April 3, 2014, 14h00-19h00

Visionary Urban Africa:
For an African Urban Agenda
ROUND-TABLE EVENT
April 3, 2014
, 14h00-19h00
BOZAR - 23 Rue Ravenstein, 1000 Brussels
Organised by BOZAR and UN-Habitat
With the support of the European Commission
A
ROUNDTABLE
EVENT
In the context of
the 4th EU-AFRICA SUMMIT
This special Roundtable is organised in the context of the
4th EU-Africa Summit taking place in Brussels, April 2-3, 2014.
Following previous summits that took place in Cairo (2000),
Lisbon (2007) and Tripoli (2010), the 4th EU-Africa Summit dedicated to «Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace», will
address topics including peace, security, investment, climate
change and migration.
In continuation with BOZAR’s mission to bring culture into the
development discussion, in follow-up to the successful sideevent organised at European Development Days in December
2013, and in agreement with UN-Habitat’s call for an African
urban agenda in development policies, BOZAR has proposed
this event related to the Summit, to discuss urbanisation and
cultural spaces and what it means for people, prosperity and
peace. To this effect, some 40 leading specialists and thinkers
from international organizations, pan-African organizations,
academia, the private and public sectors, and civil society are
gathered. We are particularly grateful for the contributions
made to this programme by ArchiAfrika (Ghana) and African
Architecture Matters (Netherlands).
1.Overall objectives
To raise awareness on urbanisation opportunities and
challenges in Africa for future development priorities;
To take advantage of the 4th EU-Africa Summit to
further raise awareness on culture and development
through an original, additional peripheral event;
To accentuate the importance of structured, planned
and inclusive urbanisation as well as cultural and
societal values for the development of economy and
society;
To inspire future partnerships and pilot projects in the
field of culture and urbanisation;
To bring together experts and leading figures from
both Continents in order to create mutually beneficial
networks working towards this common goal;
To identify the needs and priorities in Africa to better
inform European policy towards Africa.
2.Theme:
Built environment, urbanisation
and cultural spaces in Africa
‘The precise meaning of the word ‘culture’ is notoriously difficult to define, yet the idea of a world without culture seems
intolerable. It is sometimes described as ‘the sum total of the
stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves’ and includes all forms
of cultural production, as well as the institutions that support,
patronise and disseminate it. Development discourses often
privilege other indicators of growth: economic, social, human
rights, and so on, and fail to recognize the crucial role culture
plays in underpinning and sustaining such efforts. The challenges facing African cities are myriad and well-documented:
what is urgently required is a fresh approach to the issues that
seeks creative engagement and opportunities across the broader arts and culture spectrum, including support for the idea
of ‘culture’ as a key participant in the shaping of urban space.’
Lesley Lokko, Architect/writer, Johannesburg.
In its The State of African Cities 2014 report, UN Habitat
confirms that ‘extremely rapid urbanisation continues in
Africa’ and that although ‘Africa has seen fewer wars, urban
violence is rising’. In recent communications, a number of
European partners have highlighted the role of urbanisation
as a driver for socio-economic transformation. However, urbanisation per se does not guarantee a positive outcome.
As supported by UN-Habitat’s report on The State of African
cities 2014, it has become clear that present urban development policies and practices in Africa are not sustainable. For
African cities to flourish and drive national development,
they must be inclusive and safe; widespread insecurity and
risk are key impediments to attracting investment. Sustainable development is not possible without enabling peace-
ful mediation mechanisms between the diverse social and
cultural groups.
Arts and culture, and urban planning and design, play a
pivotal role in enhancing social cohesion through various
ways. Public spaces and irreplaceable public heritage
play therein a key role, as they crystallize and support civil society’s aspirations; provide economic opportunities
and regenerate themselves in ways that spare the environment over time. Public spaces and heritage relate
cultural identity. They support a dynamic exchange of
goods, services and ideas. They are places for commercial
exchanges, multidisciplinary cultural expressions, social
interplay and spatial coexistence. Public spaces also support social and political emancipation, as recently illustrated in a number of countries. Cultural dynamism and
civil society’s participation in public spaces thus play a
key role for promoting social cohesion and business friendly urban development; they enhance quality of life, and
make cities ‘vibrant’.
Cities are economic entities on their own, transaction hubs,
which generate a large part of a country’s economic growth,
and are also drivers of social and political transformation.
Studies already highlight the link between cities’ development and health, safety, food security, access to services
or environmental control. The assumption is that a vibrant/
creative city attracts talented inhabitants and becomes
more economically viable and sustainable. The assumption
is also that migration to and between cities will continue.
