The motorcycle taxis of Lomé: sounding boards for social and political movements

Since 1992, the motorcycle taxi phenomenon has reached an unprecedented scale in Togolese capital Lomé, a city stricken by poverty and major mobility issues. This so-called “informal” mode of urban transportation is a response to the lack of reliable public transportation service, allowing urban dwellers to access services, shops, etc., and thus stay in the city. Beyond questions of travel and transportation, Lomé’s motorcycle taxis have actually created a new type of public space, from which researchers can observe social relations. They are also used by political parties for processions.