African Cities Through Local Eyes

Reviews / Votes

"This work sheds a new light on African cities through theoretical approaches and concepts adapted to the specific challenges of planning, social appropriation of physical space, and access to basic services. The diverse original contributions gathered here befit the urban diversity of a changing continent with manifest needs for improved living conditions and inhabitation practices. Policymakers, experts, practitioners, investors and international agencies will find new perspectives on urban governance and planning." (Kabata Kabamba, Université Pédagogique Nationale / Institut Supérieur d'Architecture et d'Urbanisme, Kinshasa)

"This volume is a must-read for those researchers, planners, urbanists and activists who are interested in understanding Global South urbanism in general and in Africa in particular. Many critical essays, authored by both African and non-African scholars and practitioners, offer a valuable perspective on the complexities and challenges of urban processes in Africa, on planning epistemologies, on urban politics as well as on design strategies. The chapters are diverse and importantly they do not refer to African cities and urbanism in an essentialist manner, but rather they open new ways - often critical - to understand them. Through local eyes is a comprehensive and valuable resource book." (Haim Yacobi, Bartlett Development Planning Unit, University College of London)

"This book provides a highly welcome contribution to the theories and practices of planning aiming to face the disconcerting inequalities of African cities. Drawing a well-constructed interpretative frame for the rich diversity of case study-based essays collected, the editors concur with the recently emerged literature on locally situated planning as against long-established physical or managerial approaches. Deftly, the introduction rightfully points to a number of drawbacks place-based approaches and grass-root actions may bear and their detrimental effects on a just urban development." (Marcello Balbo, UNESCO Chair on the Social and Spatial Inclusion of International Migrants - Urban Policies and Practices, Università Iuav di Venezia)