Critical Thoughts about African Cities A. The editors Pieterse and Simone are two of the most active, prolific and known figures in the African scene attempting to address the macro problems – by questioning our preconceived ideas about - the urban territories of the Global South face. As pursued by Pieterse in previous books , the promotion of dissensus - or a vibrant and vigorous democratic contestation within the public realm - is a precondition to reach more radical urban politics that shall more efficiently address the problems and challenges provoked by the accelerated growth of African cities. Therefore, “Rogue Urbanism: Emergent African cities” is the physical materialization of that particular idea as it seeks to, with the compilation of several essays written by diverse contributors and sometimes with divergent perspectives, instigate a more richer, plural, contested and exploratory discussion and theorization about where we stand and which levers can be activated in order to achieve a more “durable, inclusive and resilient” future for African cities. This pluralistic and multidisciplinary approach promotes the emergence of alternative and innovative ways of thinking to face the uncertain future of urban territories in the Global South- where is taking place nowadays the second wave of urbanization – particularly in Africa, where the postcolonial perversity associated with the competition of the neoliberal economy and the process of globalization are having vicious and dangerous effects. This book, as the outcome of one research exploration by ACC , attempts to “work against and overcome the redundant division between applied and theoretical research agendas on the contemporary condition and possible futures of African cities by paying close attention to the ordinary” . The book is divided in five main sections: urbanisms, palimpsests, deals, governmentalities and interstices. In fact, the core argument is that by stimulating and disclosing the production of knowledge and refection about the contemporary state of art of African cities, one might find, not only awareness and visibility to the demanding requirements at stake, but also practical clues on how to react to the urgency of ethical and site-specific responses to the economic, social, technological, infrastructural and even architectural backlogs. One thing is sure: the contributors don’t think that there is no single magic answer to face the diversity, heterogeneity and multi-layered realities that are presented to us. The solutions that might emerge are the result of personal reflection and articulation done by the readers who can be enlightened of the unique problems of African cities and “address them using solutions drawn from within, instead of always modelling itself after Europe and North America” . B. Rather than import solutions that are designed in distant places – maybe a signal of the prevalence of the mentality of subaltern dependence and segregation imposed by colonialism until the mid-twentieth century that have left obvious scars on present urbanism - the focus and efforts to mitigate the urban inequalities and injustices in Africa should be the result of an autochthonous approach. However, the pressure to stand out as “global cities” - reverberating the ability (now seems more like a dream) to play a leading role in the world class economic order and its claimed benefits (such as to lure foreign investments from large multinationals that would possibly diminish unemployment rates and improve at least partially the space of the city)– are compromising the priorities of the governments towards the promotion of connectivity infrastructures (such as roads, ports, airports, stations and other transportation or information and communication network systems) or architectural symbols of resourcefulness and power made by star architects that do not suit with the reality of Africa's – if it does in any other place’s – urbanism (as Pieterse argues the informal city is the real city ). Although these investments have ambition and are full of good intentions, their exponential multiplication is disturbing as the lack of household infrastructures (such as water, sanitation, waste removal, energy) remains, or even worse, is exacerbated. These mainstream and breakneck dynamics, supported by the powerful elites and interest groups who influence disproportionately the decision-making, can be effectively testified in tabula rasa paradigmatic projects like Kilamba in Angola and Cité du Fleuve in Congo , among many others. I believe that small-scale projects that don’t oversimplify the issues at stake, can produce greater achievements and become the seed of change - the primary school of Kéré in Gando, Burkina Faso and the Makoko floating school of NLE Architects in Lagos, Nigeria are good examples of achievable sustainable developments. The questions that rise are: shouldn’t we take into account the particularities and traditions from the place we are building in? Can tabula rasa projects bring benefits or, instead, exacerbate the income differences between the few rich and the majority of the poor? Moreover, as Mokena Makeka points out:” desirable architecture is akin to acupuncture – highly targeted, strategic and expansive in its repercussions” . Another topic that crosses almost all the essays, even if subliminally, is the political (in)sensibility or inability to engender proper policy framework, combining all scales of power – local, regional, national, continental and worldwide - and representing all the actors that are present inside the city administrative borders. In spite of global agendas being full of well-intended goals, the ability to local government to deal with land property issues, to minimize the risk of poverty and to improve the physical well-being of all the actors- including the underprivileged – is seriously compromised. It is not only a question of scale and proportions that the extension of the slums occupying the interstices and enlarging the limits of the city have taken; it is urgently needed the development of a strong, democratic and transparent organization of politics and priorities, based on the strengthening of local institutions and in the principle that no one should be voiceless. Only these conditions can, in fact, take advantage of the energies of the poor and mobilize them towards the achievement of a legislative framework that if it is not totally favourable to