Across Africa, technology, sustainability, and investment are converging to shape a new urban reality. Smart cities are becoming crucial in addressing the swift urbanization and infrastructure hurdles confronting African cities.
With market projections expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2025 and an annual growth rate of 12% through 2029, smart cities in Africa are emerging as global testbeds for urban innovation. From digital governance to renewable energy, African cities are being transformed by smart technologies focused on resilience and sustainable development.
The Rise of "New Cities" in Africa
The renewed interest in big projects is driven by liberal governments that see public-private partnerships as the right tool to create modern cities quickly. Researchers note that political ambition now combines with the desire to create hi-tech knowledge hubs.
This term is a passe-partout formula that actually corresponds to different definitions over time. Historically, “new cities” in Africa emerged first in the colonial period and then postcolonially, serving new administrative functions with strong political symbolism.
Challenges and Progress
Some projects have stalled, while others are at an advanced stage but have faced challenges in attracting new residents. Some other projects are progressing slowly or have been periodically suspended due to political and economic issues but seem likely to meet their initial promises.
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None of these urban centers met the expected deadline: “It takes time to create a new city, and these experiences confirm that.
Africa faces the world’s highest population pressure, expected to exceed 2.1 billion by 2040, with at least half a billion living in urban areas. Between the 1990s and 2020, nearly 5,000 new urban centers have already been created, while sprawling megacities such as Cairo and Lagos (with over 20 million inhabitants) or Kinshasa (17 million) have emerged.
With one in two Africans living in cities, the economic, social and cultural transformation is underway and will only accelerate. Meeting the demand for housing, responding to the concrete needs of residents and combating climate change should be priorities.
Key Smart City Projects in Africa
Across the continent, ambitious smart city projects are reshaping urban environments. These projects aim for inclusive and equitable development, encompassing affordable housing, social safety nets, and community initiatives to enhance living standards and reduce urban poverty.
Smart cities focus on developing digital infrastructures to improve connectivity, mobility and accessibility. Smart cities prioritize sustainable urban planning practices to minimize environmental impact and enhance resource efficiency.
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Here are some of the leading smart cities in Africa:
- Vision City, Rwanda: Combines digital inclusion with high-quality living standards. By 2025, it will include smart metering, digital addressing, IoT-enabled waste management, and solar panels for every home.
- Konza Technopolis, Kenya: Often called Kenya’s “Silicon Savannah,” Konza Technopolis lies 60 km from Nairobi. Phase 1, set to be completed in 2025, will introduce smart mobility, automated waste systems, centralized command centers, and cloud-based services.
- Modderfontein New City, South Africa: Rising east of Johannesburg as a high-tech economic hub. By 2025, electric vehicle charging stations and car-sharing services will help reduce private car usage by 18%.
- Menlyn Maine, South Africa: Showcases how smart retrofitting of existing cities can deliver fast, tangible benefits.
- Hope City, Ghana: Operates as a tech campus for startups, offering 5G connectivity, blockchain-based real estate, and AI-integrated urban management.
- Eko Atlantic, Nigeria: Built on reclaimed land off the coast of Lagos, featuring an autonomous energy network, underground ICT infrastructure, digital water systems, and an independent power grid.
- Appolonia City, Ghana: Blends residential, commercial, and light industrial zones, supported by paved roads, solar lighting, and advanced waste management.
- Centenary City, Nigeria: A public-private free trade zone project designed to attract $18.5 billion in investment and create 250,000 permanent jobs.
- Tatu City, Kenya: Hosts 90+ companies, 15,000 workers, and about 5,000 residents, offering international schools, healthcare, housing, and integrated industrial areas.
- Kigali Innovation City, Rwanda: Integrates top universities with ICT firms, incubators, and research centers, aiming to attract $2 billion in private investment and generate 50,000 jobs.
Investment and Growth
While investment in African startups fell to $3.4 billion in 2023 (down from $5 billion the previous year), the continent has seen exponential growth in the sector. The digital industry is seen as a key driver of economic growth for a young and dynamic population.
South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya (known as the Big Four) have joined the list of the world’s top start-up nations, attracting more than 75 percent of the industry’s investment. However, they face stiff competition from other countries.
Global interest is rising. Tech giants like Microsoft have already committed to Africa’s digital growth, aiming to train over one million local professionals in AI and cybersecurity by 2026.
