A quick scan of Africa's 100 largest cities yields few surprises. Most are located in the continent's wealthiest nations. The majority serve as national or regional/state capitals. At least half feature river or sea ports. Many have had railway stations for decades and, more recently, airports and highway connections. A large number host universities. All have Wikipedia profiles, many of which span several pages.

An estimated one billion urban residents live in informal settlements. These settlements have grown in response to rapid population growth and a lack of affordable, higher-quality alternatives. They are "informal" because they do not comply with government regulations. Historically, the official response was typically intimidation or, if they were not highly visible, neglect.