Al Jazeera Frames

Graffiti Taxi

Nairobi’s colourful ‘matatus’ are central to the city’s culture.



Filmmaker: Kath Hearn

A common sight in the bustling city of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, are the colourful local taxis “matatus”. Each has its own, often graffiti-based design.

Kenyans have painted unique designs on the vehicles since time immemorial and it represents a significant part of the local culture.

We meet some of the matatu designers and discover how “pimping up” taxis can be a profitable business.