Use of photo-elicitation interviews to explore urban landscape identity in the context of urban renewal changes, a case of Kisumu City, Kenya

Abstract

Photo-elicitation interviews (PEIs) have been used in landscape studies with the aim of eliciting participant opinions through memories and feelings associated with images. PEI was used in this study to identify and discuss the main aspects that constitute the formation of the urban landscape identity of Kisumu City, Kenya. A total of 12 participants were purposively selected based on professions, sex and age, availability, and willingness to participate. The aim of this study was to elicit resident opinions about ongoing and completed urban renewal projects within Kisumu City, Kenya. First, the participants were asked which photos represented the city identity and contributed to its image. The responses were categorised under physical, sociocultural, and economic aspects. They were also expected to comment on the outcome of the ongoing and completed upgrading within the central business district of the city. The researcher took 28 photos of the various features within Kisumu City for discussion. PEI was used as a method to collect data in addition to other methods such as surveys whose findings have been presented in other papers. The findings revealed that Lake Victoria and its scenery were important both as a natural feature of the physical environment and for sociocultural contribution to the image of Kisumu City. Other features identified for both of these aspects were parks and public buildings within the city. The meaning aspect was also associated with these features with varying strengths. The vast majority of the participants were satisfied with the new look of Kisumu City, especially the revamped streets after the renewal projects.

Foto-ontlokkingsonderhoude (PEI) is in landskapstudies gebruik met die doel om deelnemermenings te ontlok deur herinneringe en gevoelens wat met beelde geassosieer word. PEI is in hierdie studie gebruik om die hoofaspekte wat die vorming van die stedelike landskapidentiteit van Kisumu City, Kenia uitmaak, te identifiseer en te bespreek. Altesaam 12 deelnemers is doelbewus gekies op grond van beroepe, geslag en ouderdom, beskikbaarheid en bereidwilligheid om deel te neem. Die doel van hierdie studie was om inwoners se menings oor lopende en voltooide stedelike hernuwingsprojekte binne Kisumu City, Kenia, te ontlok. Eerstens is die deelnemers gevra watter foto’s die stadsidentiteit verteenwoordig en tot sy beeld bygedra het. Die response is gekategoriseer onder fisiese, sosio-kulturele en ekonomiese aspekte. Daar is ook van hulle verwag om kommentaar te lewer oor die uitkoms van die deurlopende en voltooide opgradering binne die sentrale sakekern van die stad. Die navorser het 28 foto’s van die verskillende kenmerke binne Kisumu City geneem vir bespreking. PEI is gebruik as ’n metode om data in te samel bykomend tot ander metodes soos opnames waarvan die bevindinge in ander artikels gepubliseer is. Die bevindinge het aan die lig gebring dat die Victoria-meer en sy natuurskoon belangrik was as ’n natuurlike kenmerk van die fisiese omgewing en vir sosio-kulturele bydrae tot die beeld van Kisumu City. Ander kenmerke wat vir beide hierdie aspekte geïdentifiseer is, was parke en openbare geboue binne die stad. Die betekenisaspek is ook met verskillende sterktes met hierdie kenmerke geassosieer. Meeste van die deelnemers tevrede met die nuwe voorkoms van Kisumu City, veral die opgeknapte strate na die hernuwingsprojekte.