Touring Africa Through Abena's Lens

by Ngufack Atemgwa

Travel for many years was considered the ‘white man’s thing’. In addition to the huge expenses it required, schools had often inculcated in many the idea that tourists had from time immemorialbeenthoselivingontheEuropean and American continents. Truly, a man is only as knowledgeable as what he reads.

Today, however, the dynamics are changing fast. Europe and America were once considered the most popular travel destinations, partly thanks to the influence of movies and music videos that glorified the cities. And then came the Middle East; Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. While the Middle East remains a popular tourist destination, the African continent and Africans have been upping their game.

More and more Africa-based Africans are living and experiencing their continent, making fond memories and leaving trails in the sands of time.

Sandy Abena is arguably one of the most travelled home-based Africans of her generation. From the cosiest hotels to the rarely visited suburbs, the glamorous sandy beaches and car rides, as well as the rocky bike trips, she has seen them all.

The lassin 2021, launched a travel vlog, aiming to visit ten African countries within the space of ten months.Heraim,shesaid,was“to share the richness of Africa and show the other side of the continent.”

Sandy’s exploits and thirst for knowledge have given her a front-row seat to the amazing sites, rituals and practices of the different peoples that make up Africa and the Caribbean. To her, it remains the most viable way to accumulate the lessons which, hitherto, had been limited to books and movies.

She states: “I learn every day about Afro-culture and its history. Since the truth is not only found in books, I do everything to travel as much as possible in Africa and countries of Afro-descendants”.

Like many other great ventures and catalogues, Sandy started small. Today, she inspires her peers and many other generations of Africans who have the desire to know beyond books. She is their living library.

by Shiti NANCY