I first visited Bulawayo for data collection for my PhD in 2019. Over a 3 month stay, I had the opportunity to roam around the suburbs and city centre collecting photos and stories of aspects of life that stood in contrast to my own. I have returned several times since and a walk to a local eatery before sun set and a return walk in the dark is a regular feature of a trip. This is always enjoyable and has never been a risk, except for the potential to bump into the locals who are somewhat cryptic due to the absence of street or bicycle lights. Engagement with the passers-by is well-received. Young girls giggle from the attention and others smile broadly in their surprise. You pleasantly run the gauntlet of a continuous uttering of “good evening”. The few cars that pass kick up dust, creating a hazy amber atmosphere for the walkers and bringing complaints from suspension systems that are regularly forced to negotiate deep potholes and other irregularities. At dusk and further into the evening, many people are on their way home: pushing a cart of goods; young men three abreast and catching up on the day’s news; or others playing some irresistible music that has you expressing your appreciation through a few dance moves. As you stroll, more music catches your ear, the smoky scent of meat on a wood BBQ wafts across your nostrils, and barking dogs strike up their nightly communication. All this is part and parcel of an evening walk in Bulawayo.

All my earlier blogs on Zimbabwe can be found by scrolling to the bottom of the page and choosing ‘Zimbabwe’ from the list of categories. In relation to street stories, you might also enjoy the following: https://parrygraph.com/2019/07/20/a-walk-in-the-suburbs/ and https://parrygraph.com/2019/08/14/two-piles-please/ Or perhaps you’d prefer a bit of monkey fun: https://parrygraph.com/2019/07/20/my-mate/ and https://parrygraph.com/2019/06/24/monket-business/