I've always felt an unbreakable connection to home, cherishing a place my memories couldn't let me visit. Connected in spirit, through knowledge, and the community built on the land where I grew up and created lasting memories. After 34 years, that feeling of guilt, that missing link, and the urge to say "of course, I've been back home" was finally here. Home being Africa, the womb, and my birthplace, Sierra Leone.
I anticipated this trip for months. The excitement was palpable to anyone who saw the two packed suitcases in the middle of my bedroom. My sister, my niece, and I—my niece's first trip at 11 years old to see the birthplace of her mother and family—embarked on this journey curated by Fly Like We.
My shoulders slowly relaxed, the crick in my neck vanished, my breaths deepened, and the air was warm—no, hot as hell. The feeling was indescribable, euphoric, taking over every inch of my body. I felt it in the hairs on my arm after taking off my sweater. I knew I was home, and it felt real and familiar.
I never imagined the joy of walking down the street, Tokeh beach, #2 beach or the market where everyone looked like me. I was seeing a reflection of my melanin, not a minority. I literally wanted to shout, "We outchea!" Walking in a land of rediscovery, smiling, and greeting everyone brought me utter joy. Well, except for those trips to the bank carrying stacks of cash feeling like a bank robber.
The food hits differently when it's from its originator—the fresh vegetables, the beef, fish, the oils, and seasonings transcended what my taste buds were prepared for. I thought I knew African food, but did I really? What had I been eating before this trip? Was my mom's cooking even up to par? LOL. This isn't a time for self-reflection and negativity. I need to savor every bit.
Visiting Sierra Leone awakened my curiosity about who I am as an African woman and what this beautiful continent has to offer. I want to see it all—the rich history, our journey, our tribes, our cities, our growth, development, and our struggles. Don't let Africa pass you by like I did. There's so much more than the malnourished child with flies around their face and the slums we've been programmed to believe is Africa the propaganda we’ve been fed to look past and not through.
When you travel the continent, always state which country you've visited. I'm tired of hearing people talk about Africa as if its 54 countries don't exist. Let's put some respect on their names. Take that journey, see beyond your preconceived notions, and immerse yourself in our rich and vibrant cultures, communities, lineage, and roots. Experience the unparalleled beauty and joy that define Africa.
She Fly
