Breaking the Cycle: Rethinking Learning Management Systems Adoption in African Universities

African universities face ongoing challenges in adoption and usage of Learning Management Systems (LMS) due to structural neglect and generic platform designs that overlook local realities such as limited internet and unequal access. This study addresses the need for context-sensitive online learning environments tailored to African institutional conditions. Through a mixed-methods approach involving surveys and structured interviews across five African countries, it explores key contextual variables influencing LMS adoption and usage, their uniqueness to Africa or commonality in under-resourced settings, and institutional processes that support resilience. The resulting framework aims to guide sustainable LMS use and support inclusive, resilient online learning in diverse African higher education contexts. Preliminary findings are shared.