Africa's Legacies of Urbanization: Unfolding Saga of a Continent

The ability to function safely, healthily, and productively in urban places is a continuing challenge for people everywhere. This challenge is exacerbated when the resources available to people in urban places happen to be severely limited or their ability to make decisions consistent with their welfare severely constrained. Nevertheless, Africans have manifested great inventiveness and resourcefulness both in contributing to, and in adapting to, urbanization. Africa's Legacies of Urbanization is the culmination of several decades of research, travel, and teaching. Goodwin provides an interdisciplinary and up-to-date look at African cities and the urbanization process. This thought provoking and engaging work tackles the vastness of the "mother continent" by dividing it into geographic regions: western, central, southern, eastern, and northeastern. Beginning with an overview of the urban experience in Africa, Goodwin then studies the histories of urbanization in the various regions of the continent. Thoroughly researched and accessibly written, this comprehensive work will appeal to scholars of African studies, urban studies, anthropology, and cultural ecology.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 The Urban World Chapter 2 Urban Process and the Human Condition Chapter 3 Challenges of Settlement: An Ecological Perspective Part 4 Urban Designs from Ancient Africa Chapter 5 Emergence of Cities: The Centrality of Africa Chapter 6 Macedonians, Greeks, Romans, Africans Part 7 Western Africa Chapter 8 Legacies into the Late 14th Century Chapter 9 Retrenchment and Consolidation Chapter 10 Jihads, European Hegemony, and Beyond Part 11 Central Africa Chapter 12 Great Transformation: Commerce to Conquest Chapter 13 From Scramble to Struggle Part 14 Southern Africa Chapter 15 Innocence, Greed, Imperialism Chapter 16 Tribulations, Trials, Opportunities Part 17 Eastern Africa Chapter 18 Early Legacies from Near the Sea Chapter 19 Beyond Suez: Continuing Challenges Part 20 Northeastern Africa Chapter 21 Through the Era of Muhammad Ali Chapter 22 Northeastern Africa Evolving Chapter 23 Postspective

About the Author :
Currently an independent scholar, Stefan Goodwin was an an anthropologist on the faculties of Wayne State University and Morgan State University for thirty years.

Review :
Dr. Goodwin's book is a welcome addition to the much needed literature on 'understanding Africa.' Goodwin sheds light on the continent's legacies and offers a new outlook on a continent that continually receives negative publicity and limited credit for its struggle to remain visible in a highly competitive global market. I would go further to recommend it to those teaching or studying Africa, especially introduction to Africa classes. Dr. Stefan Goodwin takes us on a long, extraordinary and exciting journey through the vast continent of Africa. A journey that encompasses the turbulent and stunning history of the times through the bellicose scramble for territories and human property by colonialists to the amalgamation of varied tribes into unified countries from which economic or true political emancipation has become a quagmire. Goodwin writes with conviction, rigor, and clarity about the central role of the African continent, as a whole, in the history and process of defining urbanization. For those who still equate civilization with one version of urbanism the author provides a trenchant corrective documenting repeated efforts to make the African continent self-reliant without interference. Goodwin insists throughout this text that it is historical context which gives meaning to the production of knowledge about the subject. He raises important questions supported by evidence challenging the premises of a single minded global regime. In the process the author also succeeds in underscoring the collaboration of women and men, as well as the social costs from a division of labor that is superbly explained. As Africa scholars seek to explain the totality that gives meaning to their object of study this important study will become a recurring reference and trusted ally.