The Complexity of Social and Cultural Dynamics in Emerging of Collective Spaces in Unplanned Urbanisation: Learning from Mlalakuwa-Dar es Salaam

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 net-