Therefore more needs to be done, both with regards to
central government supporting legislation and policies and
local government implementing capacity. New and creative
models of urban development are needed to ensure viable,
diverse, peaceful, creative and vibrant cities in Africa. A radically new approach to urbanism is at play. African cities
require attention.
3.Format
The roundtable’s success in advancing the debate on urbanisation and cultural spaces in African cities will be based
on the participation of and synergy among the highly experienced, diverse and multidisciplinary professional groups
brought together: leading architecture networks, parliamentarians, spokespersons, doers and thinkers, cultural
planners, artists and development experts, all engaged in
inclusive urban development advocacy in Africa. The format
foresees small roundtable discussions followed by reporting
and plenary discussions. The topics of discussion are to lead
to the formulation of recommendations to better inform EU
and Africa policymakers and various stakeholders for future
initiatives on urbanisation and cultural spaces in African
cities, and also refer to the themes of UN-Habitat’s World
Urban Forum 7 in Medellin whose topic is «Urban Equity in
Development - Cities for life”.
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April 3,
2014
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4. Programme
ENTRANCE – Main Entrance of the Palais des Beaux-Arts (BOZAR)
Proceed to
BOZAR – SALLE DES BANQUETS
13:45Arrivals
14:00Seating
14:05 Introductions of the afternoon’s proceedings and
speakers (Chris Burns, Euronews)
The discussions will be led by these specific questions:
1.How can cultural, architectural and spatial capital contribute to social cohesion and inclusiveness in cities?
(Culture* as a resource in a city’s planning and management process: to enhance social cohesion and inclusiveness, especially vis à vis deprived groups, and to offset the
negative externalities of rapid urbanisation);
14:10 Welcome (Paul Dujardin, BOZAR)
14:20 Report (Mariam Yunusa, UN-Habitat)
Urbanisation opportunities and challenges in Africa
based on recent development.
(5th African Ministerial Conference on Housing and
Urban Development (AMCHUD V) meeting, The State
of African Cities 2014 report, and link to the World Urban Forum 7 in Medellin and Habitat III) http://www.
unhabitat.org/pmss/listItemDetails.aspx?publicationID=3528
14:30 Introductions of the Roundtable objective, questions for discussion, and moderators (Chris Burns,
Euronews)
The objective of the discussions is to define priority
interventions that need to occur in cities in order
to contribute to a more sustainable, inclusive and
creative urban environment, based on cities’ architectural, cultural and spatial capital.
2.How can cultural, architectural and spatial capital contribute to economic prosperity in cities?
(Culture* as a resource to cities’ stakeholders: an economic
resource, an identity-builder for citizens, an image-maker
towards external partners, a leverage for the private sector’s contribution, local government and social society).
(*culture here taken in its broad meaning: including heritage, arts and architecture, creative industries, relevant civil
society and cultural sponsors)
Participants first break into 4 roundtables of about 10 to discuss these two questions, in hopes that varying perspectives
will be drawn into the conversation shedding further insight
on the topic.
The tables’ composition is announced in colored posters in
the room. They then reconvene for a plenary discussion.
14:45 Roundtable session (1 hour)
Table moderators: Lesley Lokko, Joe Osae Addo,
Berend Van der Lans, and Sylvain Haon
15:45 Plenary session (1 hour 30)
Moderator: Chris Burns
Walk to
BOZAR – EXHIBITION HALLS
Access to BOZAR exhibits Zurbaran and Borremans
Table moderators present a coordinated report of
the results of group discussions.
Participants discuss priority recommendations to
President Barroso and Chairperson Zuma
17:15 Break
Moderators and rapporteurs Mariam Yunusa and Olafur Eliasson compile a report for the presentation of
suggested priority recommendations to the President
of the European Commission Mr. José Manuel Barroso
and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (tbc)
18:00 Panel discussion with President Barroso and
Chairperson Zuma
Panelists: José Manuel Barroso (EC), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (AUC) (tbc), Paul Dujardin (BOZAR), Mariam Yunusa (UN-Habitat), Olafur Eliasson (artist),
Lesley Lokko (architect), Aadel Essaadani (Arterial
Network) (tbc), Joe Osae Addo (ArchiAfrika) (tbc)
Moderator: Chris Burns
18:05 Report by Mariam Yunusa and Olafur Eliasson (15
min) to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (tbc) and to José
Manuel Barroso,
18:20 Statement by Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (10 min)
18:30 Statement by José Manuel Barroso (10 min)
18:40 Panel discussion with Nkosazana Dlamini-Zumaand
(tbc) and José Manuel Barroso, (20m)
19:00 Closing remarks.
