Cities of Entanglements - Social Life in Johannesburg and Maputo Through Ethnographic Comparison

People in cities shaped by inequality live together through entangled lives, case studies of domestic workers and employers, failed attempts to close off neighborhoods, and entanglements in religious spaces and shopping malls, making a significant contribution to urban anthropology, comparative urbanism, and urban studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 340 pages
Publication date: 08 December 2021
Publisher: Transcript Verlag

Cities shaped by inequality present a complex challenge for people living in them. This comparative ethnography of two African cities, Maputo and Johannesburg, offers a fresh perspective on social life in these often divided urban landscapes. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in a township, suburb, bairro, and elite neighborhood in Johannesburg and Maputo, the book explores various aspects of social interactions, including the relationships between domestic workers and their employers, the attempts by urban elites to maintain segregation, and the dynamics of religious spaces and shopping malls. By employing comparison as an experiential method, the book makes a significant contribution to urban anthropology, comparative urbanism, and urban studies.

In Maputo, the book focuses on the bairro, a densely populated area characterized by informal settlements and a vibrant street life. The ethnography reveals the intricate dynamics of social relations within the bairro, where residents navigate the challenges of poverty, unemployment, and limited access to basic services. The book highlights the resilience and creativity of the bairro's residents, who have developed innovative coping strategies and social networks to survive in the face of adversity.

In Johannesburg, the book examines the experiences of domestic workers and their employers in the city's affluent suburbs. The ethnography reveals the complex power dynamics and exploitation that characterize these relationships, as domestic workers are often subjected to long hours, low pay, and poor working conditions. The book also explores the strategies employed by urban elites to maintain segregation and control access to certain areas of the city.

The book also examines the entanglements that occur in religious spaces and shopping malls in both cities. In Johannesburg, the ethnography reveals the tensions between different religious groups and the role of religious institutions in mediating these conflicts. In Maputo, the book explores the role of shopping malls as spaces of consumption and leisure, as well as the ways in which they shape social interactions and identities.

Overall, the book presents a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of social life in cities shaped by inequality. It highlights the resilience and creativity of the residents, the complex power dynamics and exploitation that characterize social relations, and the entanglements that occur in religious spaces and shopping malls. By employing comparison as an experiential method, the book makes a significant contribution to urban anthropology, comparative urbanism, and urban studies.

Weight: 155g
Dimension: 292 x 216 x 5 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783837647976