It became clear that Africa’s cities, many of which are themselves products of the twentieth century, face the highest rates of urbanisation in the world over the next half a century, straining populations, urban landscapes and hinterlands, and placing modern heritage at serious risk of alteration or destruction, and very susceptible to climate change.
Despite global focus on the urban as the modern, it became very clear that Africa’s modern heritage has a vital role in promoting rural and urban sustainability in line with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the UNHabitat New Urban Agenda. In developing this intimate connection between the urban and rural spaces and places, and recognising current planetary challenges, from ecological crises and pandemics to rapid urbanisation and sustainable development, the Modern Heritage of Africa initiative (MoHoA) was created and established with its website hosted by the University of Cape Town. This initiative will embrace all stakeholders on the continent together with world-wide supporters of this theme.