Walk to
BOZAR – FOYER 1
(AfricaMuseum@BOZAR)
20:00 Dinner reception
Participants are invited for a buffet dinner within
the spaces of AfricaMuseum@BOZAR. This is the
meeting space of the Royal Museum for Central Africa set up at the Centre for Fine Arts during its renovation until 2017. In addition to its Studio Congo (a
workshop for young audiences) and a presentation
of the architectural renovation model, this space
also presents temporary installations on themes
lined to the Africa Museum. The first installation features the publications of the Africa Museum since
the institution’s creation in 1898. Forty linear meters of books retrace the history and the output of
this institution as research and knowledge centre.
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April 3,
2014
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5.Participants
From Africa:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Joe Osae Addo, Chairman, ArchiAfrika, Accra
Romarick Atoke, Director, AfrikArchi, Benin/France
Sammy Baloji, Artist, co-director Picha in Lubumbashi
Kofi Blankson, founder, Dixcove Ventures, Ltd, information technology & marketing, Accra
5. Marilyn Douala Bell, Director Doual’Art, Douala
6. Seif El Rashidi, architect, Egypt, London
7. Aadel Essaadani, chair Steering Comm Arterial
Network, Morocco
8. Hadia Gana, Director, Ali Gana Foundation, Libya
9. Muhammad Juma, Government of Zanzibar, Department of Urban and Rural Planning, Zanzibar
10.Faisal Kiwewa, Director, Bayimba Foundation, Kampala
11.Theo Lawson, Architect, Founder of Freedom Park,
Lagos and Fela Kuti Museum, Lagos
12.Lesley Lokko, Writer, Architect, Educator, from UK/Ghana, Johannesburg
13.Lupwishi Mbuyamba, Observatory of Cultural Policies,
Africa, Maputo
14.Molemo Moiloa, Anthropologist, Director, Visual Arts
Network, South Africa
15.Firdaous Ossidhoum, Urban Strategist, Director, External Relations, African Union of Architects, Tanger
16.Gordon Pirie, Geographer, African Centre for Cities,
Cape Town
17.Dudu Sarr, Dakar, representing Youssou Ndour’s New
Africa Movement
18. Jean-Charles Tall, Architect, founder College Universitaire de l’Architecture, Dakar
19. Mariam Yunusa, Head, Partners & Inter-agency coordination; External Relations UN-Habitat, Nairobi
From Europe:
1. Jean-Christophe Adrian, Director, UN-Habitat Office for
Liaison with European Institutions, Brussels
2.Baloji, Artist, Gent
3. Victor Brunfaut, Architect, La Cambre, Brussels
4. Chris Burns, Anchor ‘The Network’, Euronews, Brussels
5. Farrokh Derakhshani, Director, Aga Khan Award for
Architecture, Geneva
6. Albert Dubler, President, Union Internationale des
Architectes, Paris
7. Paul Dujardin, CEO, Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR), Brussels
8. Olafur Eliasson, Artist, Berlin
9. Theo Eshetu, Artist, London
10.Ann Gerrard, Cooperation Education Culture (CEC),
Brussels
11.Jan Goossens, Director, KVS
12.Guido Gryseels, Director, Royal Museum for Central
Africa, Brussels
13.Christer Gustaffson, Chair, ICOMOS economics committee, Stockholm
14.Sylvain Haon, Director, POLISnetwork, Brussels
15.Antonio Clemente-Hernandez, EuropeAid – Urban
Development
16.Frederic Jacquemin, Director, Africalia, Brussels
17.Eva Langret, Head of Exhibitions and Artist Liaison,
Tiwani gallery, London
18.Johan Lagae, Architectural historian, University of Gent
19.Jonathan Ledgard, Afrotech initiative, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology (The Economist)
20.Anne Leemans, Director, YDesign Foundation, Brussels
21.Paul Lievevrouw, Architect, Director, SUM Project,
Brussels
22.Emmanuel Midheme, Urban Planning Officer, Kusumu
Kenya, KULeuven
23.Garth Myers, Professor, Urban International Studies,
Trinity College, US
