Paradox of African Capital Cities: Case Study of global capitalism and urban poor in Lagos and Abuja Capital Cities in Nigeria.

Abstract

The Western and Asian methods of studying African capitals suffer from conceptual and methodological problems. The Arabs and colonialists asserted that the beginning of history in Africa started with the coming of Arabs, and that the formation of African elites and urban development were mainly the initiatives of colonial governments. Europeans and Arabs created the notion that African Capitals became internationally significant only with the colonial policies and economy, which in turn enriched and empowered Africans. They did not focus on the much benefits Arabs and colonial governments, the Multi-National Corporations [MNCs] and European private businessmen derived there from the capitals. They over-emphasized the social mobility of the poor and progress of the elite in the cities. Considering the extent of the capitalist activities, African capitals served more the interest of the international communities. Thus, it is equally important to examine for whom the capitals exist. African Research Review Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 1-13