City of a Million Lights

Somewhere in the heart of Africa – well, not the heart really but pretty close, maybe an artery – lies a beautiful land, the land of a thousand hills; Rwanda. When I first came to Rwanda, I could hardly believe the landscape. The rolling hills and the rising sun seem to be in perfect synchrony. Anyone travelling by bus into Rwanda will know what I mean. The view from the bus is enough to make any avid photographer or photography fan gawk.

During the day, the houses built on these hills bring to mind the fervellas of Brazil.

In the late afternoon, the sun reflects on the roofs of these houses and the hills look as if they are decorated with shining jewels.

By nightfall, the story is different.

Each of those houses whose silhouettes are now lost in the darkness, have to offer but one light each and that is enough.
Coupled with the many street lights (for which I am very grateful), something magical happens to the land of a thousand hills. From any of those hills, whether you are rich or poor, from you get a view that in many other places is only afforded to the rich. Lights surround you on all sides and if you have a clear view, the sight is enough to make you stare in awe.

Having lived in Nairobi all my life, I have never quite given thought to how it would look from such a vantage point and anyway, such views are the stuff of romantic movies where the hero or heroine is gazing into the distance from their five star condo on the top floor of a hotel building and reminiscing on some nonsense pertaining to the general plot of things.

It is because of this view that I have decided to refer to Kigali as the city of a million lights.