In the streets of Goma and across the Kivus, there is a machine that everyone knows and nobody bought in a store: the chukudu. Made of wood by hand, it carries bananas, charcoal, sacks of potatoes and building materials up and down the hills. In ISOLELE comic book art, the chukudu becomes what it already is for the Congo: a symbol.
What is a chukudu?
The chukudu is a two-wheeled wooden scooter from the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its frame is carved from hard local wood, its wheels are wrapped in strips of rubber, and its long, low platform can carry heavy loads, often far heavier than the person pushing it. Riders push it uphill loaded with goods and glide back down. It is a vehicle, a job and a source of income for thousands of families.
A monument to work
Goma honors the chukudu with a monument in the city. It is a rare thing: a statue not to a general or a president, but to the work of ordinary people. That is exactly the spirit of the ISOLELE Universe, where heroes come from the streets as well as from palaces.
The chukudu in ISOLELE art
In this illustration, a boy in flip-flops and a Congo jersey raises the blue, yellow and red flag of the DR Congo beside a giant chukudu, marked with the ISOLELE crest. The chukudu stands tall like a throne. The message is simple: Congolese genius is not imported. It is built here, by hand, with what the land gives.
Heroes of the Kivus
The Kivus gave birth to some of ISOLELE’s strongest characters: Zaïko, the Leopard Phantom King of the Streets, his little sister Goma, and Bukavu, Zaïko’s father. Part of ISOLELE’s 49 illustrators work in Bukavu, on the shores of Lake Kivu, and draw every page by hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a chukudu?
A chukudu is a handmade wooden scooter from the east of the DR Congo, especially around Goma, used to carry heavy loads.
Where does the chukudu come from?
From the Kivus, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it is built by hand from local wood.
Is the chukudu in comic books?
Yes. The ISOLELE Universe, created in Kinshasa, features the chukudu in its art as a symbol of Congolese pride and work.
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