If so, what are its defining features? How does it stand alongside or apart from cities elsewhere? And if not, how do such cities “fit” into established urban frameworks?
Since it's impossible for scholars to study African cities comprehensively, accounting for everything that happens in them, what things should they prioritize in their work? That is, how should they try to “see” cities so as to understand them?
In the first unit of our course, we consider these important questions related to the study of urban Africa, especially as it relates to understanding African cities alongside cities outside the African continent.
The writings in this section invite students to reflect on these questions and to share what they see as the “most important insight central to understanding the dynamic terrain of urban Africa.” As they respond to this open-ended (and big!) question, students offer insights from some of our course readings.