Would love to know how it works for you, send me your thoughts on it.

LIFE

Language, Tolerance and History?—?This week I went down a mini rabbit hole exploring the origins of West African pidgin English, particularly Nigerian Pidgin, inspired by a tweet (I’m not calling it ‘X’ or referring to them as “posts”) where someone assumed Sierra Leonean Krio was just broken pidgin. While most Sierra Leoneans took up arms in the replies, I didn’t see it as malicious. To me, it was harmless ignorance?—?something we all have when we encounter things we haven’t been exposed to.

First, some context, since it’s often missing in these online debates:

• Sierra Leone is home to about 8.6 million people. Despite our rich and beautiful history, it does not exactly translate into a global culture juggernaut, so it’s no surprise people haven’t been exposed to our culture.
• Nigeria, on the other hand, has about 218 million people, and Nigerian culture has seeped into almost every corner of the world. Afrobeats, Nollywood, etc.
• I’m a proud Sierra Leonean, from the Krio tribe, literate in Krio (can read and write). I also have strong ties to Nigeria?—?family, friends, even a middle name, “Oluseyi,” which is as Yoruba as they come. Fun fact: I lived in Nigeria as a child during Sierra Leone’s civil war. That being said, I approach all of this with playful curiosity and an openness to learn and engage.

Back in the UK, my Nigerian friends were mostly surprised when I told them that most Sierra Leoneans grew up immersed in Nigerian pop culture?—?P Square, 2Face, Mad Melon & Mountain Black, you name it. Even today, we follow the Wizkid vs. Davido debates, Burna Boy’s “You go explain taya” moments, and Big Brother Naija celebrities.

Obviously, I have fond memories of listening to a lot of Sierra Leonean artists like Jimmy B, Emmerson, K Man, Pupa Bajah, and Dry Yaii Society, though they were on a (to put it lightly) much smaller scale. My Nigerian friends were even more shocked by my Yoruba name, which sparked a lot of fun conversations about the deep ties between Krios and Yorubas, and West Africa in general. I did my best to introduce them to Sierra Leonean history, jollof, and our music.

Anyway I never missed an opportunity to tease them that Nigerians are the Americans of Africa. Due to Nigeria’s cultural dominance across Africa and beyond, people in other countries are usually well aware of what’s happening there, especially in terms of pop culture. However, it often works the other way around?—?many Nigerians I’ve met know very little about other countries, at least for Sierra Leone.

This is somewhat normal; it almost reminds me of American Exceptionalism. If I had grown up in Nigeria, I’d see little to no incentive to pay attention to other countries and cultures when all the fun and excitement were being produced at home. This is perfectly understandable. I don’t expect everyone to know about a country of 8 million people (a population smaller than Lagos or London). While more curious minds might take an interest, it’s not guaranteed. Personally, I believe the responsibility lies with people to tell their own story. As the saying goes, “Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.”

Whenever I engage with people who don’t know much about Sierra Leone, I engage with them in good faith. A few responses to that tweet, however, were?—?curt and combative, instead of seizing the opportunity to educate (which some others did). Sure, it can be frustrating when people don’t know your culture, but it’s also a chance to show up as a good ambassador.

Personally I think a lot more people could do better engaging on social media with an “I can learn from anyone” mindset instead of an “I can fight anyone.”mindset. Thankfully, some replies to the tweet were informative but I particularly liked one from @KuntaWilliams (likely Nigerian, but that name screams Sierra Leonean), generously citing a paper by Christine I. Ofulue (a Nigerian Professor of Linguistics) titled ‘Nigerian Pidgin and West African Pidgins: A sociolinguistic perspective ’.

Out of curiosity and (I think some idleness) I went through the paper by Prof Olufue and I’ll provide a summary of the paper, specifically the role Krio played in the development of Nigerian, Cameroonian, and Ghanaian pidgin languages based on the document:

• Resettlement and the Formation of Krio (Late 18th?—?Early 19th Century)?—?The resettlement of freed slaves from the Americas, particularly Nova Scotia (Nova Scotians) and Jamaica (The Maroons), to Sierra Leone between 1787 and 1885 was pivotal in the formation of Krio. These settlers, along with liberated Africans rescued from slave ships, created a new Creole tribe in Freetown. The Krio language, a mixture of English, African languages, and creole elements from the Americas, became the lingua franca of Freetown and the Western Area.
• British Colonial Administration and Krio’s Expansion (19th Century)?—?During British colonial rule, Sierra Leone, especially Freetown, became a key administrative hub for British West Africa. Educated Creoles, who spoke Krio, were employed in colonial bureaucratic and missionary roles across British-controlled regions like Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon. This created a direct channel for Krio’s spread, as these Krio-speaking officials and traders exerted social and economic influence in the regions they served
• Migration and Diffusion of Krio (19th?—?Early 20th Century)?—?As part of British colonial policy, many Krio speakers migrated along the West African coast, particularly to Lagos, Accra, and coastal Cameroon. Their migration and roles in trade and governance helped spread Krio, whose linguistic elements began mixing with local dialects, giving rise to Nigerian Pidgin, Cameroonian Pidgin, and Ghanaian Pidgin.
• Linguistic Similarities and Structural Influence?—?Nigerian and Cameroonian Pidgin languages share many core grammatical features with Krio, including the use of markers for tense and plurality. Words like “d?m” (plural marker) and “d?n” (retrospective marker) in Nigerian Pidgin and Cameroonian Pidgin are directly borrowed from Krio.
• Krio’s Role as a Lingua Franca and its Long-lasting Impact?—?Krio, which was well-established in Sierra Leone due to its British colonial connections, served as a lingua franca not just in Sierra Leone but across West Africa. Its widespread use in trade and governance made it a model for emerging pidgins in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon. Over time, Krio played a foundational role in shaping the linguistic landscape of West Africa, influencing the structure and vocabulary of regional pidgin languages

The key takeaway? West Africa is more connected than we often realise, but our stories need a lot more documentation. We need books, TV shows?—?something more than academic papers?—?to bring this history to life for a wider audience.

Social media can be a powerful tool to bridge these gaps, but too often, interactions turn into verbal sparring matches. Let’s be honest?—?we simply can’t know everything about everything, and that’s okay. Just think?—?if you met someone from Turkmenistan (pop. 7.49 million), you’d likely grasp at any tiny connection to establish commonality, but it would most likely come off as ignorant. That said, we can do better. The way we communicate about things we know little about should always convey some respect.

At the end of the day, we’re more alike than we think. A Pan-African future won’t emerge from endless fighting on social media?—?Africa is all it has. We stand for everyone else, but too often, no one stands for us. We need more curiosity and a willingness to engage in good faith, especially when dealing with other Africans. I doubt the user @realitytvm meant any harm; they were probably just connecting the dots based on what they knew. However, as Prof. Ofulue’s work shows, Krio came first and influenced Nigerian Pidgin.

Now that this little language squabble among cousins is settled, I’ll leave you with this: Salone jollof > Naija jol… never mind. Enjoy your weekend!

Dedicating this section to my friends Dolapo, Christabel, and Olamide, who are still on my case about a Salone December trip. One day, we’ll make it out of the group chat and onto a beach on the peninsula.

…my favourite things this week:

1. Song: Lead Me On by Chandler Moore
2. Quote: “The explorer doesn’t set out on his voyage trusting the seas will remain calm and that he will remain perfectly on course, but rather; in his ability to adapt when the inevitable storms and chaos arrive”?—?Sahil Bloom
3. YouTube Find: Visa on Arrival S3: BLOODY GEN Z(Episode 8)

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Thanks for reading, and see you in the next edition!

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