African Cities Research Articles

Contrasting luxury effect on urban plant phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity in West African cities

ABSTRACT Urbanization is a driving factor for biodiversity loss and potential climate change by reducing carbon stocks. Understanding how urban development, as mitigated by socio-economic factors alters urban biodiversity is crucial for effective urban planning that maintains or improves environmental resilience. The luxury effect hypothesis predicts that wealthier parts of a city will have higher levels of biodiversity. This effect has been tested widely but we still have limited understanding of how wealth influences urban biodiversity in tropical regions of developing countries where plant species play profound sociocultural roles beyond aesthetics. This study investigates links between household income and the diversity of cultivated plants distribution within neighborhoods of two growing cities in Benin. We conducted a survey of 936 randomly selected households to record their socioeconomic characteristics and survey the cultivated plant species found in household gardens’. This enabled us to estimate household-level diversity metrics including taxonomic diversity and phylogenetic diversity. We found no global support for the luxury effect on phylogenetic diversity but rented properties had lower plant taxonomic diversity along with less phylogenetic diversity than privately owned houses. Taxonomic diversity is higher in the less urbanized areas while phylogenetic diversity is weakened. Household’s cultural connection to plants has a negative effect on both diversity indices. Our results highlight the complex relationships between socioeconomic traits and urban plant diversity distribution in two tropical African cities, which only partly confirmed the luxury effect hypothesis. Disentangling these complex relationships can help city planners and policymakers to take informed decisions to promote sustainable cities.

Exploring urban community gardens as ‘third places’: fostering social interaction in distressed neighbourhoods of Cape Town, South Africa

ABSTRACT The process of urbanisation and the associated urban lifestyle have been linked to social isolation and negative mental health impacts. As urbanisation and mobility continue to surge in African cities, urban planners face the challenge of creating inclusive spaces that encourage social interaction among urbanites. This research utilises the conceptual lens of ‘Third places’ to assess the role of urban community gardens in cultivating spaces that mitigate the negative effects of urbanisation within distressed communities in Cape Town, South Africa. A qualitative approach, involving open-ended questions and semi-structured interviews, along with observations, was employed to achieve the research aims. Findings revealed that individuals perceive community gardens as a channel for breaking free from isolation and fostering informal interactions among neighbourhood residents. However, the effectiveness of these gardens is hindered by several factors, such as their location and land tenure insecurity, which impede their ability to bring about meaningful changes within their communities. This research urges scholars to critically reconsider established criteria for third places, advocating for a nuanced understanding that acknowledges the diverse dynamics of community gardening in global South cities, thereby enriching theoretical discourse and informing practical interventions for fostering inclusive and sustainable urban communities.

The provision of goods and governance in local communities during an emergency: Findings from an urban space in southern Africa

The provision of political goods and governance in marginalised local communities, located in Cape Town, South Africa, during the national lockdown periods (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) is described. The focus is on an African city, drawing attention to the growing importance of urban governance on the continent. Rapid urbanisation and emergency periods (such as the pandemic) are adding to the complexity of the urban space. This study found that communities in the city relied mostly on themselves for the provision of goods, and that the provision of security remains a critical political good, informing governance. However, the findings confront literature on a hierarchy of political goods, in which security is at the apex. In the given context, the sequence of the provision of goods changes to a non-hierarchical process. The fulfilment of other political goods will facilitate improved provision of security. Good governance needs to be informed by an integrated approach to, and the synchronous fulfilment of, political goods.

