Many locals call it Kibera Slum. Others simply say Kibera. The word Kibera is derived from the Nubian word "Kibra" which means wilderness or bush. The land that comprises the community of Kibera was settled by Nubian (Sudanese) soldiers who fought alongside the British in 1912.

Today, Kibera is unique among major urban centers. No one knows the official population of Kibera but most estimates suggest that approximately 500,000 people live in Kibera. The roughly 300 acre area is surrounded by high-rise office buildings, roads and the presidential residence.

From a high point of view, the tin-roofed shanties appear as a sea of rusted metal. Yet within the maze of alleys and rutted walkways, families survive the daily challenges of urban poverty.

Among the many things that make Kibera unique is the de facto main street - a train track that's more than 100 years old. Four trains a day make their way along the track. When the train is not running, the track is the main thoroughfare for people on foot, students walking to and from school and merchants selling their wares.

Throughout parts of the developing world, poverty presents huge challenges including food shortages, poor education, HIV, bad water, crime, domestic violence and overcrowding. Nairobi's Kibera is no exception. Yet unlike many other disadvantaged places, Kibera thrives as an almost self-contained community within a community.

These photos were taken by Chip Duncan during late June, 2007 as part of an upcoming book and film project on the history of Kibera and the proud residents who live and work there today.