This book focuses on migration, integration, and social change through an Africa-centric lens. Employing an extensive array of data sources, including interviews, observations, and survey insights from several African countries, it reveals how the unique geographic conditions and socioeconomic norms in African nations give rise to distinct patterns of mobility, integration, and change, which have been largely overlooked in the state- and western-centric global migration literature.

While migration is commonly associated with social, political, economic, and environmental factors and the (in)action of states in relation to them, this book challenges conventional wisdom by highlighting the significance of land availability, norms of resource access, and economic orientations. It differentiates the relationship between these factors and migration dynamics in urban areas in Africa from the dynamic in urban villages and rural cities. It argues that socioeconomic opportunities and norms in these geographic spaces play a pivotal role in shaping migration dynamics, often overshadowing the traditional determinants of such, including the (in)actions of state institutions.

Furthermore, the book explores the less-studied phenomenon of migration-induced social change in Africa, shedding light on how similarities between home and host geographies make such transformations less visible, yet more susceptible to elite framing in host regions.

By emphasizing the uniqueness of African contexts and introducing the concepts of "rural cities" and "urban villages," this book offers a fresh perspective on migration, integration, and social change. While deeply rooted in an African perspective, its insights have broader implications for scholars, students, governments, and international organizations, offering a critical counterbalance to historically state- and Western-centric discourses on global mobility and change. As Africa grapples with environmental, political, economic, and health challenges, understanding these dynamics becomes increasingly vital for all concerned with the continent's future.