Life on Kinshasa streets

Life along Kinshasa's streets begins early each day and is an amazing display of activity. People walking and carrying goods, pushing carts and waiting for transport in taxi vans mingle alongside trucks making their way on the streets. Notice the yellow school buses. These were purchased from school districts across the U.S. (many with the names still clearly discernable) and brought to Kinshasa as a Congolese family business.




Many of the streets are lined with massive trees which have become a liability. With shallow root systems and advancing age, they are prone to falling and causing injury to passing citizens. Trees are being cut along main avenues to accommodate the widening of streets and increased commerce. We came upon this recent wreck involving two trucks.



This well cared for community garden is in the midst of dense traffic.



The many faces of industry are captured in this photo of people providing for their families. Much of the work accomplished is by manual labor.