Arianna J. King

As an interdisciplinary social scientist, I bring together insights from sociology, anthropology, geography, African studies, and architecture to understand the complex relationship between people and places. Through ethnographic research, I dive deep into the sociocultural fabric of urban communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, documenting how ordinary people adapt to and participate in shaping the evolving cityscapes around them.

My work reveals the often-invisible ways that top-down decisions ripple through communities, affecting everything from social interactions and economic opportunities to cultural practices and spatial agency. I'm particularly drawn to moments of transition—when new infrastructures and technologies impact familiar spaces, creating new patterns and possibilities for urban life.

What drives my research:

• Curiosity in how infrastructure and technology shape agency and belonging.

• Respect for community responses to neighborhood change and development.

• Recognition of the role of racial capitalism in shaping urban development agendas in African cities and beyond.

• Acknowledgement of the possibilities and potentials to learn from ordinary citizens of the global urban majority to bring about just urban futures.

Through careful observation and community engagement, I aim to contribute insights that can lead to more inclusive, vibrant, and responsive cities for all.