Arianna J. King

As a researcher and educator, I bring together insights from anthropology, sociology, geography, African studies, and architecture to think through the complex relationships between people and cities. Using ethnographic and human-centered fieldwork methodologies, I dive deep into the sociocultural fabric of urban communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, documenting how ordinary people adapt to and participate in shaping ever evolving cityscapes.

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, mobilities 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 relationship-based engagement, I aim to contribute insights that can lead to more inclusive, vibrant, and responsive cities for all.