On the History of African Cities

While Western imagination often paints Africa as a rural continent, many African societies have long and dynamic histories of urbanism. This course, a history course at Wake Forest University entitled “Urban Africa” examines such histories, with particular emphasis on how ordinary city residents—not simply political or economic authorities—shaped urban space and experienced city life. Focusing primarily on the colonial and post-colonial periods, it frames African cities as sites in which African peoples have engaged with the wider world, created novel political and social formations, combatted imperial logics, and produced dynamic cultural forms which have reverberated in global circles.

This community provides a home for the major intellectual conversations of our course and features student writings about our course materials, major scholarly conversations, and efforts to depict African urban space and experience. Launched in the Spring semester of 2023 with the aim of adding additional content in the future, it is a space that not only gives students a chance to share their own insights, but to craft their skills at writing public-facing pieces and speaking to audiences beyond the walls of our classroom.