Art on wheels in Nairobi


In Kenya, private buses are called "Matatu", they are locally made and represent thousands of jobs. In Nairobi 20,000 of them provide daily public transport on a network of 90 lines.
The owners are engaged in an unbridled bidding to gain customer loyalty, mostly young, urban and connected: it is who will offer the decoration most "fun", the loudest sound system, the most "cool" interior.
Nicknamed "art on wheels", the Matatus are decorated by young graphic artists from the graffiti scene, some of whom have become famous, blogs and Facebook pages, followed by thousands of enthusiasts, publish photos of the latest creations, news and rumors.
Speed ​​is an important selling point, chauffeurs drive as aggressively as possible and Makangas (cashier-tout), hung on the doors, shove the cars away or jump on the road to block vehicles. .
The Matatus have transformed the quasi- permanent trafic jams into a ruthless guerrilla where motorists, to survive, must show an infinite patience and in return may admire for free the art works that attack them.
This urban art, aggressive and always flashy, tells the passions and dreams of a population half of which is under 25 years and brings a little joy to this city rather dull.


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