Browsers and phone girls: the intricate socialities of friendship, trust and cyberlove in Nima (Accra)

Abstract

The young men of Nima, a popular neighbourhood in Accra, organize themselves in small age groups that meet almost daily in a specific spot, to chat, play and ‘wait’, while dreaming together of a better future in a distant elsewhere. The friendships that find root in these so-called bases, which often have names such as ‘Chicago’ or ‘Brooklyn’, lead to hope and specific modes of action through which these young people engage with the city, the wider world and their own aspirations. Taking these bases as an ethnographic vantage point, this article looks into relations of proximity, friendship and trust and the agency of the young men. The article's focus then turns to the virtual world of the same young men – and their girlfriends – in order to analyse the new modes of friendship that are shaped by their internet browsing. It shows how the modalities and intricacies of online, often deceitful, friendship and love rely on vital localized friendship bonds, defined by trust, of browsers in the zongo. Browsing opens up new possibilities but also challenges, and erodes existing moral socialities between friends.

Identity Expression—the Case of ‘Sakawa’ Boys in Ghana

“…The above view of the informant is an indicator that, within the Sakawa fraternity, jargon or slang is prioritised not only for communication purposes but also for reasons of confidentiality and privacy among members. The findings here confirm what Cassiman's (2018) studies revealed in Nima, where 'hit' or 'hitting' was a widely used term to mean successful receipt of money transfers from victims, something outside persons could not normally comprehend. Similarly, Oduro-Frimpong (2011, p.2) concluded that a 'hit' mainly applies to the successful receipt of money from a money transfer service, such as Western Union, WorldRemit, Remitly, TransferWise, Money Gram and so on.…”

“…Therefore, female scammers with names such as Hawa, Salma, Ni'mah and Zainab in orthodox Muslim Zongo communities as revealed in Cassiman study in Nima and Accra, transgress the moral standard of womanhood and may find it difficult in settling down in marriage (Cassiman, 2019, p. 494). Cassiman's (2018Cassiman's ( , 2019 conclusions are worth noting. Her studies confirm that the readiness of Sakawa boys to cede their roles in online dating scams to girls to ingeniously execute a grand scheme in cybercrime challenges gender relations and norms.…”

“…While Warner claimed that about 90% of Internet scammers in Ghana are made up of men (2011, p.740), it is difficult to obtain an accurate data of young women in Internet scamming in the country, partly because of the moral standards society sets for women, in terms of virtue and proper character for prospective brides. Cassiman's (2019) research revealed interesting findings on how gender is implicated in Internet scams in the Zongo communities, as young girls and women participate in Internet scams through online dating (Cassiman, 2018(Cassiman, , 2019. Generally, the type of gender fraud that prevails in the cybercrime business in Ghana is online dating or friendship scam.…”

“…Otherwise, a potential victim may slip by when the scheme is detected. To successfully become a cyber fraudster in the Sakawa industry requires mastery of artistic conning skills (Cassiman, 2018).…”

“…They also affirm the assertion that gender as a socially constructed practice is not fixed, but fluid, subject to the wind of change of society. Zongo communities in Accra, Ghana are no exemption (Cassiman, 2018(Cassiman, , p. 2019.…”