The Life of Cement in Africa. Urban Grey Matter.
MétisPresses| N° d'inventaire | 23202 |
| Format | 14 x 18.5 |
| Détails | 252 p., numerous color illustrations, paperback. |
| Publication | Geneva, 2020 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9782940563746 |
Africa is currently experiencing rapid urban growth, resulting in an increase in concrete construction. Cement, an essential component of this material, has become the symbol of this frenetic urbanization that is disrupting the landscape of African cities. More than just an inert material, it is imbued with emotion and values, redefining the practices and imaginations of societies seeking economic emergence and social success, even as, in an era of climate change, voices are being raised to denounce a cement industry with destructive effects on the environment. To understand the growing production and consumption of this banal powder that has become "gray gold," Armelle Choplin invites us to follow the bags of cement on West African roads, along the 500 km urban corridor that links Accra, Lomé, Cotonou, and Lagos. From the limestone quarry to the construction site, the author takes us on a journey through the giants of the sector, investors, and political figures, as well as the masons and residents building their own "solid" homes. By exploring a sector at the heart of multiple political, social, and economic issues, this book calls on us to rethink the close relationships that link the urban, human, and the world.
Africa is currently experiencing rapid urban growth, resulting in an increase in concrete construction. Cement, an essential component of this material, has become the symbol of this frenetic urbanization that is disrupting the landscape of African cities. More than just an inert material, it is imbued with emotion and values, redefining the practices and imaginations of societies seeking economic emergence and social success, even as, in an era of climate change, voices are being raised to denounce a cement industry with destructive effects on the environment. To understand the growing production and consumption of this banal powder that has become "gray gold," Armelle Choplin invites us to follow the bags of cement on West African roads, along the 500 km urban corridor that links Accra, Lomé, Cotonou, and Lagos. From the limestone quarry to the construction site, the author takes us on a journey through the giants of the sector, investors, and political figures, as well as the masons and residents building their own "solid" homes. By exploring a sector at the heart of multiple political, social, and economic issues, this book calls on us to rethink the close relationships that link the urban, human, and the world.