Power and Informality in Urban Africa
Ethnographic Perspectives
Published on 27. January 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
264 pages
978-1-78699-344-1 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
Reviews / Votes
This excellent edited volume continues the tradition of Zed producing work on informality in cities on the African continent. A wide variety of scholars will find much to ponder in these pages. There is a particular focus on the intersections between power inequality and informality, but across a diversity of urban contexts. The ethnographic approaches of the authors bring these diverse contexts to life. * Garth A. Myers, Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of Urban International Studies, Trinity College, USA *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
404 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78699-344-1 (9781786993441)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Laura Stark | Annika Bjoernsdotter Teppo
Power and Informality in Urban Africa
Ethnographic Perspectives
E-Book
12/2021
1st Edition
Zed Books Ltd
€26.49
Available for download
Laura Stark | Annika Bjoernsdotter Teppo
Power and Informality in Urban Africa
Ethnographic Perspectives
E-Book
12/2021
1st Edition
Zed Books Ltd
€26.49
Available for download
Persons
Laura Stark is Professor of ethnology at the University of Jyvaeskylae, Finland. She was previously the director of the exchange network Living with Informal Settlements, Tackling Urban Poverty (LIFT UP), funded by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Annika Bjoernsdotter Teppo is Associate Professor at the Department of Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology at Uppsala University, Sweden. Dr. Teppo has previously headed the cluster for Urban Dynamics at the Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala, Sweden. She has been granted a title of docent in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Annika Bjoernsdotter Teppo is Associate Professor at the Department of Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology at Uppsala University, Sweden. Dr. Teppo has previously headed the cluster for Urban Dynamics at the Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala, Sweden. She has been granted a title of docent in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Content
Chapter One
Examining Power and Informality in Urban Africa - Laura Stark & Annika Teppo
PART I: Gold fever
Chapter Two
Hybrid governance in an impermanent mining settlement in Burkina Faso - Cristiano Lanzano
Chapter Three
Artisanal gold mining and rapid urbanisation in Mali - Sidylamine Bagayoko
PART II: Goods, services, needs: actors in the market
Chapter Four
Migratory youth porters and metal scrap dealers in Accra - Esther Danso-Wiredu and Adjoa Afriyie
Chapter Five
Women's neighbourhood vending as a survival strategy in Dar es Salaam - Tiina-Riitta Lappi
Chapter Six
"If only they would see us as honest workers": Motorcycle taxi drivers' rights to livelihood in Kampala - Caroline Wamala-Larsson
Chapter Seven
Mobile phone theft, resale and violence in Dar es Salaam - Laura Stark
PART III: Urban renewal: planning versus implementation
Chapter Eight
Youth, shelter, and liminal urbanism in Addis Ababa - Susanna Myllylae
Chapter Nine
Neighborhood Open Spaces: Co-production and spatial transformation in Addis Ababa - Segen Tesfamarian, Elias Yitbarek Alemayehu and Laura Stark
Chapter Ten
From musseque to high-rise: Luanda's renewal in times of abundance and crisis - Cristina Udelsmann Rodrigues
Examining Power and Informality in Urban Africa - Laura Stark & Annika Teppo
PART I: Gold fever
Chapter Two
Hybrid governance in an impermanent mining settlement in Burkina Faso - Cristiano Lanzano
Chapter Three
Artisanal gold mining and rapid urbanisation in Mali - Sidylamine Bagayoko
PART II: Goods, services, needs: actors in the market
Chapter Four
Migratory youth porters and metal scrap dealers in Accra - Esther Danso-Wiredu and Adjoa Afriyie
Chapter Five
Women's neighbourhood vending as a survival strategy in Dar es Salaam - Tiina-Riitta Lappi
Chapter Six
"If only they would see us as honest workers": Motorcycle taxi drivers' rights to livelihood in Kampala - Caroline Wamala-Larsson
Chapter Seven
Mobile phone theft, resale and violence in Dar es Salaam - Laura Stark
PART III: Urban renewal: planning versus implementation
Chapter Eight
Youth, shelter, and liminal urbanism in Addis Ababa - Susanna Myllylae
Chapter Nine
Neighborhood Open Spaces: Co-production and spatial transformation in Addis Ababa - Segen Tesfamarian, Elias Yitbarek Alemayehu and Laura Stark
Chapter Ten
From musseque to high-rise: Luanda's renewal in times of abundance and crisis - Cristina Udelsmann Rodrigues