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Alumni

**Dennis Kamaanaa Sumbo**, PhD Cohort 2018, Wits-TUB-UniLag Alumni

**Dr Sumbo** is an early career researcher, initially appointed as an Assistant Lecturer in 2020, and is currently a Lecturer, Department of Local Government and City Management, SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa-Ghana. He worked as a Graduate Assistant at the Centre for Settlements Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, (KNUST), Kumasi-Ghana. Dennis completed his PhD at the School of Architecture and Planning, Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa in 2021. He also holds MPhil in Urban Management Studies and BSc. Land Economy from KNUST. His research interests include land tenure, urban governance and sustainability. 

**Thesis:** Peri-urbanisation and changing usufruct rights in customary land in Ghana - Case studies in Kumasi and Wa



Dr Dennis Kamaanaa Sumbo

Dennis Kamaanaa Sumbo

ResearchGate

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PhD, 2022-2025 Cohort

**James Gondwe** is currently a PhD student at the University of Witwatersrand in the School of Architecture and Planning. His research focuses on more than human geographies in the
context of animal geographies of cattle in Karonga Town, Malawi.

**Thesis:** Reimagining more-than- human towns: Exploring animal geographies of cattle in Karonga Town, Malawi.

James Gondwe

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Former Postdoc.

Dr. Carmel Rawhani was the Wits-TUB-UNILAG Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Architecture and Planning from 2021 until 2022. She currently works as a researcher for the KfW development bank and still involved in the project's academic activities as a research fellow. Carmel’s research focuses on the tension between the city as it is imagined and experienced, with a particular interest in the inappropriateness of dominant development policy norms. Her work within the Urban Lab Project focuses on public space, social cohesion, and the lessons offered by Johannesburg as a case study.

Dr Carmel Rawhani

Carmel Rawhani

The Wits-TUB-UniLag Urban Lab is a DAAD funded graduate school promoting cooperative efforts among the University of the Witwatersrand, Technische Universität Berlin and the University of Lagos seeking to contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda (NUA) on the African continent

Photos by Lucas Elsner and Marie Huchzermeyer

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Everyday urban practices in Africa - Disrupting global norms: Universities linking local realities and global policies

The World Urban Forum in Cairo was a busy week for the Wits-TUB-UNILAG Urban Lab. Next to a number of speaking engagements for our PIs Taibat Lawanson, Mfaniseni Sihlongonyane, Marie Huchzermeyer and Philipp Misselwitz, the project organised a successful Urban Library book launch event. The event, entitled "Everyday urban practices in Africa - Disrupting global norms: Universities linking local realities and global policies" was moderated by Prof Fana Sihlongonyane and took place on the evening of the first day of the WUF. It began with a brief introduction to the recently published book "Everyday urban practices in Africa" by the Urban Lab's Scientific Coordinator, Dr Nadine Appelhans. Drawing on the book, Prof Taibat Lawanson, who also co-leads the African Research Universities Alliance's Centre of Excellence on Urbanisation and Habitable Cities, reflected on the role of universities in creating and gathering knowledge, but also in disseminating it and informing policy. She emphasised that 'Everyday urban practices in Africa' provides an example and strategy for amplifying, contextualising and translating knowledge from communities' everyday practices to serve as a corrective to dominant urban policy norms. Professor Marie Huchzermeyer's statement then broadened the discussion on the role of universities and researchers, highlighting their role in critiquing policies, pushing boundaries, building alliances and advocacy, as well as the challenge of balancing normative stances without compromising on the academic rigour of the work.
As the final speaker, Dr Olajide Babatunde (Special Advisor eGIS and Urban Development, Lagos State Government) provided a practitioner's perspective on the potential impact on the ground of adopting development strategies in line with global policy norms while neglecting the everyday experiences of people, illustrating this with powerful examples from Lagos. In the discussion that followed, participants raised questions about the implications of the book's findings for the SDG monitoring process, as well as for planning practice and the challenge of connecting these processes to the everyday experiences of urban dwellers.



