Reframing Spatialities in Urban Africa. Insights from Onitsha Markets in Nigeria

Onitsha is a city in southeastern Nigeria driven by an urban market phenomenon. It currently the third largest area Africa, trailing behind Cairo and Lagos, respectively. The constructions of spatialities, under notion terra nullius extreme otherness post-colonial worsened challenges rapid uncontrolled growth. paper provides insights on how successive political events African continent shaped manifestations contemporary spatialities potential pathways to reverse trend. A review planning approaches was conducted, starting from colonial cantonments current epoch uncertainty, through lens markets spatialities. reveal emergent forms response uncertainty city. presents arguments need rethink architecture, design, practices pedagogies beyond alterity, while embracing complexity Africa. also opportunity for developing alternative theorizing, tools frameworks towards equitable livable futures.