The Cities, Culture, and Technology (CCT) Framing Paper is one of four papers outlining the research agenda for the Africa Urban Lab. By adopting complex systems and a cultural evolution lens, the CCT research cluster explores how culture influences the social processes that enable the generation, diffusion, and adoption of innovative ideas, products, and practices in urban environments. More specifically, this cluster is interested in the logical chain through which cities foster the cultural changes that give rise to innovation. Ultimately, understanding the mechanisms and cultural nuances that shape the social processes of innovation can help us design, govern, and empower cities which continue to drive humanity forward.