Akon City: A Vision of the Future
In 2020, construction on a self-sustaining city started with some unusual core ideas: rap, African culture, and respect. This new Senegalese city will be located in present-day Mbodiene. This remote population of a few thousand people is set to become Senegal’s crown jewel. It will be renamed Akon City, and it’s goal is to be a real ‘Wakanda.’ In addition to being energy responsible and meeting LEED certification, it is planned to reverse the African diaspora.
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The ‘New Wakanda,’ as Akon City is known in some circles, is much more ambitious than MMTC and will initially cost $6 billion. At the same time, different structures that aren’t always seen in Senegalese municipalities will be built. Often in Central Africa at large and in Senegal in particular, the availability of these sorts of services is conditioned by a critical mass of citizens already established in an area.
Rapper Akon is aware of how the African and Senegalese people have been scattered around the world, and he hopes to turn Akon City into a beacon that they can follow “back home.” In fact, this smart city is the first African city with an active ‘repatriation’ program for those of African origin stemming from that diaspora.
This policy is very similar to the one used by the United States and other countries for decades with their special visas for professionals of some kind. At first, Akon City will require experts in sustainable construction and energy. Due to this ability (still hypothetical) to bring part of the Senegalese people together and to attract talent, along with its focus on some of the violent episodes occurring frequently, this ‘Wakanda’ is also being called ‘an anti-racist city.’ This is because it is a refuge for those who feel discriminated against in their countries.
One look at the preliminary designs for Akon City shows that the city has something special. Its futuristic, shell-like shapes and organic curves are reminiscent of sci-fi movies about space colonies. The part of the city that’s already designed includes an educational district, a financial district, a kind of ‘resort island,’ a district with basic citizen assistance services, another with offices, and so on. Moreover, it’s all walkable and bikeable. A resident can walk the entire city in just under two hours. It will also have an immense park much larger than the city itself all the way around it.
A few months ago, KE International confirmed that it would build Akon City and intended to meet LEED certification standards for its sustainable building.
AKON CITY: THE FUTURIST CITY OF AKON being built in SENEGAL !
Integrating Tradition and Modernity
Future African cities will face different challenges in planning around existing districts. The big question here is how they can be enhanced or whether the planners will need to start over. The solution is merging old with new. Regeneration and urban regeneration happen in many cities in the world, taking a cue in planning, Africa must consider passive design across big urban spreads.
Africa’s new building infrastructure must be based on renewable energy and diversifying where technology and data allow it to plan and optimise systems. Looking at historical data across traffic and buildings, efficient planning with renewable resources could save approximately 70% of the energy that was peak loading across that city.
Again, planning and adopting a circular economy is critical, which applies to renewables, materials and supply chains. Some best practices like vernacular architecture, wind tunnel labyrinths and materials such as mud will go a long way in developing a sustainable built environment. It is fundamental to reuse all those things that bring value to Africa and its people, create jobs and reduce its global footprint.
Driving Value Through Innovation
It is a great head start that there's already an uptake of innovative business models. Kenya has successfully set up a green building society, an independent, non-profit membership-based society registered with the World Green Building Council as its Kenya Chapter.
In Kenya, green buildings are selling quicker or leasing faster with more premium clients. It is a no-brainer that the value of carbon will escalate in the next few years. Everyone's focused on the dollar, but several other factors, like carbon taxes and penalties, will be at play in the next few years.
Sustainability is about the return on investment, bringing tangible value to buildings, cities and people. An existing building could result in energy bill savings, while a new building will likely get a higher valuation. Nevertheless, both new and existing buildings will yield higher rentals.
Creative Hubs in Africa
In recent years, Africa has emerged as a powerhouse in the global creative economy, with several cities leading the charge as vibrant centers of creativity and innovation. These cities are nurturing local talent and attracting international attention for their dynamic cultural scenes, technological advancements, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Here are some of the leading creative hubs in Africa:
- Lagos, Nigeria: Known for Nollywood, Afrobeats, and a thriving tech scene.
- Nairobi, Kenya: A tech hub with groundbreaking innovations in mobile technology and a vibrant arts scene.
- Cape Town, South Africa: A global center for design, recognized as a UNESCO City of Design.
- Dakar, Senegal: The cultural heart of Francophone Africa, renowned for its artistic heritage.
- Accra, Ghana: An emerging creative hub with a vibrant scene in art, fashion, and music.
- Johannesburg, South Africa: A powerhouse of the arts, with a thriving scene in music, film, theater, and visual arts.
- Marrakech, Morocco: Known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant arts scene.
Africa's sustainable urbanization journey is paving the way for creating future cities that are environmentally resilient, socially inclusive, and economically prosperous.
