<p>A tin can and the truth</p>

<p>Also from Congo is a fascinating group of musicians that call their band Staff Benda Bilili. The core members are four disabled street musicians who all suffered from polio when they were younger. They get around on elaborately motorized tricycles that they customized with spare parts and junk. The four musicians play guitar and are joined on percussion by a few abandoned street kids, who the men look after.</p>

<p>The group used to get together and jam every day at the zoo in Kinshasa and play for change all over the city. One of the street kids, named Roger, plays an instrument he made himself. If there’s anyone in the world who can pluck a homemade, one-string, tin can instrument better than this teenager, I’ll be amazed.</p>