In the Skin of the City

"Tomás's analysis is a generous mélange of ethnographic and historical study of Luanda's changing urban condition over time, offering palimpsests of a changing city. . . . [The Skin of the City] is at its best when it focuses on the interconnections between various urban processes, inscribed locally, as well as the borders that enable such urban remaking."

~Shakirah E. Hudani, Journal of Planning History

"A very readable introduction to the city—and one that both draws the reader into an engaged understanding as well as providing plentiful material for further study. . . . [T]he book is highly recommended for emerging generations of urban scholars interested in not only the south and especially Sub-Saharan Africa, but also wider urban space and form, and ongoing dynamic urban transformations worldwide."

~Paul Jenkins, Journal of Southern African Studies

"Tomás’s book is an engaging and exhaustive study of the history, politics, economy, and culture of a constantly changing and unpredictable African capital city. In this sense, it will undoubtedly become a reference for researchers interested in urban studies, history, anthropology, and similar disciplines."

~Melusi Nkomo, Exertions

"In the Skin of the City is a finely crafted book about the political economy of one of the biggest cities in the Global South, which speaks to urban, social, and political theory. It builds on thorough research, engages its audience with a compelling narrative, and is a must-read for anyone who has an interest in Luanda, Angola, and urban Africa more generally."

~Till Förster, American Ethnologist