Philanthropic digital colonialism and complexities of mobile learning in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic mapping study.

This article systematically maps pre-tertiary mobile learning research in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) from 2013 to 2023, analyzing 40 primary studies to identify trends in publication, research topics, funding, and geographic focus. It finds that mobile learning research is concentrated mainly in secondary education within Southern and Eastern SSA, with limited attention to preschool, primary levels, and countries in the Sahel region. The study highlights that international funders and technology companies predominantly finance these projects, raising concerns about the influence of philanthrocapitalism and digital colonialism—concepts describing how private and Western actors shape educational technology agendas for profit and control. Research topics largely focus on technology acceptance and user perspectives rather than long-term integration or sustainability, underscoring gaps in addressing contextual challenges such as infrastructure, equity, and local educational needs.