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Cementing Africa: Cement flows and city-making along the West African corridor (Accra, Lomé, Cotonou, Lagos)

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  • Armelle Choplin

Abstract

This article analyses the production, circulation and consumption of cement along the West African coastal corridor, a 500-kilometre conurbation that stretches between Accra, Lomé, Cotonou and Lagos – the largest urban metropolis still in progress in Africa. By focusing on the ‘cement chain’, this research contributes to ongoing explorations of how urban phenomena are produced in Africa. As a binding material, cement is at the nexus of a range of issues at stake in contemporary African cities, such as urban policies, economic trends, dweller practices, environmental issues and capitalist accumulation. Based on empirical long-term fieldwork, the article adopts a ‘follow-the-thing’, multi-scale approach, retracing the itinerary of cement bags from the plant to the plot and observing all the actors involved in the cement chain, from major companies to bricklayers. Cement, the article concludes, epitomises the emerging ‘Made in Africa’ metropolitan condition, therefore including issues regarding the environment and sustainability in current debates on the growth of the cement city.

Suggested Citation

  • Armelle Choplin, 2020. "Cementing Africa: Cement flows and city-making along the West African corridor (Accra, Lomé, Cotonou, Lagos)," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(9), pages 1977-1993, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:57:y:2020:i:9:p:1977-1993
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098019851949
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Olivier J. Walther, 2015. "Business, Brokers and Borders: The Structure of West African Trade Networks," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(5), pages 603-620, May.
    2. Eric Denis, 2018. "Urban Desires and Lust for Land South," Post-Print halshs-01780595, HAL.
    3. Laurent Fourchard, 2011. "Lagos, Koolhaas and Partisan Politics in Nigeria," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(1), pages 40-56, January.
    4. Lyal White, 2015. "The Case of Cement," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Terence McNamee & Mark Pearson & Wiebe Boer (ed.), Africans Investing in Africa, chapter 8, pages 124-146, Palgrave Macmillan.
    5. Ignazio Cabras & David Higgins & David Preece (ed.), 2016. "Brewing, Beer and Pubs," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-46618-1.
    6. Armelle Choplin & Olivier Pliez, 2018. "La mondialisation des pauvres," Post-Print halshs-01719593, HAL.
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    Cited by:

    1. Stefan Kipfer, 2022. "Comparison and political strategy: Internationalism, colonial rule and urban research after Fanon," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 59(8), pages 1636-1654, June.

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