Bornes-fontaines, régime d’improvisation et relations sociopolitiques au Tchad, Cameroun et Burkina Faso

Abstract

Water fountains are essential components of the global water supply. In this article, I focus on various types of water fountains in three African countries. The fountain moves through various contexts and is rooted in the local economy. It requires a specific sociotechnical regime: the improvisation regime. The latter notably structures institutional arrangements, usage, and modalities for maintenance and repair. The improvisation regime coexists with stable elements, such as economic inequalities and gender relations. This dyadic relationship between stable and fluctuating elements characterises the water fountain.