By the middle of the 21st century, 65% to 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. Design will have to respond to the ensuing challenges. Today we can already see the strong influence that the city–and its high degree of informality–has on creative work in Africa. Tahir Carl Karmali, Bodys Isek Kingelez, Vigilism, Michael MacGarry, Mikhael Subotzky, Meschac Gaba, James Muriuki, Peterson Kamwathi–just to name a few: all their works revolve around the city. Of course, proposals like Justin Plunkett’s corrugated metal tower are highly speculative. And yet they offer a provocative approach to addressing the social, economic, political, and cultural realities taking shape in the density of urban centres.
“Space and Object” is devoted to individuals in their living spaces. In addition to the city, this section looks at technologies, materials, and entire systems that shape personal environments. Manmade spaces are confronted with nature, steel with clay, recycling with traditional craft. M-Pesa is an example of a response to a void, to the lack of infrastructure, enabling low-income earners to transfer money quickly and securely from A to B outside the official banking system that remains inaccessible to them. The mobile money transfer system–introduced by the Kenyan mobile phone provider Safaricom in 2007–is appealingly simple, operated by a network of local M-Pesa agents who might also sell petrol, food, or newspapers in their shops. The desired amount is deposited in one location and then paid out again at another upon the presentation of a code sent by SMS. Around 25% of Kenya’s gross national product flows through the system.
The strange, familiar environment of this city is dense with story. The narratives fly at me from all directions.
Teju Cole, Every Day is for the Thief, 2007
"The strange, familiar environment of this city is dense with story. The narratives fly at me from all directions."
