Paper short abstract:

In this joint introductory paper, we highlight the significance of African bus stations both as prominent arenas of everyday social and economic activity and as extraordinarily rich (yet surprisingly neglected) locales for social science research.

Paper long abstract:

In this joint introductory paper, we draw on long-term research on lorry parks in Ghana and gares routières in Senegal respectively for highlighting the significance of African bus stations both as prominent arenas of everyday social and economic activity and as extraordinarily rich (yet surprisingly neglected) locales for social science research. In doing so, we want to make three general points: (1) Though bus stations in Africa share the common feature of being central nodes in the organisation of public transport, frequently linked to the urban "informal" sector, these places are shaped by both specific local and national historical trajectories (2). As particularly dense, complex and diverse places, bus stations in Africa present a wide range of research themes and issues. This abundance obliges us to make choices, whether consciously or not, which directly impact research results and the narrative we produce about these places as researchers. (3) In order to gain a better understanding of how African bus stations "work", a multidisciplinary endeavour based on different methods and perspectives offers a productive venue, to which the collection of papers in this panel seeks to contribute.