BIDONVILLE Meaning and
Definition
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A bidonville is a French term commonly used to describe a slum or shantytown, typically found in urban areas of developing countries. Derived from the word "bidon," meaning drum or can, bidonville originally referred to housing settlements made of makeshift shelters constructed from materials such as corrugated metal, wooden planks, or plastic sheets, often resembling large containers or drums.
These informal settlements emerge due to various factors, including rapid urbanization, rural-urban migration, population growth, and poverty. Bidonvilles are characterized by their inadequate housing conditions, lack of basic services, and limited legal recognition. Many bidonvilles lack access to clean water, sanitation facilities, electricity, and other essential amenities, leading residents to face numerous health and safety risks.
Typically located on marginal lands, such as floodplains or areas prone to landslides, bidonvilles are often subject to precarity. Residents of bidonvilles face significant socioeconomic challenges, including limited access to education, employment, and healthcare services. The lack of formal security of tenure also makes individuals living in bidonvilles vulnerable to forced eviction and displacement.
Efforts to address the issues associated with bidonvilles often involve collaborative initiatives involving governments, non-governmental organizations, and local communities. These efforts aim to improve living conditions and provide access to basic services for residents, while also working towards integrating bidonvilles into the formal urban fabric by upgrading infrastructure, legalizing land tenure, and promoting sustainable urban development.
Common Misspellings for BIDONVILLE
- vidonville
- nidonville
- hidonville
- gidonville
- budonville
- bjdonville
- bkdonville
- bodonville
- b9donville
- b8donville
- bisonville
- bixonville
- biconville
- bifonville
- bironville
- bieonville
- bidinville
- bidknville
- bidlnville
- bidpnville
Etymology of BIDONVILLE
The word "bidonville" originated from French. Its etymology can be traced back to the term "bidon", which means "tin can" in English. The suffix "-ville" in French is equivalent to the English suffix "-town".
During the early 20th century, shantytowns or slums started to emerge on the outskirts of French cities, particularly in the colonies or former colonies of France. These temporary settlements were constructed using materials like tin cans, scrap metal, and other makeshift materials. Owing to their prevalent use of tin cans, these settlements came to be known as "bidonvilles" or "tin can towns" in English.
The term "bidonville" became widely recognized in the mid-20th century when these settlements grew in number due to rural-urban migration and economic disparities. The term is often associated with poverty, informal settlements, and inadequate living conditions.