The Wits-TUB-UNILAG-UBRAN Lab at WUF 12 in Cairo

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School of Architecture and Planning, Wits University, 23 to 26 October 2024

Organised by the Wits-TUB-UNILAG Urban Lab project and hosted by the School of Architecture and Planning the African Urbanisms Conference took place at Wits University in Johannesburg from 23 to 26 October. The conference explored a diversity of urban experiences across Africa and discussed ways forward for urban development in the region.

The conference brought together over 300 professionals from across the African continent, as well as Europe and North America. These included academics from a variety of disciplines engaged in urban development, as well as practitioners from development cooperation, planning institutions, advocacy and community organisations. 

In his opening keynote, Shuaib Lwasa (ISS, Erasmus University Rotterdam) set the tone for the conference by calling for a differentiated picture of urbanisation in Africa and the academic and practical challenges it poses and emphasised the need to place Africa's diverse knowledge of urban development in Africa in public and academic discourses. Responses from Nqobile Malaza (Wits University), Gilbert Siame (University of Zambia) and Jennifer Robinson (University College London) focused the discussion on theorising urban development from Africa, listening to diverse knowledges, centering African experiences and campaigning for research outlets that support the dissemination of knowledge on African Urbanisms to the relevant contexts and decision makers. 

In 42 thematic sessions hosted by specialist session convenors, delegates presented their research and critically discussed a wide range of challenges facing African cities, explored transformative practices towards more sustainable urban areas and African futures that go beyond critiquing the status quo, and explored potential futures of urban development on the continent.

In the closing session, Florence Avogo (TU Berlin/ SDD-UBIDS), Taiwo Afinowi (University of Pretoria) and Dorcas Nthoki Nyamai (TU Dortmund) shared their reflections on the three themes of the conference: critical engagements, transformative practices and alternative futures. Geci Karuri-Sebina (Wits University), Philip Harrison (Wits University), Ayona Datta (University College London) and Grace Lubaale (UN Habitat) closed the conference by taking the conference’s debates further, discussing the relationship between policy and academic research and the implications of the conference insights for engaging with the future of cities in Africa and beyond.

The programme was complemented by various book launches and exhibitions, which explored urban development in the Gauteng region through a variety of artistic expressions. On Saturday an Urban Fare at Marlboro station allowed conference participants to explore the adjacent Alexandra neighbourhood with local guides, and to learn about the area's current development through panel discussions, theatre performances and an exhibition of work created by students through their engagement with the area. 

The Scientific Committee would like to thank everyone that attended, the presenters, the session hosts, the discussants and the speakers for openly and sincerely engaging with us in this conference and allowing the discourse on African Urbanisms to progress in this space. 

# **Scientific Committee:**
Prof Mfaniseni Sihlongonyane (Wits University), Prof Marie Huchzermeyer (Wits University), Prof Philipp Misselwitz (TU Berlin), Prof Taibat Lawanson (University of Lagos), Dr Haruna Jimoh (University of Lagos), Dr Nadine Appelhans (TU Berlin), Dr Emmanuel Busayo (Wits University), Lucas-Andrés Elsner (TU Berlin)
# **Organising Team:**
Dr. Nadine Appelhans, Zakiyyah Ayob, Dr Emmanuel Busayo, Lucas-Andrés Elsner, Hluma Ralane, Prof Mfaniseni Sihlongonyane, Taki Sithagu, Dilara Uçar


African Urbanisms Conference at Wits University - A review

Personal Profile on the UENR website

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Alumni Interviews

**How are you related to Wits-TUB-UniLag Urban Lab?**

I became part of the Wits-TUB Urban Lab Project when I was selected for the DAAD sponsored Postgraduate Scholarship Programme (2017-2021) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. I graduated on July 18, 2022 with a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning. I am a proud Alumnus of the Wits-TUB (now Wits-TUB-Unilag) Urban Lab. 

