What’s missing? Reflections on the debate on middle class(es) in Africa

The article explores what is missing from the burgeoning debate about the character of the African middle classes. Contemporary debate revolves around definitions, identities, consumer behaviour, spatial practices and historicity of the African middle class. However, this underemphasises the role of the state in making of African middle classes; how they are located within wider class structures; the role played by education systems in reproducing middle classes; the experiences of middle classes at work; whether African middle classes have the capacity to become a capitalist bourgeoisie; and whether African middle classes have genuine democratic potential.