Africa's youth (18–35 years old) comprise 65 percent of Africa's population. They play key political and societal roles, typically inhabiting environments characterized by swift urbanization, high unemployment rates, and inadequate state services. They are, it is often said, Africa's future, the potential dynamo to drive Africa's development.

The focus is on three former British colonies: Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda. Ghana is in West Africa and the latter two are in East Africa. Ghana is a liberal democracy, and Tanzania and Uganda have authoritarian governments. Drawing on extensive fieldwork in the three countries, the authors examine what urban youth understand by “citizenship” and what it means to be a good citizen.

Based on extensive interviews and focus group discussions with young urban Africans, including advocates, activists, and community leaders, both secular and religious, the book explains how income, religion, and gender influence young urban Africans' sense of citizenship.

Africa's urban youth typically face economic and political marginalization as well as generational tensions. This does not mean, however, that they lack a sense of citizenship. The circumstances in which they live mold a necessarily creative citizenship, drawing on and emphasizing their relationships and obligation