David Chitta and Michelle Made on Zanzalu and Life Inside a Pop-Up City

What is a pop-up city, and what does it actually look like on the ground?In Episode 82 of the Charter Cities Podcast, Mark Lutter speaks with David Chitta and Michelle Made about Zanzalu, a three-week co-living and co-working pop-up city hosted in Fumba Town, Zanzibar.They unpack what a pop-up city actually is and what makes the experience unique: shared breakfasts, spontaneous workshops, game nights, student programming, residencies, and the kinds of relationships that continue long after the event ends.The conversation also explores why Zanzibar and Fumba Town are a natural setting for a pop-up city, what kinds of people tend to attend, and how Zanzalu is evolving in 2026. This year’s edition includes the Zanzalu Idea Zone in partnership with FuTopia, an art residency on Swahili futurism, and the Vanguard residency for emerging African leaders and thinkers.If you’ve been curious about Zanzalu, pop-up cities, or new models for building community and collaboration, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what Zanzalu is, who it’s for, and why it keeps people coming back.