African Cities: Envisioning an alternative future

We will be discussing African cities, and the challenges they face, with a focus on spatial fragmentation and unequal access to opportunities. This is an initiative of the Chair for Spatial Transformation located at the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa. This podcast will take a deep look at African cities and the built environment in African cities; it will look at opportunities, and restrictions on opportunities, that emerge due to spatial policies and realities. This is done by seeking lessons from across the continent through interviews with professionals and communities alike. Through these interviews and the profiling of research, we will reach out to partners in the continent. We aim to change thinking on cities, space and design and, in the process, influence change in practice in the built environment.

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African Cities: Envisioning an alternative future

Space, race and [spatial] transformation - having the courage to address complex topics

April 09, 2021 • Amira Osman

0:00 | 32:57

In this second podcast of the African cities series, conceptualised and presented by Prof Amira Osman, SARChI Chair in Spatial Transformation, the presenter aims to tie together complex themes that are hard to address yet deeply related, and integral, to any conversation on spatial transformation. The presenter also aims to build a visual image of what a transformed urban environment will "look like". Fragments of recent engagements have been woven together making this a very timous and needed contribution at this particular time. The conversation continues in the next edition when the, again complex, topic of healing from the trauma of divisive spatial geographies is tackled, and how COVID-19 made it all so much more evident. Some of these thoughts have been shared on these blogs:
- http://amiraosman.co.za/2021/03/16/saia-transformation-webinars-2021-some-reflections/
and
- http://amiraosman.co.za/2020/09/01/what-does-transformation-look-like/