×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Read Offline Anywhere
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

Rise and fall of the flashy Nairobi makangas

Pedestrians walking between PSVS in Nairobi, Kenya on October 14, 2017. (Courtesy/Gettyimages)

Back in the day, matatu conductors, also known as makangas, were the harbingers of Nairobi urban sub-culture. They influenced the language, fashion and entertainment trends in the city. If makangas were not wearing it, then it was not hip. They had a finger on the pulse of the ever-changing fashion sense.

This was transferred to the matatus they worked in where the name, graffiti, design and music played matched the projected image. In came the 'manyangas' and later just 'nganyas' for the spruced-up matatus.

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week
Fact‑first reporting that puts you at the heart of the newsroom. Subscribe for full access.
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimized reading experience
  • Weekly Newsletters
  • MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Already a subscriber? Log in
Volleyball and Handball
Kenya Cup serves off today as KDF seek to shoot down Blazers
Sports
AFC coach Ambani wins SJAK award for December
By AFP 8 hrs ago
Football
Mane takes dominant Senegal past Egypt into AFCON final
Golf
Indiza makes a solid start at Sunshine Development Tour