Cracking, Crumbling and Collapsing: Concrete Anxieties in Dakar

Paper Abstract: What does it mean when a city is built with concrete? Concrete, composed mainly of cement, gravel, sand, and water, is an industrially produced material that requires the large-scale extraction of natural resources. My paper explores the everyday "concrete-scape" of Dakar and the paradox between the massive production of construction materials for concrete (especially cement) and the crumbling, cracking built environment, often constructed on rubbles. Based on 13 months of fieldwork in Dakar, particularly in Parcelles Assainies, my research examines the urban anxieties tied to construction practices, the life cycle of houses, and the interactions between concrete and everyday dwelling that shape visions and imaginations of the city’s future. These anxieties, crystallized during the rainy season, reveal a fragile equilibrium that jeopardizes the city's liveability. As the first rains approach, construction sites become frantic with efforts to complete as much as possible, while residents begin to voice concerns about cracks in walls and roofs, fearing the moment their homes will no longer be waterproof. My paper connects these anxieties to the broader theme of sustainability in urban environments, specifically in relation to the materiality of concrete houses. The concrete city is a global phenomenon, already extensively studied in Southeast Asia, particularly in India. Drawing on existing literature on construction and concrete in India and combining it with my ethnographic research in Dakar, my aim is to conceptualize these urban anxieties as a starting point for rethinking our built environments of tomorrow.