them, at least do not injure them. The myriad of themes that could be here presented makes this work necessarily incomplete. C. In conclusion, although “Rogue Urbanism” enlarges and deepens our perspective of Africa’s urban reality, it also constitutes an almost schizophrenic approach, because what some contributors might defend is then counter argued by others, and the reader is left with the middle of both visions. This fact can lead to two opposite outcomes. On one hand, the uncertainty in which the reader is left can be incapacitating – because so many questions remain unsolved - and in extreme cases, lead to discouragement and possible dismissal. On the other hand, it can also be extremely positive in triggering imagination and pushing forward the up to date limits of creativity that will possibly materialize outstanding future accomplishments. Therefore, the reader is invited to figure out the opportunities that are left overlooked or forgotten. Perhaps the analysis of the Laufen Manifesto is useful to the reader in this process in-between dismissal/action, helping that he tends for the second. Simplistic and reductive approaches of formal/informal, planned/unplanned must be avoided. Indeed, Africa need a common effort from within fully engaged with the reality of self constructed slum urbanism, instead of trying to impose a formalized canvas, destroyer of the informal economy that many people rely on to survive. The verb for action is not formalize, it’s humanize. And only then, when we leave our prejudices behind and start a renewed practice, the expectations created by the “Africa is rising” trend will be totally meaningful and will possibly catalyse wider social change. Edgar Pieterse is the South African Research Chair in Urban Policy at the University of Cape Town and Director of the African Centre for Cities [ACC]. AbdouMaliq Simone is an urbanist, professor, researcher and honorary member at the ACC. Particularly in: Pieterse Edgar (2008). City Futures: confronting the crisis of urban development. London & New York, Zed Books. This contestation “may involve momentary consensus on policy priorities, but may not (…) constrict participation and simply reinforce elite perspectives on urban development”. Pieterse (2008): P. 162/163. Pieterse, Simone (2013): P.14. The perspectives presented in the book include a wide range of professional knowledge, as contributors are architects, professors, artists, sociologists, anthropologists, and so on. The first wave of urbanization took place mainly in Europe and North America between 1750 and 1950, during the industrial revolution and following production changes and increased consumption. Active since 2007, the role of African Centre for Cities is “to facilitate critical urban research and policy discourses for the promotion of vibrant, democratic and sustainable urban development in the global South from an African perspective”. In: http://www.africancentreforcities.net/about/background-and-mission/. Pieterse, Simone (2013): P.12. “Afritecture” was an exhibition curated by Andrés Lepik that sought to work as a reminder of the underrepresented African’ architects that are building today under dramatic climatic changes and economic shortages as an attempt to answer the demanding and urgent local social requirements. Lepik in: Brillembourg, Klumpner (2014). Elleh in Pieterse, Simone (2013): P.108. Pieterse, Simone (2013): P.22. KIlamba, built in three years and located 30 kilometres from Luanda, is a “new town” realized with investor funds and workforce from China International Trust and Investment Corporation [CITIC]. This ambitious enterprise, built from scratch to accommodate 500 000 inhabitants, is currently a major failure of urban politics in Africa. Known as ghost city, the project misses the target for housing needs because it is only affordable for the usual minority of privileged elites. The homogenous complex is described by Andrew Michler as a ”monolithic development that feels more like a prison camp than a community.” In http://inhabitat.com/nova-cidade-de-kilamba-is-a-huge-candy-colored-chinese-built-ghost-city-in-angola/. For a glimpse of the empty streets and unoccupied buildings see http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-18680217. Designed to supposedly become the new city centre of Kinshasa, Cité du Fleuve consists of two artificial islands fulfilled with modern buildings. Again, the consequence from this highly segregated space is an enhancement of differences between rich and poor. More information in: http://www.thesouthafrican.com/business/building-africas-10-cities-of-the-future-part-ii.htm. One caveat must be done: the question of small scale projects should be understood as site specific interventions, that take into account the local materials and resources, budgetary restrictions and tradition/habits of people who will make use of them. Therefore, these interventions are more adapted to the surroundings and to the needs/aspirations of local people. Reference to “Small Scale, Big Change”: exhibition curated by Andres Lepik that took place in the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York [2011]. This project uses local/traditional materials and techniques combined with resource-saving technologies. The transfer of knowledge during the construction process between trained workers and the local community has enable the possibility of replicate and expand the project, empowering the citizens to rationally take control of their built environment. See: Brillembourg, Klumpner (2014). In order to combat the unpredictable effects of climatic change, particularly the sea levels’ variation, this project uses local materials and resources as a way to minimizing the risk for local communities. The low-cost, low-tech and sustainable principles of the school are noteworthy. See: http://www.nleworks.com/case/makoko-floating-school/. Despite my personal interpretation, the post script of the book, written by Pep Subirós, says that: “it is time to go beyhond the speculation about the pros and cons of imported urban templates in African cities, and instead, to study and understand the social relations that subtend the accelerated urbanization process”. Pieterse, Simone (2013): P. 452. Available in: http://laufenmanifesto.org. Reference to the speech of Barack Obama in Cape Town. In: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/in-cape-town-obama-says-africa-is-rising/.