Tapping imaginaries: Guinness, masculinity, and the promise of Africa Rising

ABSTRACT This article interrogates masculinity and the consumer politics of late capitalism in urban Africa. Engaging scholarship on racialized masculinities, branding, and African cities with special attention to the Nigerian context, it conducts a media analysis of three Guinness Africa advertising campaigns: Made of More, Michael Power, and Greatness. Building off of its centuries-long ties between the African male consumer and European capital, in 1998 Guinness created the fictional Michael Power in a marketing coup that was to elevate the brewery to unrivaled dominance over the continent’s beer import market. Subsequent campaigns were to glorify everyday heroes: Greatness declaring a ‘drop of greatness in each man’ and Made of More extolling the sartorial elegance of Congolese dandies. This representational shift reflected the brewery’s recognition of changing models of accumulation in the African urban informal economy and the corresponding aspirations that they ignited in its men. Bypassing scripts of hegemonic masculinity, this new era of Guinness advertising showcased self-made men in a laissez-faire economy, simultaneously celebrating and depoliticizing the racialized global inequalities and gendered politics of contemporary African urbanization. Guinness’s successful appeal to twenty-first-century African male consumers provides a case study of multinational marketing in bottom billion capitalism.

Urban policy responses to climate hazards in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Urban in-migration, high birth rates and unchecked development are driving the continued growth of African cities. Much of this urbanization occurs in informal settlements, where unplanned growth exacerbates the impacts of climate hazards. Our paper explores the challenges faced by urban planners seeking to address climate change threats in African cities. Focusing on Addis Ababa, we conduct a robust policy analysis of urban government response. Our main finding is that Addis Ababa’s environmental challenges are primarily a result of urban development and inadequate planning and policy enforcement. Environmental challenges are exacerbated by rapidly intensifying climate impacts, but not driven by them. Improved city-level policy responses can potentially mitigate many of Addis Ababa’s current environmental challenges and prepare the city to weather future ones. We highlight four areas of policy weakness: (1) ineffective or absent policies concerning green space; (2) the exclusion of informal settlements from ongoing resilience planning efforts; (3) limited public trust and transparency; and (4) a lack of coordination across the multiple agencies in Addis charged with planning. Holistic, multi-stakeholder planning is inhibited by a lack of collaboration, limited stakeholder participation, and a reluctance to engage in productive dialogue. Resolving all four issues will only occur with sustained increases in social trust, expertise, governance capacity and capital.

Land Value, and Urban Transport and Amenities: Evidence From Antananarivo, Madagascar

Although urbanization is an engine of growth, many African cities are overly crowded with massive traffic congestion and high housing prices, pushing the poor away to unfavorable settlements or remote suburban areas and making them commute long. The paper sheds light on the relationship between land value and urban attributes in a rapidly growing African city, Antananarivo, Madagascar. It shows that the land value gradient is steep with an elasticity of −0.78 with respect to trip time to the city center. Thus, housing prices are overshooting. Better urban planning is needed through improving transport accessibility by minibus. Other urban infrastructure services, such as piped water and garbage collection, and urban amenities are also important to add to land values. Spatial heterogeneity is found across different locations in the city. While some areas require clean water and climate resilience, others need more city amenities, such as parks.

Urban farming and food supply: A comparative review of USA and African cities

Urban farming plays a crucial role in addressing food security challenges in both developed and developing regions. This comparative review explores the dynamics of urban farming and its impact on food supply in two diverse contexts: the United States (USA) and African cities. The study investigates the unique challenges and opportunities faced by urban farming initiatives in these regions, considering factors such as infrastructure, socio-economic conditions, and agricultural practices. In the USA, urban farming has gained momentum as a sustainable solution to enhance local food production and reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance food transportation. The analysis delves into the policies, technological advancements, and community engagement strategies that have contributed to the success of urban farming in American cities. Additionally, the study examines the integration of rooftop gardens, vertical farming, and community-supported agriculture in the USA's urban landscape. Conversely, African cities grapple with distinct challenges in implementing and sustaining urban farming practices. The review explores the impact of rapid urbanization, limited resources, and diverse climatic conditions on the feasibility of urban agriculture in African contexts. Strategies such as community empowerment, micro-financing, and knowledge sharing are examined to understand their role in overcoming obstacles and fostering resilient urban farming systems. Keywords: Urban Farming, Food Supply, Sustainable Agriculture, USA, African Cities, Urbanization, Community Engagement, Agricultural Practices, Food Security, Comparative Analysis.

