A shelter made from corrugated sheets opens to the road l. Inside, a man sits alone. His body folds inward. One hand covers part of his face and the other hangs toward the ground. To the left, a bright red kiosk lists its services in white paint—SIM cards, deposits, withdrawals, the circulation of money through everyday transactions. To the right, the cropped body of a white car with pink rims enters the frame. The afternoon light falls hard on the concrete, while the shelter gathers shadow. Here, labour appears not as action but as waiting: a pause between customers, transactions, and the next demand placed upon the day.
— Olaniyi Omiwale
I used to work as a taxi driver in my spare time as a way of earning some extra income. And in those times I would often find myself parked for long periods of time waiting for clients. This was one of those times. I was in a place called Roma in Lusaka at a spot where other taxis were parked and waiting for anyone looking for a taxi. Without having spoken to the man pictured here or knowing him at all, I knew immediately that he was also a driver waiting for clients. I felt I knew what he was going through beyond just this specific moment. As a man and as a taxi driver, I saw myself in him.
This is one of those photos that has many layers to it. It is saying and expressing a lot. From the unknown, faceless man and his body language to where he is pictured. And I loved that partially pictured white car with a touch of pink rims.
I live in a place where there are not that many photo stories of ourselves by ourselves. To be honest, not just photo stories, just stories in general. Photography is my way of celebrating and honoring this place I call home.
Kalenga Nkonge AKA ‘bonkoti’ is a Lusaka-based Zambian photographer who likes to think of himself as a storyteller. A poet turned photographer, he considers his photography another form of poetry. His documentary style is a mix of grit, humor and colour. His work has been published in a number of magazines. He has also taken part in various local exhibitions. His project “Barbershops, fresh popcorn and chickens in the land of plenty,” was a finalist in the 2024 Contemporary African Photography (CAP) prize. He is currently working on a number of personal projects. See more of Kalenga Nkonge’s work on his Instagram.
