Chukudu
The chukudu (or chikudu, cbokoudou, 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.
![](../I/26_mars_2015._Alentours_de_Nyanzale%252C_Nord_Kivu%252C_RD_Congo_-_Un_jeune_homme_suit_paisiblement_un_convoi_de_la_MONUSCO_avec_son_v%C3%A9lo_en_bois%252C_commun%C3%A9ment_appel%C3%A9_%C2%ABTshukudu%C2%BB_(16820198707).jpg.webp)
![](../I/Chukudu_in_North_Kivu.jpg.webp)
![](../I/Tshukudu_in_Goma.jpg.webp)
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 one half feet long, and carries a load of 1000 lbs. However, "the largest chukudus can carry up to 800 kilograms of weight."[9]
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
- "Tshukudu, the All-Purpose Transport Scooter is Congo's Lifeline". NDTV. July 3, 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
- Robyn Dixon (January 21, 2013). "Congo's chairmen of the boards". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
- Chukudus – A no nonsense local transporter that changes lives of Congo’s poor « TransportGooru
- Moore, Jina. "Scooter Country". Makeshift. Archived from the original on 2019-11-01. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- Husarska, Anna (March 29, 2009). "The Chukudu Is a Small Ride That's a Big Wheel in Congo". The Washington Post.
- McCrummen, Stephanie (February 11, 2010). "In eastern Congo, handmade chukudu scooters rule the road". The Washington Post.
- Alex Halperin and Jina Moore (August 29, 2008). "Wood, wheels, workhorse: the chikudu story". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
- Dijkstra, Andrea (2014-10-02). "Les chukudus, force motrice du commerce à Goma". BlueBiz (in French). Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- Khumo Sebambo (2015-09-22). "This Congolese wooden bicycle-cum-scooter carries hundreds of kilograms". Design Indaba. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- Ley Uwera (2016-09-18). "Handmade Wooden Vehicle, the Pride of DRC, Keeps Country Running". Global Press Journal. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- 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.
- Sebambo, Kuhmo (September 22, 2015). "This Congolese wooden bicycle-cum-scooter carries hundreds of kilograms". designindaba.com. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tshukudu. |
- Chukudus in Goma - YouTube
- Short video from the BBC
- Chukudus of Goma
- "Build a Wooden Scooter That Can Haul Hundreds of Pounds". Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers. 2015. Retrieved 2019-02-20.