Hungry for New Content, Google Tries to Grow Its Own in Africa

Google grew because it had the best search engine and content to be found. To continue to grow, Google needs to locate and provide more searchable information. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa, where Google struggles to find online content. Consequently, the company has sponsored a contest to encourage students in Tanzania and Kenya to create articles for Wikipedia in Swahili, a second language for 100 million people in East Africa but one with a feeble presence on the free encyclopedia. University students comprise the majority of expected winners. But editors on the English site express doubts about using some of the students’ articles about local culture without citations. But where to find citations in an oral culture? In any event, in an effort to grow its business, Google may be helping students, but in the process affecting how culture is recorded. – YaleGlobal