Jim McMahon

One recent afternoon in Rwanda, a motorcycle taxi driver, a teen, and two women in matching head scarves all separately sauntered into a small roadside kiosk to drink the only thing on tap: milk. They were at a milk bar, one of hundreds that have popped up in the past decade across the nation of 12 million, especially in the capital, Kigali. In Rwanda, cows play an important role in the economy and culture, and for many, milk is a beloved reminder of childhood and country life. That’s partly why milk bars have now become a favorite place to indulge and enjoy a communal atmosphere. “I come here when I want to relax but also when I want to think about my future,” says Jean Bosco Nshimyemukiza, the taxi driver. “When you drink milk, you always have your head straight and your ideas right.”