A Day at Kicukiro Center: Embracing Everyday Life

Kicukiro Center doesn’t have the flash of a city square or the feel of a travel destination—it’s just a place people go to every day, a spot that brings together bits and pieces of the daily grind. On a regular weekday, Giselle, and Laïka took a walk through Kicukiro Center after school, just seeing what the day had in store.

Walking around, you feel the flow of people—vendors with their displays out, customers looking for a good deal, or just neighbors catching up. Paul, one of the vendors, is there each morning, ready to open up shop by 8 a.m. He tells us he doesn’t see many customers all the time, but the ones who stop by are worth it. The market here isn’t flashy, but everyone knows each other, and there's this easy sense of community. Vendors look out for one another and fill the quiet moments with a little conversation.

We wander by tables filled with beaded jewelry, stacks of fresh produce, and small trinkets that catch Laika’s eye. It’s easy to overlook a place like this because it doesn’t scream for attention, but when you slow down, you see a rhythm to it all. Sure, Kicukiro Center may not be “the dream” for everyone, but the people here find a way to make it enough.

In a world that always chases after the next big thing, it’s kind of refreshing to see life just… happen. Kicukiro Center isn’t about grand moments; it’s about the routines that make up everyday life. This wasn’t some grand tour—just us, walking through a part of the city that’s always there, familiar and dependable.

Check out the video!

A day in Kicukiro