Few other inventions of convenience ever kept my generation under wraps like the VW Kombi or the ‘Kombinationskraftwagen’ (for people and for load). From about 1950-1979, (especially the T1 and T2 variations), the German-made automobile defined itself, my youth and the main theme of my prevailing environment wonderfully and generously.
At about 6 years old, I thought I saw the Kombi in the figurative light of a long-suffering woman who could never stop grinning, even in the performance of the most tedious chore. The two radial headlamps embossed in silvery, glistening rounds of aluminium heads to me resembles the doe-eyes of an attentive, intelligent woman. The VW insignia, encased in a iron circular hem right in the middle of the lamps felt much like her nose. And the long front bender with sharp curves at both ends gave the utility Van, the imposition of a smirk, a sheepish grin or just the outward look of a happy disposition. Quite unlike the sad, inefficient appearance of the Rio, the Igala or even the Beetle! Of all the iron-horses then, the Kombi, was perhaps the gayest, most ubiquitous road-hugger!
Immortalised in songs by Hubert Ogunde, I.K Dairo, Anigilaje, and many other prominent musicians of the time and at other times. Immortalised as well by the streets as the ultimate passenger and load carriers. And unforgettable by the street-urchins, especially those who made lasting names for themselves by their sheer association to the power of its charisma. If the street labeled it Danfo, it’s worthy to tag the drivers and those conductors jointly operating it: Omo Èyìn Danfo!
The sliding door of a Danfo- an amazing peculiarity of the time was usually the first of its many wonders to give way. And the deficiency of a good thermo-control system was perhaps its major shortcoming before it eventually bursts into flames on motion! I loved the dexterity of a good Conductor that treated his Kombi the same way a Monkey treated the sanctuary of a huge tree in the wild. Running after a mildly speeding Kombi, catching it and deftly hopping aboard without falling off was the unofficial rite of passage for a budding hoodlum. The Conductor was top grade if and when he could collect passenger fare, give change, punch a couple of disgruntled passengers out and still gracefully escaped the scene by hopping aboard a moving Danfo!
Everyone around me owned one or more! A vehicle entirely made for prosperity, to denote the Germans as: technological gods! They know how to keep things simple. They know how make things for posterity!
Therefore friends, I hope you keep trudging along like the dutiful Kombi! Ever smiling, even in the face of the most prevailing hardships. May your doors never fall off and may you never burn out while on motion! Learn to keep it simple, make it last forever, just like the Danfo!
