Dystopia: How The Tyranny of Specialists Fragment African Cities

by Archimedes Muzenda

A revelation of the spatial atrocities committed by specialist planners in the development of African cities.

For more than fifty centuries, cities were planned and developed by generalists. The town planners were Jacks of all trades yet masters of none. But, in the last fifty years, this changed. Town planning dismantled into various specialists - masters of a single trade. Traffic engineers; urban environmentalists, modernist architects, town planning regulators, housing specialists, postmodern and Marxist scholars . As these specialists focus on their specialities, they operate in isolations.

In Dystopia , Archimedes Muzenda reveals the destruction specialist planning has caused in cities across Africa. He reveals the extent of spatial atrocities perpetrated by specialists on urban societies. In doing so, Muzenda set a basis for specialists to find one other if they are to create prosperous, sustainable, and just cities - cities that are liveable.

Genres: Africa, Urban Planning, Cities, Nonfiction, Urbanism, Architecture

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2019

About the author

Archimedes Muzenda is a city planner and researcher on African urbanisation and urban development. He has worked across Africa conducting research and supporting African cities with technical advisory on urban development. Across the continent he has worked with various cities from those emerging crisis and conflicts to cities on take-off. Throughout his work, urban regeneration, land use planning, transport planning and strategic planning have been his key fields of support. Archimedes is a senior research associate at the African Urban Institute.

Reviews

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started reading this book I thought it was a relentless attack on specialist planners, by end of the first chapter it convinced me it was more than an attack. Other than picking the specialists one by one and discussing their contribution to fragmentation it also gave me an understanding of the underlying explanations of the actions of specialists, it felt like the author is calling for rationing the interests of the specialists. The author packed historical evolutions of specialists and town planning profession in such an illuminating way. One of the best books I have ever read on African cities and a challenge to African municipalities. The epilogue could have been a bit longer however, it read like tied up the debate too early. (Advance Reader Copy).

[Wanjiku Njoroge · Rating 5 out of 5]

(ARC) This is a polemic book which reveals what is wrong with how African cities are being planned and developed and what we should do about it. It is unsettling when a field of town planning you practice is picked and torn apart but also insightful of how to improve our intervention. Unlike most urban planning books boring and techy, this one is written in a simple way that non-town planners can understand. On some parts it shows not to be a beginner's book though as its arguments assume the reader already knows the basics of the subject.

[Aldrin Moyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one book that made me understand African cities and urban planning of the 21st century so much better. Muzenda is a polymath, he writes about architecture, environmental planning, political philosophy, economics, urban planning and traffic engineering with such comprehensive understanding.

So his argument is that there is a rise of specialists in urban planning who are so focused on their specialty while making "dystopian cities"

The chapter on absurdity of overengineered traffic standards was so sarcastic with dry humour. I found three chapters to be most punching. One he attacks scholars who popularise that urbanisation in Africa is an exception, he brings such compelling history to justify his arguments. The other one is on right to the city, he rips apart the obsession with Marxism right-based approach to housing without also advocating for absolute capitalism. Takes on the irony of environmentalists who are bringing forests to cities.

My only disappointment with the book, he did not discuss comprehensively about the role of citizens as opposed to specialists. He only raise their need to be educated about technical urban planning issues which i found condensing. But all in all it is a very eye opening book arguably one of the best books in planning.

[Kumbirayi Mhaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a polemic take on how people who work in the town planning profession in Africa are creating what the author calls dystopian cities. It gives a fresh look to the urban problems in Africa which have always been seen in politics and corruption lenses, it goes beyond that at dig into the technical misteps town planners are making. I liked how it brings history to life explain how history led us to where we are and the philosophical theories that are influencing specialists.

The book however did not give concrete prescriptions on how to address the tyranny of specialists. The recommendations on the end of each chapter and in the conclusion could have been strong. But the arguments raised are important for specialists to find solutions themselves. I find this to be seminal work. Advance Reader.