‘Matatu’ Graffiti as an Avenue for Self-Expression and Social Commentary among the Youth in Nairobi, Kenya
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Date
2020
Authors
Wango, Kamau
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
East African Nature and Science Organization
Abstract
This paper seeks to examine urban Art in Kenya as an integral part of urban
culture with particular emphasis on ‘matatu’ graffiti, (an off-shoot of ‘mural’
graffiti that is depicted on medium-sized vehicles used for urban public
transport) as an avenue for self-expression among the youth in Nairobi, Kenya.
It will also examine other forms of related art, such as the genre of painting
referred to as street art and explore the genesis of themes and subject matter that
interest the youth. In order to generate a chronology of thoughts, the paper
approaches the above first from the broad spectrum of urban culture and what it
entails and then breaks it down to one of the most critical and visible elements
of urban culture which is urban Art which, in turn, encompasses many forms of
visual creativity both in two dimensional and three-dimensional dispensations
that manifest themselves within an urban environment. The paper delves
substantively on the generation of broad themes that form the basis of varied
subject matters that are regularly depicted in matatu graffiti. These broad themes
often derive or emanate from sociocultural, socioeconomic, religious and
political factors. The paper also examines the age bracket (herein referred to as
The Youth) which embraces urban Art both in terms of its execution and its
consumption as well as the underlying factors that seem to make it broadly
attractive and acceptable as a means of self-expression, collective discourse and
social commentary among the youth. The paper finally examines the
relationship between matatu graffiti and hip-hop, a genre of music characterized
by terse verbal symbolism and which is increasingly associated with urban
culture and the complexities of social expression in the contemporary urban
world.
Description
Article
Keywords
Matatu, Graffiti, Self-Expression, Social Commentary, Youth, Nairobi
Citation
Wango, K. (2020). ‘Matatu’Graffiti as An Avenue for Self-Expression and Social Commentary Among the Youth in Nairobi, Kenya. East African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 2(1), 87-103.