THE URBAN-RURAL CONNECTION - CHANGING ISSUES OF BELONGING AND IDENTIFICATION

Since the 1960s researchers have emphasised the continuing importance of rural-urban connections as a special aspect of urbanisation in Afri ca. It is clear that since then, in many parts of Africa, the involvem ent of urbanites with their 'home' village has increased rather than d ecreased. Four of the articles in this issue were originally papers pr esented at two ASA panels (Toronto, 1994) which set out to explore the se rural-urban connections. The content of the exchanges and the moral involvement of city people and villagers in such relations vary great ly. The variations have important implications for regional difference s in, for instance, the development of new modes of accumulation or th e cementing of ethnic networks. The other article (by Dickson Eyoh) ad dresses the effects of recent political changes in this centext-a them e also raised by the other articles. In many parts of Africa democrati sation seems to evoke an obsession with 'autochthony', origin and belo nging. The increasing role of elite associations, as an alternative to multi-party politics, makes the rural connection of vital importance to urban politicians. Hence 'the village', and more generally the regi on of origin, acquire new importance as a power base in national polit ics.