Africabeat

Google has added 30 African cities to Google Maps, according to a press release I received this morning:

As of today new detailed maps of 30 African cities and towns are accessible on Google Maps through any web browser or via Google Maps for mobile on data enabled handsets. The new service means that Google Maps users will now be able to search online maps, look up businesses, advertise for free via Google Maps Local Business Centre, create their own maps and even check locations while they’re on the move.

The immediate benefit of this is clearly for local entrepreneurs and civic organizations.  Although more extensive maps of many African cities have been popping up on Google over the last few years, this launch offers local users new opportunities to contribute their own content:

Our big announcement today is that we are launching Maps domains for 30 countries across Africa. So what’s on offer? As well as searching online Maps for towns, highways, or roads, Google Maps users can now find local businesses. This could be a burger place in Lagos, a garage in Kampala, a hairdresser in Accra or an airport shuttle in Dakar. Any business anywhere can add their own business listing for free via the Google Maps Local Business Centre. Businesses can also improve their websites and help customers locate them by installing the Maps API….

…You know your local area better than we do, which is why Map Maker is on offer. With Map Maker, any user can create or edit map data, ranging from schools to local businesses, national parks to taxi stops. If you know your local area, or you’ve seen something that’s missing, take up the opportunity to get mapping! As we’ve pointed out before, maps are also invaluable for governments, NGOs, universities and entrepreneurs, who can visualise, plan and market the areas and projects that they work on.

Check out their sample maps, including one of  Theaters and Clubs in Dakar and a collection of (what looks like a hypothetical expat’s) favorite places in Kampala.

Via Afrinnovator, a video shows Eldoret, Kenya being “put on the map” in the course of just a few weeks

In addition to making it easier to figure out what to do on a Saturday night the next time I’m in Nairobi, as a researcher, this is a really exciting step forward.  I also looking forward to what kind of user-generated content emerges and its potential for coordinating social or political action.

And as it happens, I, a map newbie, am attending a workshop tomorrow on how to use ArcGIS with Google Maps and the week after, one on making Google Maps mashups, something the folks at Ushahidi have done to great effect.  Most of the maps we use in our lab exercises are of American states and American cities, in part because the data here are so readily available, extensive and reliable.  Thanks Google for helping to put more of Africa on the map!