Abstract from a forthcoming book by Luc Gnacadja
African cities are at the centre of the most decisive transformations shaping the continent today. They concentrate some of Africa’s most visible tensions — housing, mobility, inequality and climate vulnerability — while also holding its strongest potential for social, economic and territorial transformation.
The Cities of the #AfricaWeWant is a book in preparation, grounded in a clear and demanding conviction:
Africa will neither achieve sustainable development nor fully claim its place in the global community without reclaiming intellectual, political and cultural ownership of its urbanisation.
This book does not propose a ready-made model, nor does it offer yet another imported reading of African cities.
It positions itself simultaneously as:
- a manifesto for reclaiming meaning and urban sovereignty,
- a critical analytical framework to understand the current dead ends of African urbanisation, and
- a strategic guide to make cities genuine territorial projects, rooted in social justice, climate resilience and the value of what already exists.
The abstract presented here outlines:
- the intent and scope of the book,
- its overall structure, and
- the main lines of argument developed.
It is addressed to all those who, directly or indirectly, contribute to shaping Africa’s cities: elected officials, urban planners, architects, researchers, investors, civil society actors — as well as citizens seeking to better understand and transform their living environments.
👉 French version available : https://gps-development.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Abstract_Les_Villes_de_l_AfriqueQueNousVoulons-FR.pdf
This book is written in the long run.
Through this dedicated page, readers are invited to follow its journey over time, as new publications, reflections and debates unfold.
👉 Access the dedicated page : https://gps-development.org/les-villes-de-lafrique-que-nous-voulons/
