African Urban Studies: Histories and Futures

A panel reflecting on the developments in African urban studies over the past 30 years by scholars who have actively shaped it. This session served as the centerpiece of an international workshop on Urban Popular Economies. It bridges decades of foundational research with the emerging realities of 21st-century African cities. The panelists reflected on the evolution of urban scholarship, the resilience of ‘informal’ livelihood practices, and the new frameworks needed to understand the continent’s rapid transformation.