Author: David Satterthwaite | ArchDaily

What We Don't Know About Africa's 100 Largest Cities

David Satterthwaite — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:09:00 +0000

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.

We must upgrade (and not demolish) informal settlements

David Satterthwaite — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 17:40:00 +0000

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.