The matatus are famous for their vibrant graffiti which often transcend mere entertainment in deliberate conscious, silent conversation on topics ranging from ethics to politics.
The Matatu graffiti has a language of its own. It is often satirical and engaging in an illustrative vocabulary. Topical issues on the Kenyan mass psyche are replayed across the windows and body of the matatus. Even though most of the graffiti are about what is in vogue, like the hottest Hip-hop artist, or an English premier league team. Nonetheless, there are also graffiti on emotive topics; and the matatus for that reason have become a media to silently and serenely contemplate divisive issues. For instance, in the Nairobi suburbs, Kofi Annan and Moreno Ocampo glower at you from passing Matatu windows and doors in constant reminder of the 2007 Kenyan post-election violence. Inside, stickers with moral messages offer free advice for all those who care to read. “Diligence is the mother of good future” reads one that I particularly liked.
The matatus not only present crucial employment to masses of otherwise unemployable young men and women as crew and graffiti artists, they are also a screen upon which the issues on the conscience of Kenya as a nation are projected and laid bare for dissection by the millions of daily commuters. Consider this- most civic education programs integrate matatu stickers in their programs in order to reach more people at the grass roots.
Related Articles;
Kenya Series: Goggled and Capped
Kenya Series: Jua Kali
Kenya Series: Adopt-a-tree
image source: wickepedia