24.Alassane Ndiaye, Professor, Engineer urban transport,
Université Libre de Bruxelles
25.Michèle Dominique Raymond, Assistant SecretaryGeneral , Political Affairs & Human Development
Department, Secretariat of the ACP Group of States,
Brussels
26.Marie Paule Roudil, UNESCO liaison office to EU, Brussels
27.Klaus Rudischhauser, Deputy Director General,
EuropeAid
28.Alain Ruche, Senior advisor on cultural matters,
European External Action Service (EEAS)
29.Johan Swinnen, former Ambassador in Rwanda, DRC,
Burundi, BOZAR Advisory Board
30.Koenraad Van Balen, Director Centre Raymond Lemaire
for Conservation, Leuven
31.Berend van der Lans, African Architecture Matters,
Amsterdam
32.Koen Vidal, Journalist, De Morgen, Brussels
Observers /or attending closing session (18:00-19:00):
1. Piera Calcinaghi, EuropeAid – Africa-EU Partnership
and Peace Facility – 18:00
2. Catherine Cullen, Director, Agenda21, Brussels (tbc)
3. Fariba Derakhshani, Prince Claus Fund, Amsterdam
4. Anne Engberg-Pedersen, Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin
5. Silja Fisher, Secretary General, International Music
Council, Paris
6. Bernard François, Africa-EU Partnership,
Peace Facility – 18:00
7. Helena Kovarikova, Director, EUNIC, Brussels
8. Gertrude Flentge, Doen Foundation
9. Cato Litangen, Norwegian Mimeta Fund
10.Caroline Petit, UNRIC, Brussels – 18:00
11.Nicola Setari, contemporary art curator, writer,
Brussels – 18:00
12.Dennis Rontgen, EuropeAid – Africa-EU Partnership
and Peace Facility
13.Sevdalina Rukanova, Senior Officer, European
Foundation Centre, Brussels
14.Dominique Thiange, Consultant, Brussels – 18:00
15.Sabrina Salis, EuropeAid
6.Roundtable distribution
Table 1
Table 2
Table 3
Moderator:
Lesley Lokko, Architect
Moderator:
Joe Osae Addo, ArchiAfrika
Moderator:
Berend Van der Lans, AAM
Moderator:
Sylvain Haon, POLIS, EU
‘SOUTHERN/CENTRAL’
‘EAST’
‘NORTH’
‘WEST’
Mariam Yunusa, UN Habitat
Muhammad Juma, Urb Plan, TZ
Jean-Christ. Adrian, UNHabitat
Jean Charles Tall, Arch, SE
Theo Lawson, Arch, NG
Emm. Midheme, Arch , KE
Seif El Rashidi, Arch. EG
Romarick Atoke, AfrikArchi,
Gordon Pirie, ACC, ZA
Farrokh Derakshani, AKDN
Firdaous Ossidhoum, urb,
AIA,MA
Marilyn D. Bell, Doualart, CA
Molelmo Moila, Anthro, ZA
Faisal Kiwewa, Bayimba, UG
Hadia Gana, Foundation, LY
Alassane Ndiaye,Eng. ULB
Johan Lagae, Arch. Hist, BE
Olafur Eliasson, Artist, DE
Garth Myers, Prof. urb.pl., US
Dudu Sarr, Artist, SE
Sammy Baloji, Artist, DRC
Jonathan Ledgard, Journalist, KE
Theo Eshetu, Artist, ETH/UK
Anne Leemans, Ydesign, BE
Koen Vidal, Journalist, BE
Mich.Dominique Raymond, ACP
Aadel Essaadani, Arterial, MA
Paul Lievevrouw, SUM, BE
Guido Gryseels, RMCA, BE
Eva Longret, Tiwani Gallery, UK
Christer Gustafsson,ICOMOS,SWE
Ann Gerrard, CEC, BE
Johan Swinnen, Diplomat, BE
Lupwishi Mbyamba, Obs. MZ
Marie Paule Roudil UNESCO, EU
Frédéric Jacquemin,Africalia,
Jan Goossens, KVS, BE
Kofi Blankson, GH
Albert Dubler, UIA, FR
Koen Van Balen, Eng, KUL,BE
Baloji, Artist, BE
Table 4
Victor Brunfaut, Arch, BE
European Institutions
Klaus Rudischhauser, EuropeAid
Antonio Hernandez, EuropeAid
Sabrina Salis, EuropeAid
Alain Ruche, EEAS
Dennis Rontgen, EuropeAid
Observers
S. Rukanova, EFC, BE
A. Engberg-Pedersen, Eliasson
Gertrude Flentge, Doen, NL
Cato Litangen, SWE
Catherine Cullen,Agenda21
Paul Dujardin, BOZAR, BE
Carole Petit, UNRIC, BE
H Kovarikova, EUNIC Global
Silja Fischer, IMC, FR
Fariba Derakhshani, Prince Klaus
P Peyredieu du Charlat, BE
Scribe: Anna Vondracek
Scribe : Kathleen Louw
Scribe: Nadège Mote (tbc)
Scribe: Frederic Meseeuw
ROUNDTABLE
EVENT
F
© Photo on cover: Nontsikelelo Veleko (South Africa), Cindy and Nkuli, Johannesburg, 2003-2006
Africa and Europe in Partnership
2 UNIONS, 1 VISION

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