TITLE:
The Complexity of Social and Cultural Dynamics in Emerging of Collective Spaces in Unplanned Urbanisation: Learning from Mlalakuwa-Dar es Salaam
AUTHORS:
Jacob Lutta, Yves Schoonjans, Aldo Lupala
KEYWORDS:
Informal Settlements, Public Spaces, Cities Growth, Tanzania
JOURNAL NAME:
Current Urban Studies,
Vol.9 No.3,
August
20,
2021
ABSTRACT: The growth of African cities
encountered movement of people from countryside to capital cities searching for
employment opportunities. In the city of Dar es Salaam the job market has not grown
enough to keep up population increase. The increasing urban population boosted the basic needs and the demand for land for various activities, posed daunting challenges for attaining liveable
neighbourhoods. At the same time many of informal settlements are dynamic part of the city in physical, economic, social and
cultural terms. Different programs from international organizations illustrate
how sustainable urbanization can be a
key contributor to poverty reduction to better quality of life. This research is based on
literature reviews, documentary
analysis, photographic registration and qualitative survey of the Mlalakuwa neighbourhood to provide a better
understanding of the role of proactive cultural differences and social dynamics
in promoting the spreading of spaces in informal settlements in the urban
fabric, beyond the primarily necessary housing conditions. Researchers
emphasize the importance of collective spaces
for urbanisation, in social and economic terms as an important asset for
quality of life and the construction of a sustainable and resilient community. The aim of this paper was to examine how social,
and cultural factors cause the dynamics set up in physical collective
spaces in a particular informal neighbourhood
of Dar es Salaam city. The examination of human
activities including social, cultural and economic functions respond to formation of spatial organisation of
collective spaces at Mlalakuwa informal
settlement. Notably, the
paper illustrates that, the urban planning network can take on significant
benefits when considering cultural and social diversity as a factor that could
change the whole concept of urban planning. The incentives for diverse in
cultural, social and economic activities in collective spaces are vital to
sustainable informal settlements because they play a major role in improving the liability of
collective spaces in unplanned neighbourhoods.