The Urbanization of Bangui

Assignment:

1. Discuss the key moments in the urbanization processes in your city. How do they relate to ideas raised in Coquery-Vidrovitch
2. Provide a short bibliography (minimum 10 entries) of key academic or primary sources on your city.

When writing about the urbanization process in Africa Coquery-Vidrovitch writes, “Bantu central Africa probably was the least urbanized area on the continent,” but she does make claims that some capital cities existed in Bantu central Africa from the middle of the 13^th century. She goes on to describe a similar urbanization process to the fringe of the Western Sahara. Cattle herders who descended on indigenous cultivators organized capital cities as centers of the dominating power. It is unclear if this pertained to the area around Bangui (Coquery-Vidrovitch).

According to Ambe J. Njoh in “The experience and legacy of French colonial urban planning in sub-Saharan Africa,” Coquery-Vitrovitch cites Bangui as well as many other cities as examples of the Ebernezer Howar garden cities phenomena. Njoh states that these cities were designed such that the European quarters were built with large streets lined with trees and large residential units’ while the indigenous population were separated from these residential areas by a large green area. Although, I have not identified the large green area that separates the elite section of Bangui from the kodros (or suburban indigenous areas), the separation is apparent as well as the difference in urban design (Njoh).

References:

AMBE J. NJOH (2004) The experience and legacy of French colonial urban planning in sub‐Saharan Africa, Planning Perspectives, 19:4, 435-454, DOI: 10.1080/0266543042000268813

Catherine Coquery-Vidrovitch, “The Process of Urbanization in Africa (From the Origins to the Beginning of Indepence.” African Studies Review

Key academic or primary sources on Bangui

Amaye, Maurice. L'identité Des Populations Précoloniales De Bangui : Mythes Et Réalités : Précisions Nouvelles D'après Les Sources Missionnaires. Bangui: M. Amaye, 1991. Print

Bangui Zoom : Le ... Guide Des Activités Socio-économiques. Print.

Boulvert, Yves. Bangui, 1889-1989 : Points De Vue Et Témoignages. Paris: Ministère De La Coopération Et Du Développement, 1993. Print.

"Central African Republic - History." History. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2016. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Central-African-Republic-HISTORY.html

Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 06 May 2016. http://www.cfr.org/global/global-conflict-tracker/p32137#!/conflict/violence-in-the-central-african-republic

Hilgert F, Hoex L, Spittaels S & Weyns Y 2014, Mapping Conflict Motives: The Central African Republic, International Peace Information Service (IPIS), Antwerp.

Kalck, Pierre. Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic. 3rd ed. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow, 2005. Print. Historical Dictionaries of Africa ; No. 93.

Lachaud, J.P. "Les Activités Informelles Et L'emploi à Bangui (République Centrafricaine): Analyse Et Stratégie De Développement." Canadian Journal of African Studies/La Revue Canadienne Des études Africaines 18.2 (1984): 291-317. Print.

Villien, François. Bangui, Capitale D'un Pays Enclavé D'Afrique Centrale : étude Historique Et Géographique. Talence: Centre De Recherches Sur Les Espaces Tropicaux, Institut De Géographie, Université De Bordeaux III, 1990. Print. Pays Enclavés ; No 4.


Zarhy, M., Israel. Miśrad Ha-ḥuts. Maḥlaḳah Le-shituf Ben-leʾumi, and Institut De Planification Et De Developpement. Les Centres Urbains Et Regionaux De La Republique Centrafricaine. Jerusalem, Israel: Ministère Des Affaires Étrangères, Département De La Coopération Internationale, 1963. Print. Israel. Ministère Des Affaires Étrangères. Départment De La Coopération Internationale. Rapport No. 19.