Urban sprawl and the changing socioecological systems in peri-urban Ghana

ABSTRACT The growth of African cities is characterised by sprawl, significantly impacting social, economic and environmental systems. The change in land use due to urban sprawl often dispossesses farmers in peri-urban communities, resulting in income loss. Focusing on social and ecological changes in peri-urban communities of Ghana, this paper sheds light on land use and land cover change stemming from urban sprawl. It is argued that land governance systems that shape resource access in peri-urban areas have been transformed with farming being the most impacted. Emerging livelihoods like sand winning further compounds a precarious situation. Women and youth are the most affected, with limited options for alternative occupations and uncertain futures. It is thus imperative that policy interventions prioritise sustainable land governance and urban planning, taking into account the needs and vulnerabilities of peri-urban communities, particularly women and youth.

Vulnerability, Resilience and Adaptation of Lagos Coastal Communities to Flooding

Lagos has been identified as one of the 50 cities most vulnerable to extreme sea levels. The state also ranked 30th among 136 port cities in terms of population exposure to flooding under a past climate scenario (2005) and 15th under a future climate scenario (2070s). The state faces significant environmental strains as a result of its geo-economic status. Some of the problems are wetland loss, pollution, population pressure, restricted access to drinkable water, and flooding. All these factors have contributed to the instability of Lagos ecosystems, but the impact of flooding is particularly significant because Lagos is surrounded by aquatic ecosystems and its low elevation and topography increase its susceptibility to flooding. The method adopted in this review involved the use of PICO (Population, Intervention, Control, and Outcomes) criteria to synthesize the research questions and objectives. Thereafter, PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines was employed for the study selection criteria, search strategies and data extraction methods. A broad search strategy involving databases (Google scholar, Science Direct), pertinent keywords and search filters was used to identify relevant articles and minimize selection bias. After the search, PICO criteria was again used to select the studies to be considered in the review. The selected text were downloaded and the essential scientific information were extracted and analyzed in the study. The impacts of flooding are numerous. Flooding is a key factors that has prevented Africa’s growing urban population from escaping poverty, and it also impedes the achievement of some SDGs. This is because many African cities lack the resources and infrastructures needed to withstand extreme weather conditions. Surviving in flood-prone cities like Lagos is a daunting task because flood affects livelihood, human health, and can even cause death. Specifically, the 2020 flood incidence in Nigeria affected about 40% of the local government areas, and 97% of the states, displacing over 120,000 persons and killing 68 persons aside from properties and farmlands destroyed. Women and children are the most vulnerable. The adoption of advanced flood risk management strategies could help in flood containment and management in the state.

Scenario Analysis of Food Phosphorus Footprint in Kisumu, a Lakeside East African City in Lake Victoria (Kenya).

Increased food production and consumption patterns have resulted in higher urban food phosphorus footprints, leading to a series of resource and environmental problems worldwide. We quantified the food phosphorus footprint of the African city of Kisumu using substance flow analysis. Our aim was to develop Kisumu's sustainable phosphorus management framework so that the city would reduce phosphorus losses into the food system. Our results show that in the year 2023, the import and export of food phosphorus in the Kisumu food system was 2730.26 ± 2.7% t P yr-1 and 3297.05 ± 2.4% t P yr-1, respectively. There was -566.79 ± -18% t P yr-1 food phosphorus deficit in the Kisumu food system. Crop planting subsystem runoff/leaching/erosion loss, household consumption subsystem waste loss, and pit latrine subsystem blackwater loss are the major pathways of phosphorus losses into the environment and the main contributors to the food phosphorus footprint in the city. The 2030 scenario analysis shows that implementing a comprehensive scenario scheme throughout the entire lifecycle process from phosphorus input to waste disposal is the best choice for reducing phosphorus losses and suppressing the growth of food phosphorus footprint in the future. Our study shows that the food phosphorus footprint in the Kisumu food system was 0.67 kg P cap-1yr-1 in 2023, which is still at a low level but may enter a continuous upward trend with the improvement of socio-economic development of the city. In our framework, we have proposed a few essential measures that include urine separation, installation of septic tank, adjustment of dietary structure, flexible layout of sanitary disposal facilities, and separation of organic waste streams to reduce food phosphorus footprints in Kisumu. Given the similarity of cities along the shores of Lake Victoria, our calculation methods and management strategies can be applied to other cities in the region.

