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  • © 2017

Young People’s Daily Mobilities in Sub-Saharan Africa

Moving Young Lives

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Constitutes the first scholarly exploration of young people’s daily physical mobility in sub-Saharan Africa
  • Debuts innovative methodology, such as the “walking method” and the use of children as researchers, and ethical reflections thereon
  • Engages with a broad audience that goes beyond Africanist scholars and also includes Western transport and mobility scholars

Part of the book series: Anthropology, Change, and Development (ACD)

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
  2. Introduction: Children, Young People and the ‘Mobilities Turn’ in Sub-Saharan Africa

    • Gina Porter, Kate Hampshire, Albert Abane, Alister Munthali, Elsbeth Robson, Mac Mashiri
    Pages 1-22
  3. Identifying Research Gaps and Building a Field Research Methodology with Young People

    • Gina Porter, Kate Hampshire, Albert Abane, Alister Munthali, Elsbeth Robson, Mac Mashiri
    Pages 23-64
  4. Experiencing the Journey to School: Rural and Urban Narratives

    • Gina Porter, Kate Hampshire, Albert Abane, Alister Munthali, Elsbeth Robson, Mac Mashiri
    Pages 65-89
  5. Balancing the Load: Mobility, Work and Income Generation

    • Gina Porter, Kate Hampshire, Albert Abane, Alister Munthali, Elsbeth Robson, Mac Mashiri
    Pages 91-122
  6. Beyond the School and Working Day: Building Connections Through Play, Leisure, Worship and Other Social Contact

    • Gina Porter, Kate Hampshire, Albert Abane, Alister Munthali, Elsbeth Robson, Mac Mashiri
    Pages 123-152
  7. Mobility and Health: Young People’s Health-Seeking Behaviour and Physical Access to Health Services

    • Gina Porter, Kate Hampshire, Albert Abane, Alister Munthali, Elsbeth Robson, Mac Mashiri
    Pages 153-178
  8. Negotiating Transport, Travel and Traffic, Part 1: Walking and Cycling

    • Gina Porter, Kate Hampshire, Albert Abane, Alister Munthali, Elsbeth Robson, Mac Mashiri
    Pages 179-202
  9. Negotiating Transport, Travel and Traffic, Part 2: Motor-Mobility, Traffic Risk and Road Safety

    • Gina Porter, Kate Hampshire, Albert Abane, Alister Munthali, Elsbeth Robson, Mac Mashiri
    Pages 203-225
  10. Conclusion: Reflecting on Theory and Method, Practice and Policy

    • Gina Porter, Kate Hampshire, Albert Abane, Alister Munthali, Elsbeth Robson, Mac Mashiri
    Pages 227-244
  11. Erratum to: Young People’s Daily Mobilities in Sub-Saharan Africa

    • Gina Porter, Kate Hampshire, Albert Abane, Alister Munthali, Elsbeth Robson, Mac Mashiri
    Pages E1-E1
  12. Back Matter

    Pages 245-250

About this book

This book explores the daily mobilities and immobilities of children and young people in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors draw on findings from rural and urban field research extending over many years, culminating in a 24-site study across three African countries: Ghana, Malawi, and South Africa. Wider reflections on gender, relationality, the politics of mobility, and field methodology frame the study. By bringing together diverse strands of a complex daily mobilities picture-from journeys for education, work, play/leisure and health, to associated experiences of different transport modes, road safety, and the virtual mobility now afforded by mobile phones-the book helps fill a knowledge gap with crucial significance for development policy and practice.

Reviews

“The main strength of this book is its ability to apply anthropological knowledge beyond its disciplinary boundaries to discuss it in more applied ways that will be useful for development practitioners. This is not an easy task and one that anthropologists often shy away from. Hence, this book makes for a fascinating read by stretching our understanding of how such social experiences can be understood through a policy and programmatic lens.” (Shannon Philip, Progress in Development Studies, Vol. 18 (03), 2018)​

“The important role that mobility plays in the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of young people in Sub-Saharan Africa is an important but long neglected research topic.  This book not only fills that research gap but also brings to light innovative methodologies.  It’s a ‘must have’ for anyone who wishes to understand how to improve the social consequences of young Africans’ mobility experiences.” (Karen Lucas, Professor of Transport and Social Analysis, University of Leeds, UK)

“Gina Porter has written a very unusual book. It is micro-geography at its best, and the focus on young people and on Africa is exceptional, and exceptionally well done. This book can and will inspire many researchers, students, and policymakers in Africa and elsewhere in the world.” (Ton Dietz, Director, African Studies Centre, Leiden, Netherlands)

“This empirically rich and theoretically informed book makes an important contribution to understandings of how mobility shapes the lives and life courses of young people in sub-Saharan Africa.  It offers real insight into their challenges and coping strategies.  A timely addition to the literature on this important but overlooked topic.” (Katherine Gough, Professor of Geography, Loughborough University, UK)

“A remarkable synthesis of peer-based case studies into young people’s physical mobility. Wonderfully grounded in theory, and finely tuned to ethnographic research methodology and to policy making, the authoritative and engaging text is a very welcome first for and from Africa.” (Gordon Pirie, Deputy Director, African Centre for Cities, South Africa)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom

    Gina Porter, Kate Hampshire

  • Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

    Albert Abane

  • Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi

    Alister Munthali

  • Department of Geography, Environment and Earth Science, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom

    Elsbeth Robson

  • Gwarajena Transport Research & Development, Pretoria, South Africa

    Mac Mashiri

About the authors

Gina Porter is Professor of Anthropology at Durham University, UK.  


Co-authors are Kate Hampshire, Reader in Anthropology, Durham University, UK; Albert Abane, Professor of Geography, University of Cape Coast, Ghana; Alister Munthali, Director of the Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi; Elsbeth Robson, Senior Lecturer in Geography, University of Hull, UK; Mac Mashiri,  Gwarajena TRD, Pretoria, South Africa.  

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access