Four Days in Kinshasa: The People, the Culture, the Chaos, and the Charm
Kinshasa greets us with overwhelming heat, noise, and frenetic energy from a tense arrival at immigration to the chaotic, post-apocalyptic roads leading into Gombe yet the city’s generosity quickly reveals itself through a chance encounter with Celest Lukombe, whose guidance transforms confusion into connection. By the next day, we are immersed in Matongé’s musical heritage and meeting sapeurs who embody dignity through style, before diving into Bandalungwa’s electric nightlife. Chaotic yet magnetic, Kinshasa proves unforgettable: a city that startles, challenges, and ultimately charms.
How Nairobi hawkers use traffic to beat poverty.
Over the past few years, there has been a drastic rise in hawking along major highways in Nairobi such as Uhuru Highway, Mombasa Road, Jogoo Road and Thika Highway partly due to high levels of joblessness and worsening economic conditions. When motorists complain of endless traffic, some see opportunity, and the snaking lines of traffic become a means out of poverty for them.