African Cinema and Urbanism

“This book is a welcome addition to the growing body of scholarship on media urbanism in Africa, and what it shows is that African cities are not mere backdrops for African cineastes to tell their stories. Cities have become cinematic texts themselves that offer crucial insights into the ongoing seismic environmental and sociocultural transformations happening in African urban spaces. Expansive in its coverage and transdisciplinary in its approach, Marie-Paule Macdonald’s book presents fascinating theoretical yields that will enrich the knowledge of any scholar interested in African urban cultures.” — Paul Ugor, Professor, University of Waterloo “African cinema rarely finds its way into contemporary discourse. Marie-Paule Macdonald’s book provides a unique insight into urban issues as presented through the lens of cinematography. Explorations present a ready reference for researchers who are often starved of references related to architecture and urbanism of the continent, and an invaluable resource for anyone teaching the arts, architecture, and urbanism of Africa. The book is thus a must-read for architects, urban designers, and urban thinkers and theorists interested in gaining insights into critical issues of urbanism across Africa.” —  Dr. Mark R O Olweny, Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA  “In what is ostensibly a catalog of African films through which African urbanism is analyzed, Marie-Paule Macdonald constructs a fascinating discussion of the way contemporary issues of post-colonialism, migration, climate change, war, and politics are deeply embedded within African built environments.” — Rafael Gómez-Moriana, University of Calgary School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape