RE-IMAGING AFRICAN CITIES: PROMOTING URBAN JUSTICE BY INTEGRATING AFRICAN IDENTITIES AND CULTURES INTO THE INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION OF HOUSING AND LAND
Convenors: Joy Obadoba (University of Lagos), Bankolay Turay (University of Lagos), Siyum Jeldu (University of the Witwatersrand)
Track: Transformative Practices
Discussant: Alexander Jachnow (Namibia University of Science and Technology)
Track: Transformative Practices
Keywords: Housing, African Identities, Urbanisation, Transformative Practices, Land Use
Thursday October 24, 10:15-11:45, A4, John Moffat Building
SESSION 15
RE-IMAGING AFRICAN CITIES: PROMOTING URBAN JUSTICE BY INTEGRATING AFRICAN IDENTITIES AND CULTURES INTO THE INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION OF HOUSING AND LAND
Over the years, various transformative practices have emerged in response to the unique challenges and opportunities presented by urbanisation in Africa. However, these transformative practices are not uniform across all African cities, as each city has its own unique context, challenges, and opportunities. A growing understanding of the importance of sustainable and people-centric urban development is influencing positive changes in many African urban centres. African identities, deeply rooted in diverse cultures and institutions, are integral elements of the urban fabric. The panel seeks to unravel the complex interplay between these identities, cultural expressions, and institutional frameworks, specifically within the realms of housing and land use. The overarching question for this panel stems from, “How can African cities maximally utilise the integration of local identities, cultures, and institutional transformations in housing and land use to advance urban justice and sustainable development?”. The discourse will explore how these interconnected elements contribute to shaping the urban environment and influencing equitable development. The panel also delves into the dynamic landscape of urban justice within the context of transformative practices in African urbanism. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the panel seeks to foster a comprehensive understanding of how African cities can achieve justice in housing and land use while honouring and weaving together the rich tapestry of African identities and cultures.
Presentations
A Reinvented Landholding: The history and future of Land Leasing in Africa
There is limited literature that focuses on land leasing in Africa. This paper closes this gap by providing a review of land leasing across precolonial, colonial and post-independent Africa, with the intent to unearth competing institutional and cultural rationalities beyond the tapestry of formal governance.
Understanding urban justice in housing in Abuja, Nigeria.
Amidst rapid urbanisation, economic challenges, and global inequality, this study investigates urban justice in African cities. Emphasizing the pivotal role of housing justice, it advocates for building inclusive and equitable urban environments.
From informality to indigenous planning: A decolonised approach to African urban development
The concept of urban informality has permeated the literature and mostly demeans African cities which are mostly referred to as informal. This paper argued that developing a city requires different and indigenous methodologies that attune to cultural milieu. It employs case study approach to analyse selected plans that emanated from indigenous planning practices and reiterated the need for decolonisation of planning ideology and embracement of African methodology to confront African challenges.
Roças of São Tomé and Príncipe: Balancing local development with heritage preservation
Former plantations in São Tomé and Príncipe now house a significant part of the population and hold potential for local development. The country grapples with whether to preserve them as heritage to promote tourism or to develop them into villages considering alternative approaches.