**Where and in which field do you currently work? What has been your career path so far?**

I work in the higher education sector in Ghana. I currently work with the University of Energy and Natural Resources as Head of Academic and Students’ Affairs (Administrative position).  After the PhD, I was appointed an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Geography and Sustainability Science in the same University where I teach courses in Planning and Sustainability, and Legal and institutional aspects of planning since January 2023. I also supervise undergraduate student project works in the BSc. Planning and Sustainability Programme. I am also still engaged with research. I am extending the frontiers of my PhD research and currently conducting a study on “Peri-urbanisation and conflicting parties: Reimagining the role of traditional authorities in conflict resolution in peri-urban transformation in Ghana” The project makes a modest contribution to peri-urbanisation literature by examining the role of traditional authorities in conflict resolution. It examines ways to fill a gap in emerging literature about rapid peri-urbanisation and the concomitant conflictual situations among the various actors. 

**How did the fellowship contribute to your career development?**

The fellowship has made a significant impact in my career as I improved on key skills such as:

- Analytical 
- Organised
- Research skills
- Improved writing skills
- Very good communication skills (both written and oral)
- Bold and resilient.

To me, the fellowship period, especially the sweeping uncertainties brought by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 during the writing of the latter chapters of my thesis built my level of resilience. No matter how difficult and uncertain situations were, I was and still would be able to navigate difficult environments. The comments from supervisors (no matter how ‘strong’) they were, taught me never to give up or be discouraged. Overall, the vicissitudes of the PhD journey made me thick skinned (hahaha).  

**What would you recommend to new graduates starting a career in urban development?**

I recommend new graduates starting a career in urban development to see themselves as key actors in building sustainable urban environments. Accordingly, they need to see the “big picture” and join other professionals to develop safe, happy, and sustainable urban spaces. This would require new graduates to learn more, listen more, and consult more in their daily planning functions.

Dr. George Kwadwo Anane

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Insightful Encounters and a Nostalgic Homecoming

# **Author: [Bankolay Theodore Turay](/about/people/Turay) (Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos)**
My one-month stay at the Department of Development Studies, University of Makeni, Sierra Leone, provided both a homecoming and a valuable opportunity to conduct a pilot study for my PhD research. My research investigates "Women's Access to Land for Sustainable Livelihood: Evaluating the Tenure Conflict in Peri-urban Settlements in Sierra Leone." Collaborating with like-minded academics at the University of Makeni enabled me to refine my data instruments and gather pilot data from communities in Mabolleh and Yainkasa (Bombali district) and Grafton and Tokeh (Western area rural district). Additionally, I was able to access resources on women's land rights from civil society and non-governmental organizations – resources unavailable at my home institution.

**Home coming nostalgia**

Leaving Sierra Leone for an extended period while my family remained was difficult. Seeing my children again after my absence stirred a mix of joy, guilt, and the pressure of having only a short time together. My daughter, 7, and my son, 14, are still in school, and I felt the weight of all I had missed. Balancing my research commitments in distant communities with the longing for my family created a whirlwind of emotions.

I had missed countless moments: family gatherings, my children's birthdays, their games, and even simple bedtime stories. The anxiety of catching up was overwhelming. At first, I struggled to fully embrace either my research or family time. Ultimately, I found a way to bridge the divide by including my children in some of my fieldwork. I explained my research in simple terms, emphasizing the importance of what I do. My daughter's insightful response – "you're fighting for me and other women" – brought me solace. My son, ever the questioner, challenged me with concerns about the work's impact and my future plans. Patiently answering him built both understanding and acceptance. Leaving again wasn't easy, but I departed with newfound joy. My children's understanding and their willingness to participate in my work transformed my experience. Their support turned a difficult situation into a source of strength.

**Beyond homecoming-Pilot study**

My mobility stay was both insightful and engaging, thanks to the incredibly welcoming, resourceful, and receptive communities I encountered. 

