Gentrification and Displacements in Sub Saharan Africa: Insights from Bamenda Municipality of the North West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Gentrification is a powerful force for economic change, however, it is accompanied by displacements, linked to different phases and forms of transformation especially in the third world where remarkable income differences and poverty plaque most urban dwellers. Displacement is a traumatic experience with mental and physical challenges that inflicts considerable hardships on the victims. Despite the salience of this issue, the focus of most academic debates in Sub Saharan Africa orbits around socio-economic development and urban poverty. To close this gap, this study seeks to (1) identify the drivers of displacement and the role of gentrification in the displacement process in Bamenda and (2) examine the patterns and socio-economic implications of displacement in Bamenda. To attain these objectives the study employed a mixed research design, administering 120 questionnaire to household heads in displaced neighbourhoods. Beside questionnaire, recurrent field survey and key informant interviews with displaced victims (residents, business persons and institutions) were conducted across the city to understand the drivers, forms and waves of displacement. This was updated with secondary data gotten from scientific journals and documents from other institutions concern with the displaced. Findings reveal that displacement within the municipality of Bamenda is dominantly driven by commercial growth and intensification of urban activities (30%), followed by insecurity (27%) which has been very significant from 2016 till date. Four forms of displacements were found to be associated with different phases of urban transformation over time. Prominent among them is the displacement of urban dwellers (40%) followed by commercial displacement (30%), which is most prevalent within the socio-political crisis era. Results also indicate that displacement intensities vary spatio-temporally, with highest intensities in the high density residential zone before 2016 followed by low density residential zone linked to insecurity. This has resulted to economic hardship (33.33%), homelessness (25%), social and economic breakdown (21.67%) and trauma (20%). Base on these the study recommends re-housing options locally to accommodate the displaced in order to reduce homelessness and financial burdens, increased police surveillance to reduce insecurity, proactive planning to minimize over  densification as well as rental control to curb excessive rental increase that riggers displacement in Bamenda.