Youth

African youth have been the primary catalyst of major political changes and transformation in postcolonial Africa. Yet, since the 1990s, much of the conventional narratives portray young people as violent troublemakers, prone to peril and “moral panic”, a “lost generation”, a “ticking time bomb”, and, therefore, a challenge to be conquered. However, in recent years, there has been an upsurge in youth activism, and young people are increasingly making important contributions to civil society, community-based organisations and movements for democracy, human rights, and social justice. This entry explores the dynamism, creativity, agency, and different ways and strategies that young people are improvising to navigate through barriers to their active political participation, particularly in electoral politics and decision-making processes. It argues that African youth are improvising the use of digital and social media platforms to mobilise, communicate, and advocate for political change. This has contributed to some of the momentous political changes on the continent and inspired renewed hope of youth renaissance in politics.