In a continent undergoing constant change, African cities are at the center of major issues that need to be catalyzed for the benefit of all, a challenge that still remains to be met. The first step towards this goal is to deconstruct clichés and misperceptions about these cities, by highlighting the many approaches and urban mutations that make them tick.

Our planet will host 80% of the global population living in densely packed cities. According to the OECD, African cities are expected to house an additional 950 million people by 2050. With cities housing more than half of the world's population, urban areas will play a critical role to fight against climate change.

By 2050, 35% of the world's population will be young and African, compared to 15% in 2000. The accelerated urbanisation that Africa has experienced in recent years goes along with an increase in the youngest part of its population, bringing new challenges to the cities. Today, 60% of the African population is under the age of 24. This peculiarity of the African continent is an essential fact to be taken into account in urban planning.

In the era of new technologies, the growth of African cities will not only be sustainable but also smart. The rapid urban growth represents one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century in Africa. A new paradigm of urban development is taking place, where intrinsic challenges remain....