DEATH OF 'ART ON A MAT'

Art on a mat...

Brain-Child, Ferrari, Kichimbi, Liquid, Ruffcuts, S.W.A.T, Lugz…the names were catchy and diverse just as their various colours, graffiti and shapes but all of them rocked. For those of you wondering what I am talking about, it’s the trendy matatus that had become synonymous with most of the urban areas in Kenya; Nairobi especially leading the pack.  They were not only a mode of transport but also offered commuters a chance to experience a wild and adrenaline-filled ride whether to or from town.

Diversity is beauty!

As a Nairobian myself, I can only detail the mathreez that used to ply our city routes with both nostalgia and immortal memories. The battle between mathreez on each route was always amazing with the result being ever increasing creativity with the graffiti and accessories, louder music, wider L.C.D screens and faster speed on our roads. I recall in the early 2000’s when I first took a ride on one of the trending ridez that plied the Outering route and immediately got hooked to the thrill. ‘Liquid’ was its name, metallic blue the colour and savouring the moment I did!

As time wore on, I became aware that some routes seemed to have the very best rides with Buruburu, Eastleigh and Outering leading the pack by a mile. Getting to high school and having to commute daily gave me the chance to sample the best that Nairobi’s flashest had to offer. As I became more enlightened, I realized that not only did the flashy matatus offer unbridled ecstasy by riding in one but that many people relied on them for their daily livelihoods.

Best of them all...BRAINCHILD

What many never knew was that apart from the drivers and kanges (Turn-boys), the matatus also allowed gifted people with an artistic inclination to earn a living as they painted the mathrees in all sorts of colours, designs, graffiti and images that would especially concur with the hip-hop culture of most young people. Only when I got into college and start studying tourism did I appreciate the fact that also they were a part of Kenya’s tourism attractions! You see dear reader, nowhere else in the world has such unique public transportation vehicles. When other cities have walls subjected to paint, ours are mobile on wheels.

I may seem to have nothing but delight in these ‘tyrants’ of the road but there was also a downside to them. The madness on the roads was a constant cause of accidents, manhandling of passengers and other ills including disruption of learning to schools along the roads because of the extremely loud music at times. And I guess we began seeing the death of the urban mathree culture once the transport reforms were put in place in 2004.

Enacting laws that brought sanity to the roads system was a great thing but banning of especially graffiti was in my opinion not worthwhile. We may never know how many people and creative minds were deemed jobless and maybe how many among them turned to crime and other vices. Probably, the government will never know the significance that the matatus had to the urban youth nor to the tourism industry.

Chillin with Ronga's former finest...Tattoo

So as we reminisce the good old days,Rest in peace, Art on a Mat…till next time wonderful reader, I remain Njabia the 3^rd.