1. The demographic question in Africa's urban future needs to prioritize the youthful demographic, which is increasingly becoming a significant part of the population.
2. 'Southern thinking' is required to address the youthful demographic in African cities and understand their opportunities and challenges.
3. Creative economies, such as music in Kigali, art in Cape Town, and filmmaking in Lagos, provide entry points for developing government strategies that prioritize youth and their economic, social, and cultural development.
The article provides a critical reflection on the importance of foregrounding the demographic question, particularly the youthful demographic, in strategies for addressing Africa's urban future. The author argues that 'Southern thinking' is required to address the youthful demographic in urban Africa and highlights the importance of creative economies, such as music, art, and filmmaking, in providing opportunities for youth economic, social, and cultural development.
The article presents a well-structured argument with clear examples from particular African cities. However, there are some potential biases and missing points of consideration that need to be addressed. Firstly, the article focuses primarily on the positive aspects of creative economies without exploring their potential negative impacts on youth development. For example, there may be concerns about exploitation or lack of fair compensation for young artists and musicians.
Secondly, while 'Southern thinking' is presented as an alternative approach to Western urban debates, it is not clear how this approach differs from existing African perspectives on urban development. The article could benefit from a more nuanced discussion of different African perspectives on urbanization and their implications for youth-focused strategies.
Thirdly, while the examples provided are useful in illustrating the potential benefits of youth-focused strategies in creative economies, they do not provide a comprehensive picture of Africa's urban future. The article could benefit from a broader discussion of other factors shaping Africa's urban future beyond demographics and creative economies.
Overall, while the article provides valuable insights into the importance of foregrounding the demographic question in strategies for addressing Africa's urban future through 'Southern thinking' and creative economies, it would benefit from a more balanced discussion of potential risks and limitations associated with these approaches. Additionally, further exploration of different African perspectives on urbanization would enhance its overall contribution to this important debate.