Mengeste is an elderly man I met in Kechene, an informal settlement in the heart of the city. As he shares his life journey, the story illustrates not only his individual experiences but also the broader transformations within the Kechene neighborhood. From the moment he left his parents’ farm to seek better opportunities in the bustling city, Mengeste’s life becomes a microcosm of the broader phenomenon of rural migration to megacities, illustrating how Addis itself was formed. The narrative explores the promises of economic independence, job opportunities, and education that draw individuals like Mengeste to urban centers. The unplanned mud houses, communal courtyards, and evolving dwellings emerge from daily actions, highlighting architecture as a direct result of life’s events and negotiations. His daily life becomes a lens into the organic evolution of urban spaces shaped by diverse aspirations and spatial practices. Mengeste’s story urges us to rethink the importance of dwellers’ agency in shaping cities.