Planet of The Slums: 20 Years On: Annual Lecture – Samuel Hall and AKU
June 2025
Hosted in Nairobi, the AKU Annual Lecture 2025 revisited the ideas of Mike Davis’s Planet of the Slums two decades on — asking what they mean in an era defined by climate change, migration, and rapid urbanisation.
The event brought together academics, practitioners, and city leaders to explore how people and places across the Global South are responding to overlapping crises of displacement, inequality, and environmental stress. Discussions examined how cities like Nairobi, Karachi, and Koboko are driving new forms of local governance, urban diplomacy, and community-led adaptation.
Speakers reflected on how urban and displaced communities are not only vulnerable to climate impacts but also shaping innovative responses — from informal settlements to city halls. The lecture positioned cities as sites of resilience, collaboration, and imagination, where solutions to climate and migration challenges are already being forged.
Read our event brief here
