Matatus are the minivans that transport people all over Kenya (and Tanzania). They have some very creative artwork – and names! The first time we lived in Kenya was from 1991-1994. I kept track of some of the names in a little notebook, which you can see in the photo. (Double-click the photo to see a larger version of the notebook pages.) There are some great ones, such as: Beauty Options, Bush Poucher, Texas City, and Bison Jnr.
The artwork on the sides of matatus is uniquely African – and often very creative. (Do a Google image search for “matatu art.”) Matatu owners invest in creative artwork to give a competitive advantage. Wouldn’t you rather go in a cool matatu than in one with no artwork?
African buses remind me a little of chivas, the big boxy buses that were common in my childhood in Colombia. You can see some here: http://roadkill-spatula.xanga.com/2010/11/23/wheels-art-and-horses/
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Great link – it is interesting how developing world cultures sometimes diverge.
From the time you guys first talked about these, I’ve thought of the Jeepneys in the Philippines, a very similar kind of deal.