Huambo's Economic Rollercoaster: A Photographer's Lens on Unemployment and Growth
so, huambo. where do i even begin? this city hits you like a cheap lens flare-sudden, kinda painful, but you kinda sorta dig it if you squint. been here three weeks shooting a documentary about street vendors, and let me tell you, the economics here are wilder than a toddler with a DSLR.
*the air’s got that dry, crisp bite to it in the morning, like it’s been polished overnight, and by lunch it’s this warm, dry hug that makes you want to nap in the shade.* currently? it’s all about that highland sunshine that bleaches the concrete bones of the city. speaking of bones, this place is still piecing itself back together after the war. you see it in the bullet holes on buildings next to fresh paint jobs. like a bad photo edit where the healing brush went rogue.
let’s talk jobs. unemployment’s this stubborn stain on the census sheet. official numbers say around 25%, but every moto-taxi driver i’ve talked to laughs at that. ‘real unemployment? more like 40%,’ one guy grins, showing me his vibrating phone where his screen flickers between ‘no signal’ and ‘angola telecom.’
rent? oh man. you can get a crumbling colonial-era apartment in the center for $200/month if you don’t mind plumbing that hums like a dying fridge. but outside the bubble? things get real. heard from this street food vendor that the new construction projects? yeah they’re bringing jobs, but mostly for guys with connections to the ruling party. typical.
safety’s a weird vibe. downtown’s fine during daylight, but wander off the main drag after 7pm and it’s like the city flips a switch. locals say the ‘ghost neighborhoods’ on the outskirts sketch folks out. one bartender warned me: ‘stick to lit streets, and if you see dudes in red bandanas? u-turn that camera.’
‘mate, if you’re looking for a cheap flat, the old neighborhoods are your best bet, but don’t expect any elevators or fancy finishes. it’s all about the character... and the occasional power outage.’
heard from the moto-taxi guy: ‘unemployment? pfft, if you’re willing to work, there’s always something. just gotta know the right people and don’t mind getting your hands dirty.’
nearby? lubango’s a quick flight south-gorlier mountains and cooler temps. benguela’s a coastal drive west if you wanna pretend you’re somewhere with beaches. but honestly? huambo’s got this raw, unpolished charm that postcard cities lack. it’s like the city’s still figuring out its focus after decades of blur.
wanna see what others are saying? check out the huambo subreddit for raw takes. for tourist-trap vibes, tripadvisor’s huambo page will make it seem safer than it is. and yelp’s sparse listings prove even chain restaurants haven’t fully colonized the place yet.
here’s the deal: unemployment’s brutal, but so is the entrepreneurial spirit here. i’ve seen dudes fixing bike parts with scrap metal and ladies selling roasted corn from rusty wheelbarrows. this city’s a testament to making do with what you’ve got. it’s chaotic, it’s frustrating, but through my lens? it’s beautifully, messily alive.
overheard at a cafe: ‘the new construction projects? they’re bringing jobs, sure, but the pay is peanuts unless you’re connected. and the rent? it’s going up faster than you can say ‘post-war recovery’.’
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