Description: This book pens a window on the experiences of urban people living through one of Africa's most dramatic economic declines in the postcolonial era by focusing on such broad themes as household dynamics, gender politics, and informal economy in Mtendere. The author argues that African urbanism is not purely a product of colonialism but a result of a wide variety of influences both local and foreign.
Review Quotes: Hansen captures the complexity of life and the hard choices that urban people (and especially women) must make, with brilliant sensitivity to personal triumphs as well as crushing disappointments. Readers meet brave and resourceful people in a spirited book that manages to be innovative, accessible, informative, and uplifting, while remaining realistic.