Toys – Street Use

More African Toy Vehicles

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:12:21 +0000

Some kids in Africa make the greatest home-made trucks. I find their creativity endlessly fascinating. For instance, using a big wheel to steer a little car, like the kid in the middle picture here is doing. Previously posted images of homemade toy trucks are here.

These are some shots taken by professional photographer Martha Cooper, posted on the site Streetplay.

Top one is a wire frame from Cameroon. The other two are from Gabon.

Uganda Wire-Truck Toy

Kevin Kelly — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 19:50:03 +0000

I really like this toy truck made by a kid in Uganda. It’s a wonderful design. Note the steering wheel that also serves as a push stick. I like the airy wire cage — a cool way to make a big truck with little material. Less is more, as Buckminster Fuller would say. This picture was taken by Bob Jones, a high school teacher in England who was on a learning trip to Uganda. The trip was, he says, “an investigatory project exploring the ideas of Citizenship and development in Uganda.”

More African Truck Toys

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 22:47:33 +0000

Paul Merrill, who is stationed in Nairobi, Kenya sent in another fine example of a homemade toy truck. This one uses sticks. He notes that he didn’t have time to inspect the wheels to see what they are made from.

I find these trucks to be more than just toys. They are models as well. Or perhaps miniatures. They represent that mirror world that toy trains, dolls, video games, and board games represent. A parallel word, but a smaller one that a child can control. I think too, they also represent aspirations. They hope someday to have a truck, drive a train, have a baby, or command an army. Having one now, like a bit of “cargo” may help the real thing appear later.

Boy-built Toy Truck

Kevin Kelly — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:52:13 +0000

I really find these homemade toys and trucks to be lovely. Yet, I know every kid with one of these boy-built toys would trade it in a second for a mass-produced plastic truck. This example comes from the Solomon Islands. I found the picture on the UNICEF Childrenssite.

African Homemade Toy Trucks

Kevin Kelly — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:49:56 +0000

Throughout the world kids have always made their own toys. Toy trucks are popular. These you push with a stick to make them go over rough roads. Being a truck driver is what a lot of kids would like to grow up to do. Note the cool cargo.

This picture of boys in Mozambique came from Travel Images.

This one is from Southing, a blog of two Danish travelers, Helle Gammelgaard and Mario Travaini.