Conference: The Future of the African City

Photo: Maaike Westra: Kampala, July 2018

The maximum capacity of this event has been reached. Please send an email to m.a.de.leeuw@asc.leidenuniv.nl if you wish to be on the waiting list. You will receive an email if a space opens up.

This event is organized in cooperation with African Architecture Matters and is made possible by Leids Universiteits Fonds, LeidenASA and Gemeente Amsterdam.

African cities are growing fast. According to the Global Cities Institute, cities like Dar es Salaam, Kinshasa and Lagos are expected to have over 80 million inhabitants at the end of this century. Even though urbanization is not a new phenomenon, it is becoming increasingly clear that today’s African cities are not equipped to deal with this fast growth. Existing infrastructure is reaching its limits and the unchecked growth of informal settlements is causing problems in the field of governance, health and safety. On the other hand, urbanization can make service delivery more accessible and efficient and many people manage to find or create jobs (in the informal sector) in the city. The African Studies Centre Leiden (ASCL) and African Architecture Matters are organizing a conference on 24 January to explore, highlight and contribute to the debate on the possibilities and problems of growing African cities. This conference hosts different forms of events under one umbrella. The morning and early afternoon programme is reserved for the members of the Societal Advisory Council of the African Studies Centre Leiden and is on invitation-only basis. 

Location morning programme: Lipsius Building, Leiden University,Cleveringaplaats 1, 2311 BD Leiden.

Afternoon programme (registration has closed).

The first day of The Future of the African City conference will be followed by an academic symposium in a smaller setting on 25 January. For more information, please contact Marjolein de Leeuw: m.a.de.leeuw@asc.leidenuniv.nl.

Location afternoon programme: Klein Auditorium, Academy Building, Leiden University, Rapenburg 73, 2311 GJ Leiden.