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Cityness and African Urban Development

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  • Edgar Pieterse

Abstract

This paper explores one possible argument for how to respond to the epistemic troubles in the production of knowledge about urban Africa. The problem I have in mind is the preponderance of policy-oriented research on the development challenges and absences of African cities, as opposed to a more rounded theorization of urban life (urbanism), or cityness. The paper starts by recounting the challenge thrown forth by Jennifer Robinson and Achille Mbembe and Sarah Nuttall to take African 'cityness' or 'worldliness' seriously in our engagement with the African city.

Suggested Citation

  • Edgar Pieterse, 2010. "Cityness and African Urban Development," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2010-042, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2010-042
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/2010-42.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter Geschiere & Birgit Meyer, 1998. "Globalization and Identity: Dialectics of Flow and Closure. Introduction," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 29(4), pages 601-615, October.
    2. Abdoumaliq Simone, 2005. "Urban Circulation and the Everyday Politics of African Urban Youth: The Case of Douala, Cameroon," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 516-532, September.
    3. Matthew Gandy, 2005. "Cyborg Urbanization: Complexity and Monstrosity in the Contemporary City," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 26-49, March.
    4. Jennifer Robinson, 2002. "Global and world cities: a view from off the map," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 531-554, September.
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    Cited by:

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