Taxi-motorcycle : A successful profession for some

They are omnipresent in Cotonou and other cities in Benin, these young and old people facing unemployment and who work as motorcycle taxi drivers or Zémidjan.

Firmin KASSAGA

Zémidjan or Khekenon: this is the name given to them by the populations of South Benin. These people characterized by their clothing “yellow shirt with short sleeves over pants either in jeans or other fabric” are visible everywhere in the cities like in Cotonou and also in Abomey-Calavi.

Youth, not so young and sometimes even very old, they engage in this activity for various reasons but for the same goal: that of making some money.

Jean-Marc is a motorcycle taxi driver, he has been carrying out this activity since 15 years. He joined this sector out of necessity: “After losing my job in a local company in 2005, I had a lot of difficulty providing for myself and my little family, namely my wife and my two children, including a newborn.. I tried to get back on track no matter what, but in vain. I practically did 5 month at home without doing anything and a friend knowing my situation took me to one of his acquaintances who was looking for a driver from Zém (motorcycle taxi) ». To believe it,  he had no choice and “despite my diploma in project management, I wore the yellow jersey and years later, I’m in it and I admit that I live well with this activity”. For him,  everyone who is in this activity today is there because they have no choice. “They must meet certain personal and family needs. I never thought that this activity would become a job for me. I have achieved a lot with what I do and today, I can tell you that I am fine”; he confided.  

Like Jean-Marc, many of these people have more than ten years of experience in this activity. Others on the other hand, like Gerard, the twenteeth, are at their beginning. After passing the baccalaureate and a difficult first year at university because of no financial support, he started the activity three months ago. He thinks it’s not a bad option.. “I envisioned becoming a great economist. But the means were lacking. After what I call a visit to the university, so I decided to take my purse and buy a motorbike and become a taxi driver”, he related before adding “For three months, I admit it’s not easy. However,  I'm holding on because I talk to seniors in the corporation and they fascinate me through their stories. I hope that within three years I will find enough money to continue my studies or do something else”.

Unlike Jean-Marc and Gérard who, despite their levels of study, started the profession of motorcycle taxi driver, there are those who have been little studied or not at all. There are also people in this corporation who have learned another trade but who cannot meet their basic needs like Théo, a trained hairdresser.

After a few years in the hairdressing industry,  he decides to buy a motorcycle, to complete the required formalities and become a driver of Zém. Today, he claims to earn a better living. "What I'm doing now, if I were in my workshop, I don't think I would have done it. I have three motorcycles on the road besides mine, and I have a salon in which I have young people who work for me and who, in return, have an income every end of the month. I entered this activity as a motorcycle taxi driver completely desperate but today I am good”.

“There are no bad activities if they are legal. Being a motorcycle taxi driver is one of those activities that allows a large number of people to take care of themselves and their families”, underlines Abdoulaye, consultant and marketing.