When we embarked on a project to assemble an exhibition on mobile telephony in Africa the first question raised was: ‘what is the materiality of mobile telephony?’ In this paper I will scrutinise this materiality in several ways and from different perspectives. My point of departure is the visibility of the materiality, after all in a museum people have to ‘see/observe’. Each technology comes with its regime that defines also the materiality. For instance the telephone companies have introduced new colours as part of their PR and they have introduced new advertisements published on big billboards, etc. Furthermore the technology demands a certain equipment like the antennae, the offices etc. These elements have certainly given the urban and rural landscapes in Africa a new view. Another materiality is the products that have come with the phone, the phones themselves. A new technology like the mobile phone will also come with special behaviour and attitudes of people who are now using these phones. Another materiality translates in the services, like repair shops, selling of airtime, etc. These elements together make the visuality and materiality of the mobile phone in Cameroon. These materialities came suddenly and change rapidly. Can we consider these materialities as popular culture or art? What is the perception of the ‘users’ of these ‘intrusions’ in their environment? What exactly does it represent, the peoples’ culture or the companies culture?