Urban Africa is undergoing a transformation unlike anywhere else in the
world, as unprecedented numbers of people migrate to rapidly expanding
cities. But despite the growing body of work on urban Africa, the lives
of these new city dwellers have received relatively little attention,
particularly when it comes to crucial issues of power and inequality.
This interdisciplinary collection brings together contributions from
urban studies, geography, and anthropology to provide new insights into
the social and political dynamics of African cities, as well as
uncovering the causes and consequences of urban inequality. Featuring
rich new ethnographic research data and case studies drawn from across
the continent, the collection shows that Africa's new urbanites have
adapted to their environs in ways which often defy the assumptions of
urban planners. By examining the experiences of these urban residents in
confronting issues of power and agency, the contributors consider how
such insights can inform more effective approaches to research, city
planning and development both in Africa and beyond.