Cities and urbanization movements in Africa from precolonial period to present-day

Abstract

The cities in Africa are still evolving and can be described as very creative and sometimes extremely stagnant. Particularly in recent years, significant infrastructure work across the continent and the increasing urban population have led all states and global companies to see the African continent as a new center of economic attraction. In recent years, a wide range of academic studies has been conducted on the continent. New studies are carried out in many different areas from urbanization to economy and history. However, the shortage of studies on urban development and change in the continent is noteworthy. At this point, the aim of the study is to analyze the historical and cultural background of urbanization and cities in Africa.

African urbanization faces four broad challenges. The first is rapid population growth, unequal physical and labor capital based on insufficient economic activity. Second, low intensity and informality is to increase the poverty of the continent. Third, the poor coverage of basic infrastructure services, especially water, energy and health services, is an obstacle to increase welfare in urban or rural areas. Fourth, there are weaknesses in the context of management, institutions and overall planning capacity.

Keywords

• Africa,city,urbanization,colonialism,socio-economic conditions

SÖMÜRGE ÖNCESİ DÖNEMDEN GÜNÜMÜZE AFRİKA’DA KENTLER VE KENTLEŞME HAREKETLERİ

Öz

Afrika’daki kentler halen gelişmekte olan yapıtlar ve aynı zamanda fazlasıyla yaratıcı ve bazen son derece durgun olarak betimlenebilir. Özellikle son yıllarda kıta genelinde gerçekleştirilen önemli altyapı çalışmaları ve artan kentli nüfus, tüm devletlerin ve küresel şirketlerin Afrika kıtasını yeni bir ekonomik cazibe merkezi olarak görmektedirler. Son yıllarda kıtaya dair kentleşmesinden, ekonomisine ve tarihine çok farklı alanlarda yeni çalışmalar yapılmaktadır. Akademik olarak bakıldığında kıtadaki kentsel gelişim ve değişime değinen çalışmaların azlığı dikkat çekmektedir. Çalışmanın amacı sömürge öncesi dönemden günümüze Afrika’daki kentleri ve kentleşme hareketlerini tarihsel ve kültürel arka planı bağlamında analiz etmektedir.

Afrika kentleşmesi dört geniş sorunla karşı karşıyadır. Birincisi, yetersiz ekonomik faaliyetle hızlı nüfus büyümesi,eşitsiz fiziksel ve işgücü sermayesi tabanlıdır. İkincisi, düşük yoğunluk ve kayıt dışılığın, kıtanın yoksulluğunu artırmasıdır. Üçüncüsü,su, enerji ve sağlık hizmetleri başta olmak üzere, temel altyapı hizmetlerinin zayıf kapsama alanı, kent ya da kırsal da refahı arttırmanın önündeki engeldir. Dördüncüsü,yönetim, kurumlar ve genel planlama kapasitesi bağlamdaki zayıflıklardır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Afrika,kent,kentleşme,sömürgecilik,sosyo-ekonomik durum

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