When they rolled into Rwanda, the Throttle Queens drew stares. These female motorcyclists are on a mission.
The roar of a motorcycle engine in Kigali, Rwanda’s hilly capital city, is as ubiquitous a sound as birds singing at dawn, the chatter of schoolchildren walking to class and the drumming of rain as it bounces between roofs during the wet season. Motorcycle taxis, called motos in Rwanda and boda bodas in neighboring East African nations, are a quick and affordable mode of transportation across the region.
The Throttle Queens customize their helmets with flair and personality. Besides making a fashion statement, the helmets remind the group’s supporters of their message on this ride: increasing bike safety awareness. “As a woman, when I first started riding, I felt like I should conceal it from friends, co-workers and acquaintances to avoid disapproval,” says Aisha Mohamed, a human resource manager and mother of three who is in her fourth year of motorcycle riding. “But I have since decided that hiding my essential nature from my friends and family is foolish.”
Ciku Mbithi, 46, is a fuel station dealer, tour and travel agent, and farmer. She has an 18-year-old child and is one of the founding members of the Throttle Queens. “I dreamt of a group of women riders who pull each other up rather than tear each other down,” she said. “Where women of substance, who ride, would have a safe forum to be. A safe place where we could address issues unique to women riding motorcycles in a mostly male dominated field.
The Throttle Queens’ visit to Rwanda prompted local media attention and a meeting with the Rwanda Development Board’s Chief Tourism Officer Belise Kariza, who praised the group for their encouraging messages to young women.“It is amazing to see a group of women complete this journey in such a short time, women can do anything,” Kariza said in an official statement. “Their trip gives the representation of women on motorcycles we are missing. It is very exciting and inspiring.
“In 2016 we lost a biker friend and have since lost many others to road accidents,” Mohamed said. “Road safety is important to us because in Kenya, we have roads that are not well planned for road users.”
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