Mathematical modeling and performance evaluations of a wood drying process using photovoltaic thermal and double-pass solar air collectors

This research conducts a novel and complete 4E assessments and introduces an innovative method for examining solar wood drying systems. The software TRNSYS and MATLAB programming are combined to simulate and create a numerical program. This novel combination allows for a thorough examination that goes beyond conventional assessments of wood drying. The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of a solar wood dryer using two different collectors, a double-pass and a photovoltaic thermal collectors, in terms of four key aspects: energy, exergy, economic, and environmental. Further, the drying process was investigated under various climates in three African cities (Errachidia, Dakar, and Nouakchott). The moisture content of wood was reduced from 74% to 12% in the three cities. Elaborate simulations were performed and the results were confirmed by experimental validation, using methods including Mean Absolute Error, Mean Relative Error, and Root Mean Square Error. The primary findings of this study are the following: In the double-pass dryer, the drying time required in Errachidia, Dakar, and Nouakchott was 139h, 189h, and 170h, respectively. Whereas in the photovoltaic thermal dryer, it needed 192h in Errachidia, 210h in Dakar, and 189h in Nouakchott. Further, using photovoltaic thermal, the dryer exhibited superior exergy efficiency compared to the use of double pass collector. Photovoltaic thermal collector reduces yearly CO2 emissions by an average of 54.87, 66.2, and 44.11 tonnesCO2 in Errachidia, Dakar, and Nouakchott, respectively. In contrast, double pass collector reduces CO2 emissions by an average of 38.49, 57.9, and 38.56 tonnesCO2 in Errachidia, Dakar, and Nouakchott, respectively, throughout the year. Further, the solar dryer, using double pass collector, has a shorter payback time than using photovoltaic thermal collector, indicating a quicker economic return.

Do informal settlements contribute to sprawl in Sub-Saharan African cities?

Cities in Sub-Saharan Africa are recognized as drivers of development but also as internally disconnected and sprawling. Informal or “unplanned” settlements are often suggested to hamper sustainable growth, while commonly being labeled “sprawl” by default. This notion is addressed in the present paper, which aims to analyze empirically whether informal settlements do contribute more to sprawl than planned areas, in the setting of Sub-Saharan African cities. To this end, the street network accessibility of buildings in informal and planned areas is compared, to understand compactness beyond population density under overcrowding. The setting consists of Tanzanian secondary cities. To trace the effect of informality on compactness within and across cities, regression analysis is used, while controlling for other characteristics of urban structure such as population density. Pooled regression results indicate an approximately 12.8 % lower connectivity for informal settlements. Importantly, this association is not homogeneous and varies substantially across different types of cities. In several cities, informality's impact on connectivity is relatively pronounced, pointing to sprawl. In other cities, no significant relation between informality and connectivity is found. This observable ambiguity underlines the unclear relationship between informality and sprawl. This may be considered within the policy discourse on urban sprawl in Sub-Saharan-Africa.

Living together but gates apart: aspirations and place caring practices among residents living outside a gated community in Peri-urban Accra.

