If rush hour in Nairobi can be compared to the Kenyan diet: matatus are to traffic what ugali is to dinner.
They are the staple of Kenyan transportation.
By law, matatus are supposed to be painted white with a broken yellow stripe around them.
But unlike ugali (that white maize meal on nearly every Kenyan dinner table), there is some variety in matatus. The owners observe the white paint, yellow stripe law but most also personalise the vans with names and custom decals.
I've seen decal photos of golf stars, rap stars, athletic brand logos, Bob Marley and that blonde female tennis player who's better known for her modelling than her tennis game.
But it's the matatu names that are most entertaining. Here, in no particular order, is a list:
Latino
Feel the Flow
God First
Armstrong
Oxygen
That's That
Twista
O2
ExoBus
Prizen Break
Glory 2 God
Tiger Woods
Baraka
Storm
Nasty
The Brainee
Elite
Genesis
Emmanuel
Arsenal
MTITO RAHA
Promise
Natasha
Sancta Maria
Directline
God's GUIDANCE
Hustler
Hustla
Santa
Dirty Trix
NICE
Vector
Don Escobar
Adidas
LaMour
Smarter
HOT JUSTON
Orlando
Golden Cencer
Wamsaa
Everlasting God
HARHAR MAHADEV
Diplomats
Bethel
Wamsaa Comrade
Anita
Outkast
Aluta
Blessed Tidings
Fabricas
Flames
Vista
No Way Out
JIUMBE WAZITO
Desert Runner
RIOT
Lone Ranger
WAHE GURU
Aluta (again)
Great is God
NGAMIONE
LifeStyle
Double K
Kikumbatu
She Drives Crazy
Madam 008
Sunrise
Ngeni Foa
Talkie
Beyond
Mash Allah
Highway Member
But so far my favorite (I kicked myself for not having my camera on me, to snap a photo) is the Louis Vuitton matatu.
Just like knock-off bags slung over shoulders around the world, and the just-as-ugly designer originals, this matatu is covered with those LVs and little fleurs de lis. It's a _designer_ matatu.
To add some Zambian flavour to your list, my favourite Lusaka mini-bus 'personalities':
Sorry Boss
Nigger
Frank Lampard
John Cena
Stay Longer
Paradise Lost
Mami
King of all Blacks
Posted by: Brandon | September 24, 2007 at 03:50 PM