It is with great sadness that RIA learned of the passing of Dr. Boubakar Barry on 18 September 2024. Here Executive Director Alison Gillwald pays tribute to his lasting legacy in shaping digital development in Africa:
Boubakar was one of the pioneers of digital development on the continent, driving it through Ubuntunet and university and academic networks in the true understanding that it was essential for African academics, researchers and innovators to progress in an increasingly globalised and unevenly developed digital world. He was tenacious in getting his sometimes incalcitrant national bureaucrats to undertake initiatives that would contribute to the development of the countries and the well-being of its people.
He was a longstanding and supportive comrade of Research ICT Africa, but it was only in the last wave of the After Access surveys that he formally partnered with us to undertake the survey in Senegal. Despite his ceaseless efforts to get the national statistical office to provide the census frame that enabled the sampling – including translating all documentation into French, jumping through numerous hoops not required by any other statistical office (or by the statistical office in the past in Senegal) finally taking meetings from his hospital bed – the survey, the only Francophone country with longitudinal data, was unable to proceed to his frustration and condemnation.
But his passion and commitment were always expressed in ways that were measured, civil and professional. A pragmatists in the broader interests of society, he was never expedient. A person of enormous integrity and knowledge, he leaves a great legacy on the continent. Boubakar will be sadly missed by the RIA team but will always be warmly remembered. Our condolences go to his loved ones, colleagues and students for their enormous loss.
