Territories in motion : from Cotonou, an audiovisual approach for an Africa perspective on city centre futures

Abstract

This text summarizes an ongoing research project focussing on how to understand African city evolution in a globalized context. We aim to redefine the approach of understanding a diversity of changes. This project intends to develop an alternative analytical approach to thinking differently about city identity and the city centre. Based on ongoing field research in Cotonou (Benin-West Africa), we argue that an audiovisual approach can be an instrument to rediscover the city. Moving from the particular case of Cotonou, our multimedia construct, ‘Territories in Motion’, seeks to suggest a framework through which to explore the city using our audiovisual approach, and propose the practical utilization of this construct.