African indigenous repertoires and the expansion of mobilization in repressive contexts

African traditional protest repertoires of contention are often effective in facilitating mass mobilization due to their symbolic resonance. The use of these indigenous repertoires in Africa has promoted their continued inclusion and use in contemporary protests across the continent. Despite their significant role in shaping the trajectories of mobilization in Africa, these repertoires have been understudied in the social movement literature. Their symbolic appeal and facilitation of mobilization against repressive regimes have also allowed for their deployment in similar ways across varying historical and political contexts. By employing a parallel case studies design using the Nigerian End SARS movement and the Cameroon Anglophone movement, this study illustrates similar patterns in the effectiveness of African traditional repertoires in constraining the actions of repressive forces, allowing for the growth of popular contention. Hence, local repertoires support the expansion phase of social movements in repressive environments. Social movement studies may be advanced by incorporating cases beyond the Global North model, with specific attention to the accelerator function of African repertoires.