Global capital investment in the housing sector has transformed major African cities such as Accra into segregated clusters of high-rise buildings and ultramodern residential areas. The development of housing projects, such as Gated Communities (GCs), in peri-urban areas has resulted in a contrasting phenomenon of residents living in traditional housing units alongside modern housing complexes. This paper maps the impacts of Ayi Mensah Park, a privately built gated community in peri-urban Accra, Ghana. Specifically, it explores the perceptions, emotions and attitudes of residents living in the immediate environs of this gated community and how these opinions shape their life aspirations, particularly regarding housing. Using semistructured interviews and drawing on the concepts of ‘peripheral urbanisation’ and ‘care’, we found that residents express varied emotions (happiness, excitement, admiration, pride, disappointment, anger, apathy, and frustration) towards the presence of the gated community. Some of these emotions resulted in action, such as pulling down old buildings and constructing new modern apartments in their places. We conclude that the presence and aesthetic characteristics of gated communities in peri-urban areas invoke contrasting affective elements of both aspirations and despair among residents, resulting in new practices of care for the community and future generations.

Is the ancient city of Benin Kingdom a preferred tourist location? A qualitative-based study to achieving sustainable development Goal 11

Studies on preferred tourist locations focus on developed countries and selected Asian cities. Many African cities like the Ancient City of Benin Kingdom (ACBK) have been grossly under-researched in global extant literature regarding preferred tourist locations and how they may improve achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Goal 11). Thus, this study examines the attributes of a tourist location. Also, it investigates perceived barriers facing the ancient city and suggests measures to improve achieving the ACBK as a tourist location and, by extension, improve achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 in Nigeria. The study adopted qualitative research and collected primary data via face-to-face interviews and observations of tourist locations. A convenient sampling technique was used to select 30 knowledgeable participants. The researchers analysed the collected data manually. Findings reveal nature destinations (historical/archaeological), natural attractions, ecotourism/wildlife, landform areas, prompt quality services, basic amenities/infrastructure, mangrove forests, and safety/security as the attributes of a global tourist location. Findings show that the sustenance of these attributes will improve achieving Goal 11. Also, the findings identified the barriers and recommended measures to mitigate them and, by extension, promote ACBK as a preferred tourist location and improve achieving Goal 11. This study reawakens the need for all-inclusive tourism planning management and marketing in developing countries.

The Disenfranchisement of Practitioners and the Public Sector in Innovative Urban Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from Nigeria

Innovative urban farming is crucial for enhancing food security, nutrition, livelihood resilience, and environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan African cities. However, agricultural policies and extension services often overlook urban contexts, presumably due to resource constraints. Yet, to improve productivity, understanding the challenges and opportunities of innovative urban farming is essential. Exploratory qualitative research, including focus group discussions, was conducted in, Lagos, Nigeria, to gather insights from stakeholders. The analysis, using mind maps and a consensus index, compared the perspectives of private urban farmers and public sector representatives. The urban farmers recognize the potential of circular agri-food technologies, like hydroponics, aquaponics, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), drip irrigation, sack farming, and waste upcycling, to boost productivity. However, the urban farmers perceive a lack of public sector support for these innovations. The public sector representatives see the problem as urban farmers’ behavioral and educational shortcomings, particularly their lack of coordination and commitment to adopting innovations. These differing views highlight the complex dynamics between urban farmers and local agricultural policymakers. This study emphasizes the need for structural changes and local-level stakeholder dialogues for developing effective urban farming policies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Understanding the forces shaping African urbanisation

Many calls have been made for international investment in Africa to be directed towards urban development projects. Researchers in the Making Africa Urban project are looking into the different transnational processes that are shaping the future of African cities, and the wide range of actors who are involved, as Professor Jennifer Robinson explains.

