Digital Storytelling for Women's Empowerment in Africa: The Case of Tareasa Johnson and Rose Adikin

Abstract

Digital storytelling has emerged as a powerful tool for amplifying vulnerable and marginalized voices. This study was inspired by Tareasa Johnson (Reesa Teesa), a master storyteller whose viral story on TikTok captivated millions globally. Within 21 days, the 50-part video series had attracted 400 million views and 3.6 million followers, up from 8,000. The study explored how digital storytelling can serve as a tool for women’s economic, social, and political empowerment across Africa. It documents the lived experiences of two women (Tareasa Johnson and Rose Adikin), examines digital storytelling techniques, and uncovers the challenges they face in digital storytelling. Grounded in constructivist theory and using the qualitative phenomenological design, the study examined online videos posted by two purposively sampled Black women and conducted a content analysis of newspaper coverage of the two women’s stories. Data was analyzed thematically, with six themes identified: Cultural adaptation and identity, community building, economic empowerment, emotional resilience, digital storytelling challenges, and production techniques. The study recommends that governments, media organizations, and NGOs recognize and adapt digital storytelling as a strategic tool for grassroots empowerment and policy engagement and prioritize investments in digital infrastructure, digital literacy programs for women, and the creation of safe, inclusive online spaces.