Why Africa's smaller cities shouldn't be overlooked

Ibadan, Nigeria. [iStockphoto]

Often when one thinks or writes about urbanisation in Africa, mega-cities or primary cities such as Lagos, Nairobi, Addis Ababa or Kampala, come to mind. Little, however, is written about places like Gabes in Tunisia, Touba-Mbacke in Senegal, or Ibadan in Nigeria.

Yet these are just three of an estimated 885 secondary, or intermediary, cities in Africa that already account for over 40 per cent of the continent's urban population. Their share is likely to grow over time.