Study On The Change Of Urban Form In 1896 To 1960 Upper Volta Of French Colonies

This dissertation expounds on developmental features of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso—two cities of Upper Volta,French Colony—during the colonial period between 1896 and 1960 at a great length,in an attempt to interpret the characteristics of French colonizers’ urban policy and the impact on colonial cities on dimensions of the transformation of colonial urban policy,the implementation of colonial urban planning,the differences between colonial urban policy and the correlation between colonial urban zoning and social interaction.This dissertation is subdivided into four chapters.The first chapter introduces the urban development before the colonial period and the urban development in the early period of colonial rule(1897-1919)in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso.It is followed by the second chapter with a detailed discussion about the announcement of racial segregation policy and its practices in urban development in Upper Volta Military Zone(1919-1932).The third chapter elaborates on distinct development paths as a result of diverging colonial policy of the two cities before the reestablishment of Upper Volta Military Zone(1932-1947),along with a depiction of the novel but contrasting urban landscape seen in the two cities as a result of differences in French political propensity and economic support towards the respective city(1947-1960).The final chapter emphasizes on illustrating the development and transformation of social places,such as bars,pubs,markets and clubs,under the influence of French colonial policy,subsequently exploring the correlation between colonial urban policy and social interactions from a macro perspective.In the process of “establishment-abolition-reestablishment-independence” of Upper Volta,the colonial government planned and reconstructed the cities afresh within its boundary.Europeans’ prior intention in doing such was serving their own interests.The racial segregation policy was the nucleus of urban development inUpper Volta or the entire French West Africa.Urban planning conducted by the colonial government conform to the city’s specific geographic features.Local chiefs and Africans participated in the colonial urban development,at least partially.The above-mentioned characteristics,which have played a role in the urban construction,promoted the institutionalization of the colonial political system,the integration with capitalism and redivision of functional areas of these cities.Along with the changments,new social relationships have been derived.