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FGD at Yainkasa community (Photo: John Brima Kargbo, SILNOF)

This stay proved invaluable in conducting a pilot study within these communities. The pilot aimed to:  refine my research instruments,  assess the feasibility of a larger study,  evaluate the practicality of my research protocol, check the effectiveness of the sampling frame and technique,  identify potential logistical challenges,  gather preliminary data, and  assess the data analysis methods for any issues.To achieve these goals, I employed a diverse range of data collection techniques, including: semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and gathering biographical data on specific women within the communities. 

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FGD at Mabolleh community (Photo: John Brima Kargbo, SILNOF)

**Lessons learned and best practices**

My stay at the University of Makeni proved invaluable beyond the pilot study. It provided a platform to learn crucial skills for mobilizing communities, particularly when tackling sensitive topics like women's land rights. Furthermore, I established valuable contacts and networks that will significantly aid future data collection. Equally enriching was the exchange with fellow PhD candidates and learning from their research experiences. The stay also offered a unique opportunity to engage with advocates, local NGOs, academic researchers, and community leaders on land rights issues in Sierra Leone. Their practical insights proved invaluable, shaping my understanding of the research topic and generating new findings. This experience instilled invaluable collaboration skills and helped me build a network of partners, including the University of Makeni, Wits-TUB-UNILAG Urban Lab, and my research assistants. Their support was instrumental during my stay and continues to benefit my research. I have already integrated the lessons learned by collaborating with NGOs in their communities for my control study.

Researching Women’s Access to Land at the University of Makeni, Sierra Leone

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WELCOME TO THE WITS-TUB-UNILAG URBAN LAB‘- The WITS-TUB-UNILAG Urban Lab is one of the DAAD Bilateral SDG Graduate Schools that provide infrastructure for cooperative efforts among German higher education institutions and their international counterparts. Find the latest project news and information on our activities, bursaries, the team and further resources on this website.




Welcome to the Wits-Tub-Unilag Urban Lab

# WE MOURN OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE TAKI SITHAGU

**Our dear colleague and friend Taki Sithagu passed away on October 13. We are deeply saddened by this terrible loss. The School of Architecture and Planning at Wits published the following Tribute to Taki:** 

The School of Architecture and Planning and the Wits-TUB-UNILAG Urban Lab are devastated by the news of the untimely passing of our dear colleague Taki Sithagu. With her background in urban and regional planning, experience of teaching and practice and a keen interest in countries beyond our borders, Taki was appointed to a lecturer position that involved international collaboration. For the past eight years, Taki ably coordinated the Wits side of a long-term DAAD and BMZ-funded collaboration with TU Berlin, to which University of Lagos was added in 2021. As our counterparts at TU Berlin and University of Lagos and the colleagues at DAAD attest, Taki shaped the collaboration with her academic curiosity, passion for students, quick grasp of bureaucratic processes, sharp wit, kindness and down-to-earth collegiality. Taki enjoyed the travel that the collaboration required, often with large cohorts of students, whose minds she helped open to worlds beyond South Africa. The collaboration, in which Taki played such a central role, culminates in the hosting of the African Urbanisms Conference in John Moffat Building 23-26 October 2024. With a heavy heart, the conference team resolved that what was in many ways to have been Taki’s conference will now be a celebration of what Taki brought to Wits and our partners.  

Beyond the collaboration, Taki taught courses in housing and urban management and in recent years contributed to a UCL-Wits teaching partnership on forms of urbanisation that have remained under the radar of formal planning. The students were fascinated and excited by Taki’s passionate teaching. Alongside her roles at Wits and raising a growing family, Taki was progressing with a PhD registered at PLAAS at UWC. Her supervisor has posted a [tribute](https://plaas.org.za/plaas-mourns-the-passing-of-beloved-phd-student-avhatakali-sithagu/) that speaks to the remarkable academic we have lost. Taki was a real scholar-in-the-making with one of her recent publications in a Special Edition of the journal, Transformation, an important and nuanced commentary on the changing role of traditional councils in South Africa. She was emerging as an authority on the subject, with the promise of much more to come. Her passing has deprived us of a critical voice in this poorly researched area. She was taken from us far too early. 

