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Pink Rickshaws Empower Kano's Women Drivers
5 Mar
Summary
- Women in Kano are driving rickshaws, a previously male-dominated trade.
- Mata Zalla cooperative empowers women through female-only rickshaw taxis.
- Loan program allows drivers to eventually own their electric rickshaws.
Women in Kano, Nigeria, are increasingly entering the rickshaw driving profession, a significant shift in the conservative Muslim city. This trend is largely driven by economic hardship, compelling women to seek financial independence in trades traditionally dominated by men. The cooperative Mata Zalla, meaning 'exclusively women,' spearheads this movement by employing women as rickshaw taxi drivers.
Mata Zalla secured a loan and partnered with a Lagos-based plant to establish a fleet of electric rickshaws. Drivers participate in a three-year program where a portion of their wages contributes to purchasing their own vehicle. This initiative addresses the vulnerability women can face in mixed-gender transportation, with Mata Zalla's rickshaws exclusively serving female passengers.
Despite challenges like harassment from aggressive drivers of private cars, the program has seen success. Collisions are rare, and drivers receive training. The demand for these services is high, with around 200 women on a waiting list, highlighting the need for more rickshaws to meet the transportation market's needs in Kano.
