Cape to Cairo: Decolonization and African Urban Life 1940s-1960s

Decolonization across Africa was complicated, messy and sometimes violent. It was also an important moment for (re) imagining and (re)structuring society resulting in fascinating historical encounters among different groups. This course explores decolonization through the lens of different African urban spaces. In doing so, we shall focus on the major conflicts, debates and issues that emerged in the moment of decolonization. Additionally, we shall explore the different ways Africans survived, lived and thrived in the cities. Finally, we shall explore the relationships between the colonial and postcolonial eras through African urban spaces.