Personal profile
Short presentation
I hold a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Freiburg, Germany (2011) and an MA in Development and International Relations, University of Aalborg, Denmark (2004). From 2015 to 2017, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. I have also been as a guest lecturer at the universities of Buea (Cameroon), Basel (Switzerland) and Freiburg.
My research focuses on social practices and the production of meanings through media technologies: new/social media and transnational relationships, media and Pentecostalism as well as media and racism. I am interested on the ways in which the liveness of media influences sociality and users’ sensory experiences, expectations and distanciations that arise in mediated communication, smartphones/social media and connectivity, smartphones/social media and electronic identities, media and self-presentation. My research on Pentecostalism revolves around the mediatization of Christian beliefs and practices in Cameroon. As concerns racism online, I look at racist discourse and representations, philosophical anthropology, questions of freedom, decoloniality and social justice.
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Research output
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Dynamics of Difference: The Civil and Political Rights of Women and Persons with Disability in Cameroon
Tazanu, P. M., 2025, (In preparation) EXPLORING EMERGING DIMENSIONS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES: AN AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE. p. 67-82Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
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Free Media and the Future of Democracy in the Economic Community of Central African States
Tazanu, P. M., 2025, The Future of Democracy in Africa: Voices from Africa’s Leading Think Tanks. Anọ́ba, I. B. (ed.). African Liberty, p. 1-13Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Le thème de l'exploitation du travailleur dans œuvres de Lapiro de Mbanga
Tazanu, P. M., 2025, LAPIRO de Mbanga – Fragrances d’une vie et d’une œuvre complexes. AfreditResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
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Placing the Human at the Centre of Healthcare Delivery in Cameroon
Tazanu, P. M., 2025, In: On Policy Magazine.Research output: Contribution to journal › Contribution to newspaper - Newspaper article
Open Access -
Reflections on Human rights abuses in a land of Abundant Resources
Tazanu, P. M., 5 Dec 2025, In: Johannesburg New Liberals.Research output: Contribution to journal › Contribution to newspaper - Newspaper article
Open Access -
Reflections on Misplaced Solidarity
Tazanu, P. M., 1 Sept 2025, In: The Helsinki Notebooks.Research output: Contribution to journal › Contribution to newspaper - Newspaper article
Open Access -
Steadfastness in Perilous Times: The role of Governance and Democracy Think Tanks in Spotlighting the Rising Authoritarianism in Francophone Africa
Tazanu, P. M. & Hugues, P., 2025, In: On Policy Magazine.Research output: Contribution to journal › Contribution to newspaper - Newspaper article
Open Access -
Trade and Power: A Crucial Moment for Africa to Empower Continental Supranational Institutions
Tazanu, P. M., 3 Oct 2025, In: On Policy Magazine.Research output: Contribution to journal › Contribution to newspaper - Newspaper article
Open Access
Activities
- 1 Lecture and oral contribution
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Practising African anthropologies in a time of crisis https://nomadit.co.uk/conference/easa2020/p/8692
Tazanu, P. M. (Other)
21 Jul 2020Activity: Presentations, memberships and other activity types › Lecture and oral contribution
Press/Media
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What data means for Cameroonians https://a4ai.org/what-data-means-for-cameroonians-2019-affordability-report-cameroon-impact-story/
16/10/2019
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media