We live in exciting, optimistic times in Rwanda, forget all the doom and gloom stories that try to paint a different picture. I particularly look forward to completion of the many big public works – already underway as unveiled by City of Kigali authorities – which will enhance the livability, serviceability, beauty, and general ambience of our capital and its visitors (and which will create many job opportunities in execution). One can confidently say that, as per our city authorities’ communications, the following will be realised in a half-dozen years from now: A lot more roads in the residential areas will have been paved over. Most streets of the Mateus trading centre will have gotten an upgrade, with new tarmac, street lights and sidewalks. Work on special bus lanes will be well advanced in different areas of the capital, with ever more electric buses plying the routes. Further down on the outskirts of the capital, on the road to Kabuga, there will be a four-lane highway, probably with a flyover, that will reduce gridlock, with sidewalks making life much easier for pedestrians. There will be more green spaces, making Kigali an even more pleasant city for its residents and visitors. For those with real spending power, new shopping centers like the Inzovu Mall next to the Convention Center, or the Zaria Court adjacent to the Amahoro Stadium will be THE places, catering to elite dining experiences, shopping, and night clubbing. Some of the bars and sport lounges, am told, will rival anything in the world. And of course the new international airport in Bugesera, a mere thirty-minute drive from Kigali, will have been completed; our new, much more impressive window to the world. One can also dare dream that, a little later on there will be a light-rail commuter system in Kigali, a Formula 1 track, and more. Developments like these and more will in turn contribute to more and more foreign businesses, more corporations, more international bodies setting up shop in Rwanda, in a virtuous positive feedback loop. Fellow Rwandans, prepare for many opportunities! Brush up your old CV with new skills, which shouldn’t be a big burden these days whereby so much is done online. Business MBAs, civil engineers, architects, corporate lawyers, contract lawyers, PR and Communications specialists, skilled tradesmen like electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, and so on, freshen up on your expertise. Lots of jobs are on the way! We live in exciting, optimistic times indeed. Now, allow me a detour into something that might appear off tangent, but that I think needs some consideration as Rwanda changes and its capital aspires to world-class-city status. I think we need to rethink how we name our city roads, streets, squares or public spaces. The way cities name theirs usually is an exercise in preserving memory of a country or society’s past; it’s most important events; memorialising its heroes, most notable politicians or leaders; or individuals with notable contributions to their societies in a wide variety of domains: scientific research, philanthropy, literature, sport, and more. Naming city landmarks after events, dates of events, or notable individuals not only contributes to preserving a society’s memory of its past, passing it on to new generations, it also educates foreign visitors, adding to their touristic experiences. But not only that, it gives a city a soul, imbues it with a distinct identity. I think it would be a great idea if the City of Kigali adopted these practices. I humbly submit that the way Kigali has been doing it, naming its roads by letters and numbers – KG 19, KG 103 et cetera, et cetera – while naming none of its public spaces, is truly unimaginative. The city lacks a soul, one reason being it has no iconic road names. If you’ve ever been to Nairobi, think of the famous Kenyatta Avenue as just one example of what gives a city a soul, which is well-known, instantly recognizable landmarks. When giving directions in Kigali we struggle, resorting to such language as, “come down the road from Rwandex to airport, when you reach Giporoso, branch right, on the road to Kabeza...” You get the idea how unimaginative it is. On the other hand, if the City of Kigali named that road (Rwandex to Giporoso), say First October Road, it instantly gives it an identity. It commemorates an important date in our history. The first-time visitor will ask: what happened on First October? and learn a bit of our history. Also, we could name a number of other roads or public squares after the heroes of our history, of all our ethnicities, of which there are many righteous ones. Cities all over the world also name their roads as a way of showing friendship, good neighbourliness, or outreach to other countries. Think of how in the capital of Malawi, Lilongwe, for instance, where there is a Paul Kagame Road. They named their road after the Rwandan leader at no cost, yet the gesture communicated a friendship, goodwill, and brotherliness that’s likely to be reciprocated. Imagine the feelings of goodwill for Rwanda it would arouse in Tanzania if we for instance named a road in the center of our capital after their greatest statesman. How many Tanzanian hearts would melt whenever one visited and saw “Julius Nyerere Avenue”, stretching from the old Camp Kigali to the main roundabout. We could even demonstrate our bigness of spirit by naming a public space after one of the greatest Burundians to live, Prince Louis Rwagasore. How about a “Lagos Street”, right under Kigali City Tower? R Just a few thoughts as we enter the new week...
