Urbanism of the informal : ethnic spatial adjustment of Gbagyi housing in Nigeria

Abstract

The rate of urbanisation and globalisation has an impact on the transformation of traditional settlements physically and culturally. This phenomenon is most glaring in fast growing cities like Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital territory (FCT). Here, the influx of settlers cashing in on the expanding economic opportunities has put pressure on the existing settlements to accommodate them. Nigeria, as in other developing countries, still depends more on informal housing delivery system. The traditional Gbagyi vernacular housing as observed in many traditional settings is subject to modifications and improvement, to accommodate more spaces for tenants. The question relates to the sustainability of the ethnic spatial identity, due to transformation of the long established indigenous cultural values. Urbanisation and acculturation apparently contribute to the gradual lost of such indigenous housing patterns. This chapter analyses the changing patterns of a case study, of Gbagyi housing in three significant periods of FCT-Abuja development: incipient (1976-1986), intermediate (1987-1991) and consolidated (1992-2006). It also attempts to highlight the contributing factors for the transformation.