Taki is survived by her husband Jimmy Malavela, her parents and three children.

![Taki_Sithagu.jpg](https://cms.urban-sdg-school.org/uploads/Taki_Sithagu_702436995a.jpg)

WE MOURN OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE TAKI SITHAGU

Wits University posted reflections on the conference in their research news

Wits University's communication office published a reflection of the African Urbanisms Conference under the university's research news. You can find the article here: [https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2024/2024-12/african-urbanisms-conference-and-urban-fare.html](https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2024/2024-12/african-urbanisms-conference-and-urban-fare.html)

Reflections on the  African Urbanisms Conference 

Urban Library event at World Urban Forum in Cairo, November 5, 6pm

The Wits-TUB-UNILAG Urban Lab host an Urban Library Event at this year's World Urban Forum in Cairo. Please click [here](https://www.urban-sdg-school.org/events/2024-11-05/urbanlibrary) to find more information. The event takes place on Tuesday, November 5, 6pm.

Everyday urban practices in Africa Disrupting global norms - Universities linking local realities and global policies

## **[WE MOURN OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND TAKI SITHAGU](/news)**

Resources

Publications

Here you can find information on publications by the members of the Wits-UniLag Urban Lab team as well as publications that resulted from work and studies funded by the project.

Event Materials

The Wits-TUB-UniLag Urban Lab regularly hosts events such as summer schools, talks and webinars that provide training for early career researchers and present research on sustainable urbanism by the team and collaborators from across the African continent and beyond. Here you can find recordings of talks, additional materials provided by the speakers and documentations of events.

Quick Links

African Urbanisms Conference

The conference will take place from October 23 to October 26 at Wits University. The call for papers is open until April 21 2024. 

Scholarships

The project offers a limited number of scholarships for the Urban Management programmes at UniLag and at Wits each year. Furthermore, there will be more scholarship opportunities for postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. All information on scholarships and current calls will be published here.

Study programmes

Find out more on the project's postgraduate study programmes at Wits University and the University of Lagos.

Welcome to the Wits-Tub-Unilag Urban Lab

WE MOURN OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND TAKI SITHAGU

News

WE MOURN OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE TAKI SITHAGU

Reflections on the African Urbanisms Conference

Everyday urban practices in Africa Disrupting global norms - Universities linking local realities and global policies

All announcements

Quick Links

African Urbanisms Conference

Scholarships

Study programmes

Blog

The Wits-TUB-UNILAG-UBRAN Lab at WUF 12 in Cairo

African Urbanisms Conference at Wits University - A review

Dr. George Kwadwo Anane

Researching Women’s Access to Land at the University of Makeni, Sierra Leone

About

Meet the team

Partners

Resources

Publications

Event Materials

Links

Social Media

Legal

Contact

Partners

Supported by

Welcome to the Wits-Tub-Unilag Urban Lab

.css-185o5ba{text-decoration-line:underline;}WE MOURN OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND TAKI SITHAGU

News

WE MOURN OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE TAKI SITHAGU

Reflections on the African Urbanisms Conference

Everyday urban practices in Africa Disrupting global norms - Universities linking local realities and global policies

All announcements

Quick Links

African Urbanisms Conference

Scholarships

Study programmes

Blog

The Wits-TUB-UNILAG-UBRAN Lab at WUF 12 in Cairo

African Urbanisms Conference at Wits University - A review

Dr. George Kwadwo Anane

Researching Women’s Access to Land at the University of Makeni, Sierra Leone

About

Meet the team

Partners

Resources

Publications

Event Materials

Links

Social Media

Legal

Contact

Partners

Supported by

WE MOURN OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND TAKI SITHAGU