Abstract:
Purpose: This study examines the rising cybersecurity
threats in Africa, where digital transformation particularly
mobile money platforms has exposed vulnerabilities such as
SIM-swap fraud, USSD attacks, and identity-driven
intrusions. Reported losses, including approximately Kshs.
11 billion in Kenya in 2023 and USD 500 million in Nigeria
in 2022, underscore the need for contextually relevant
cybersecurity strategies. The study proposes an Afrocentric
approach integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data,
and Cloud Computing to enhance threat detection,
intelligence sharing, and adaptive defense mechanisms.
Methodology: A Systematic Literature Review (SLR)
guided by PRISMA principles was conducted, examining
peer-reviewed studies, industry reports, and policy
documents from 2020 to 2025 across IEEE Xplore, Scopus,
ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink. The review focused on
African cybersecurity challenges, applications of emerging
technologies, and culturally relevant digital governance
frameworks. Thematic synthesis identified gaps and
informed the development of a conceptual Afrocentric
cybersecurity model.
Findings: Current Western-centric frameworks
inadequately address Africa’s mobile-first digital ecosystem.
The proposed Afrocentric model integrates AI-driven
analysis of mobile transactions, Big Data analytics for real
time threat intelligence, and cloud infrastructure designed
for localized data governance. The framework embeds
collective intelligence sharing inspired by Ubuntu
philosophy and emphasizes Managed Shared Responsibility
to overcome technical literacy gaps in SMEs.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy:
African governments, industry, and policymakers should
adopt Afrocentric cybersecurity strategies prioritizing
mobile ecosystems, develop local AI and Big Data capacity,
and establish secure cloud infrastructures. Future research
should empirically test the model to strengthen digital
resilience across African economies.
