This international multidisciplinary project is a partnership between the universities of Kent, Toronto, York, Kinshasa and Lagos and its principal objective is to explore the links between religion, development and urbanisation in sub-Saharan African context.
Writes Dr David Garbin, Principal Investigator
Taking as case studies Lagos and Kinshasa—the most populated and fastest growing cities in sub-Saharan Africa— the project explores how various religious urban models engage with challenges of infrastructural development, urban social cohesion and inclusion, safety and sustainability. Some of the project’s research questions include: How are religious and spiritual visions of the ‘ideal city’ materially articulated in actual religious urban developments and how do these cohere with or challenge existing modes of planning and development? Do religious urban spaces and infrastructures ameliorate or exacerbate everyday challenges faced by residents? How should development policies and analyses take account of religious dynamics and religious actors in urban African contexts? What is gained through systematically comparing moral economies of urban development in different African cultural milieux? Exploring the impact of religious urbanization in African contexts, this international project will provide both an evidence-base and practical recommendations aimed at promoting functioning civic urban culture.
The project, led by Dr David Garbin includes two co-investigators, seven senior researchers, and nine Research Assistants from three continents and seven different countries. A wide of range of events have taken place as part of this project including three international symposiums, one conference panel, and two public lectures/seminars at the University of Lagos.
Read the latest project newsletter.
Keep up to the date with the project at https://rua-project.ac.uk and follow on Twitter @RUA_Project.