Chukudu

The chukudu (or chikudu, chokoudou, tshukudu)[1] is a two-wheeled handmade vehicle used in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is made of wood, and is used for transporting cargo.

Young man pushing a chukudu in North Kivu.
Transporting bananas by and riding a chukudu in North Kivu.
Transporting fresh produce at a military checkpoint in Goma.

The chukudu generally has an angular frame, two small wheels (often of wood, sometimes wrapped with rubber), handlebars, and a pad for the operator to place their knee on while propelling the vehicle with their leg.[2] On a descent, the rider stands on the deck like a kick scooter. On flat ground, the rider can put one knee on the deck and push the ground by the other foot like a knee scooter.

Rubber mud flaps and shock absorber springs may be added.[3][4]

History

Chukudus first appeared in the 1970s in North Kivu, during the difficult economic times under Mobutu Sese Seko.[3][5][6]

In 2008, chikudus were selling for US$100 with a cost of materials of nearly US$60.[7] Similarly, in 2014 they cost $50 to $100 and were used to earn up to $10 per day, in an area where most people live on less than $2 per day.[1] A 2014 article estimated a cost of about US$150, which a driver could pay off in about six months, earning $10–20 per day.[8]

Construction

In Goma, where chukudus form the "backbone of the local transportation system", chukudus are made of hard mumba wood and eucalyptus wood, with scrap tires for wheel treads.[9][10] These chukudus take one to three days to build, and last two to three years. The most commonly used size is about six and a half feet long, and carries a load of 1000 lbs. However, "the largest chukudus can carry up to 800 kilograms of weight."[9] Some chukudus are equipped with suspension to the front wheel, either in the form of a metal spring or of tensioned rubber bands.

A small chukudu can be built in about three hours, using dimensional lumber and materials available in a hardware store.[11]

The chukudu is customizable to carry different types of cargo. To haul firewood some chukudus have a hole drilled in the middle of the sitting deck, and the operator can insert a stick to hold firewood in place. Others have a large basket to carry various loads.[12]

See also

References
  1. "Tshukudu, the All-Purpose Transport Scooter is Congo's Lifeline". NDTV. July 3, 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  2. Dixon, Robyn (January 21, 2013). "Congo's chairmen of the boards". Los Angeles Times. Goma. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  3. "Chukudus – A no nonsense local transporter that changes lives of Congo's poor « TransportGooru". Archived from the original on 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  4. Moore, Jina. "Scooter Country". Makeshift. Archived from the original on 2019-11-01. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  5. Husarska, Anna (March 29, 2009). "The Chukudu Is a Small Ride That's a Big Wheel in Congo". The Washington Post.
  6. McCrummen, Stephanie (February 11, 2010). "In eastern Congo, handmade chukudu scooters rule the road". The Washington Post.
  7. Halperin, Alex; Moore, Jina (August 29, 2008). "Wood, wheels, workhorse: the chikudu story". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  8. Dijkstra, Andrea (2014-10-02). "Les chukudus, force motrice du commerce à Goma" [The Chukudus, the driving force of commerce in Goma]. BlueBiz (in French). Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  9. Khumo Sebambo (2015-09-22). "This Congolese wooden bicycle-cum-scooter carries hundreds of kilograms". Design Indaba. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  10. Ley Uwera (2016-09-18). "Handmade Wooden Vehicle, the Pride of DRC, Keeps Country Running". Global Press Journal. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  11. Bradbury, Doug (July 28, 2015). "Build a Wooden Scooter That Can Haul Hundreds of Pounds". Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  12. Sebambo, Kuhmo (September 22, 2015). "This Congolese wooden bicycle-cum-scooter carries hundreds of kilograms". designindaba.com. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
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