ANALYSIS OF THE SPATIAL-ECONOMIC AND SOCIO-PROFESSIONAL DYNAMICS OF TAXI-TRICYCLE DRIVERS IN LOME

African cities’ fast rate of population increase from 4 to 6% per year and the decline of organized public transport systems are the origin of the rapid development of non-conventional means of transport [2]. The city of Lomé, since its creation in 1897, has experienced growing demography and spatial extension apart from its socio-collective and mobility infrastructure [5]. Faced with the inability of public transport services to meet the demand, we are witnessing the emergence of informal transport solutions such as taxi-motorbikes and taxi-tricycles in response, not only to the demand but also to youth unemployment and the economic crisis. This article focuses on actors in the taxi-tricycle sector. It analyzes the spatial economic and socio-professional dynamics of taxi-tricycle drivers in Lomé. The scientific interest of this article is dual. Firstly, it makes it possible to map the spatial dynamics of taxi-tricycles in Lomé and, secondly, it identifies the problems related to the propagation of the phenomenon of urban taxi-tricycle transport which, until now, has not been apprehended by Togolese researchers. The methodology focuses on the analyses of data (primary and secondary) collected through a literature search, observations, and a survey. A sample of 47 individuals was selected, made up of 40 taxi-tricycle drivers and seven association leaders. The results show that the diffusion of taxi-tricycles is supported by the logic of marginality and informality. The sector contributes somewhat to solving the problems of mobility and unemployment as well as the increase in municipal revenues. Given the difficulties raised by this study, it is imperative that the sector be regulated by the State.

Laboratory of the Present

The Architecture Biennale is entrusted with the mission of being a sensor of the future through a collection of possibleactions in the present on a global scale. The 18th Laboratory of the Future Exhibition curated by Lesley Lokko was bornwith the intention of being a laboratory place, as the title itself declares, but in reality it denies, by deciding not to dealwith, a decisive issue for the planning of the future: the city. Lee Kuan Yew's quote in Singapore Songlines "Singaporeis a very small place, in a very large, varied and changing world, and unless it is nimble and quick to adapt, it will perishand the people know it", underlines the strength of urban acceleration. The life system of African cities, crazy andincomprehensible, but at the same time contemporary, makes them the ideal case to ask the question: what will thecities of the future be like?

Connecting through public transport: accessibility to health and education in major African cities

ABSTRACT Transport matters for health and education outcomes, by ensuring physical access to crucial facilities. Using spatial modelling techniques and routable public transport service data, this study assesses the effectiveness of mostly semi fixed-route public transport systems in connecting people to advanced healthcare and education facilities in African cities. Uncovering significant pockets of ‘accessibility poverty’ – travel times above an acceptable level – it underscores the inequality in access within the cities, disproportionately affecting poor populations. Proximity of public transport to homes matters but has limited impact, due to how the routes, operated mainly by informal service providers, are allocated across the urban space and the low technical performance. The low ‘value added’ of public transport compared to walking helps explain the prevalence of foot travel. Tailored policy interventions – improving the public transport systems and, equally importantly, ensuring more equitable spatial distribution of advanced healthcare facilities – emerge as crucial strategies for addressing accessibility poverty.

Access to and acceptability of sexual and reproductive health, harm reduction and other essential health services among people who inject drugs in Durban, South Africa

BackgroundPeople who inject drugs (PWID) are at risk of HIV acquisition. The number of PWID in South African cities is increasing, and in spite of an advanced HIV prevention and treatment programme, there are PWID who experience challenges accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV related services. Access to and acceptability of SRH and harm reduction services by PWID needs to be further understood and explored.MethodsIn-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with 10 key stakeholders and 11 PWID, in Durban, South Africa. Interviews were transcribed and translated. Data were thematically analysed using Dedoose software.ResultsParticipants described stigma/discrimination from healthcare workers and other clients accessing services as barriers to accessing healthcare services. They were concerned about long waiting times at healthcare facilities because of possibilities of withdrawal, as well as lost opportunities to “hustle”. Targeted, non-discriminatory services, as well as mobile clinics existed in the city. Non-governmental organisations reportedly worked together with the public sector, facilitating access to HIV and TB prevention and treatment services. There were also needle exchange programmes and a harm reduction clinic in the city. However, there was limited access to contraceptive and STI services. Although there was reportedly good access to HIV and TB and harm reduction services in the city of Durban, uptake was low.ConclusionsThe integration of services to enable PWID to access different services under one roof is critical. There is also a need to strengthen linkages between public and private healthcare, and ensure services are provided in a non-discriminatory environment. This will facilitate uptake and access to more comprehensive SRH and harm reduction services for PWID in Durban, South Africa.