Afrigather 
“In all the pieces you do on this life, simply have cash—particularly for those who’re a girl.”
Lily Dada, 2022.
I communicate to Lily on a frigid Thursday morning, from my condominium in Abuja. It’s 3 AM WAT, and I’m carrying a fluffy blue wool sweater that’s begun to fray. The room is nearly fully darkish, illuminated solely by the glow of my laptop computer display open to Google Meet, and the flashing colors on my mouse.
Lily tells me her room is brightly lit, a room within the coronary heart of Lagos, Nigeria, the place she has been dwelling since she received again from Kenya. Lagos is heat, Lily says, and the reminiscences of Lagos’ humid ember months make me briefly recoil.
In my room in Abuja, the fierce harmattan breeze punctuates our dialog, whistling sharply as Lily and I start to discover her expertise as a digital nomad who has spent the previous 5 years exploring 10 African international locations.
At first, we alternate quips on why we’re each awake and keen to satisfy on-line mid-morning. I say it’s a hazard of my job, a by-product of managing a each day e-newsletter scheduled for six:30 AM each morning. Lily’s response is analogous. As a contract distant digital marketer, journey advisor and digital nomad, she typically works nicely into the night time or wakes up early to get some work executed.
I determine to kick off the dialog right here—by asking if late nights, early mornings, cross-country travels and a number of streams of earnings had been a part of the long run Lily dreamed of as a toddler.
TC: Is that this what you’ve all the time needed to do? To journey Africa and immerse your self in several cultures?
Lily: I suppose you possibly can say that. Let me share one thing humorous. You understand these chewing gum packs that got here with stick-on tattoos of women carrying brief skirts and vibrant bras? That’s what I needed to be rising up.
For the longest time, that was my aim and I stored repeating it till somebody advised me these ladies had been prostitutes who transfer from place to position.
Ultimately, although, I suppose I may say I achieved that, seeing how onerous I take advantage of part of my physique—my mind—for cash, and what I’m doing proper now as a digital nomad.
TC: And what does being a digital nomad imply to you?
Lily: So I’ll provide you with a typical instance. This yr, I’ve largely been in West Africa, however final yr, I used to be in Kenya for a lot of the yr, and I even took an excellent journey to Tanzania.
I travelled throughout Kenya, I went to nearly each state in Kenya. And I hosted nicely over 30 individuals in Kenya throughout that point. In order a digital nomad, because of this I’m not in a single place. Sometimes, I get like an Airbnb or I look out for distinctive properties. I spend the week doing my work on my pc and when my weekends are free, I spend that point exploring.
My concept for travelling is what I wish to name “gradual journeys”. I don’t imagine in visiting a rustic and spending just a few days there. I encourage gradual, sustainable journey which entails spending an affordable period of time in a spot earlier than you allow and immersing your self within the areas. I perceive that this isn’t potential for everyone, which is why personally, I selected to be a digital nomad.
TC: That sounds costly, I think about.
Lily: So a typical finances for a month like that might be like $4,000–$5,000. It’s truly some huge cash; you possibly can most likely journey throughout Europe just a few occasions with that very same finances.
So sure, it’s costly. However I’ll say this, it’s simpler whenever you get out of Nigeria. That’s the onerous half. However operating by means of most of Kenya and Tanzania is cheaper, and also you don’t have to fret about your security. However for those who’re a finances traveller, you’ll be able to survive on much less. For some perspective, bus tickets from Nairobi to Tanzania price lower than $30. And if you wish to fly to Rwanda or Uganda, you e-book your tickets forward for about $580.
There are methods to drive down prices and also you’ll even discover providers providing these finances journeys, however they’re not issues I encourage.
TC: Why not? Wouldn’t cheaper budgets assist individuals journey extra?
Lily: They’d, however you then received’t actually be experiencing something. For instance, for those who’re occurring a five-day finances journey of ₦500,000 (~ $1,100) to Mombasa, you’ll spend most of your time in your lodge and doing on a regular basis actions like bowling. You shouldn’t go to Mombasa simply to bowl!
I really feel like individuals work onerous for cash, and they need to get pleasure from spending it too. If you wish to go on a visit someplace, why are you going there to sit down in your lodge room? I’d reasonably you’re taking your time and get you experiences you’ll keep in mind.
TC: And that’s what you probably did in Kenya final yr. What was that like?
Lily: I used to be in Kenya for six months, dwelling in a home by the seaside, and it was the dream!
The climate is improbable. It’s chilly within the mornings, nearly all yr spherical too. I imply, you don’t want an AC in Nairobi. Day by day, I woke as much as pray a prayer of gratitude as a result of it simply was unreal. I had a canine that I took on walks within the night; I used to be dwelling like Picasso, . I’d be on my balcony overlooking the water, consuming some fruit. Yeah, it actually was the dream. However it was additionally costly. I ought to warn you.
TC: How a lot are we speaking about right here?
Lily: I lived in a two-bedroom on the time and my hire was $250 monthly and it was an unfurnished condominium. Totally furnished flats in that place went for $2,000. It was just a little city so my dwelling bills each day weren’t excessive. Groceries for like two weeks could be about $100. And I used to be studying to windsurf.
TC: Was the expense why you left?
Lily: No, I had different issues to take care of. In addition to, all the pieces was going rather well and I used to be afraid I used to be dwelling in a bubble. I didn’t wish to be there when it burst, do you get what I imply?
And one thing unusual did occur, however I solely actually put it collectively on the finish. I had a neighbour who stole the keys to my condominium and would all the time break in to sit back in the home when my mates and I took journeys to different elements of Kenya.
TC: Oh, that’s alarming.
Lily: Don’t get me fallacious; Kenya is tremendous chill. Our homes are so shut collectively neighbours may soar onto our balcony and open the doorways from inside if we ever locked ourselves out.
This man—who I met solely as soon as—lived throughout the road from us, apparently. He even helped out with my canine as soon as. I didn’t discover out concerning the break-ins till I requested the safety guard to assist feed my canine whereas I used to be away. He met the man hanging with two girls. The guard didn’t report it to me as a result of he thought the man was a pal.
We by no means did catch him within the act, and I finally needed to transfer, however I learnt he was a minister’s son who was a recognized degenerate within the space.
Aside from that, Kenya was excellent. I’m wanting ahead to my subsequent journey.
TC: Is there anywhere you’re not wanting ahead to? Anywhere that’s off your record?
Lily: Undoubtedly Togo! I had two near-death experiences there.
First time was in 2018, I feel. I fell on my head on the waterfall. Second time, I used to be concerned in a high-speed chase between the gendarmerie—the police—and my taxi driver.
TC: You actually have executed all of it. Waterfalls, seaside homes, and now a high-speed chase?!
Lily: No, no. It wasn’t something like that. Carrying gas round, in Togo, is a criminal offense and my taxi driver had executed simply that. The police tried to apprehend him and he took off.
They chased us round city for nearly two hours. And the worst half was neither the gendarmerie nor the motive force understood French so we actually couldn’t inform what was occurring.
Ultimately, when he lastly stopped, I got here out with my fingers up.
TC: Okay, now that’s thrilling. Is it your worst journey expertise although?
Lily: Oh, no. That honour belongs to Mali and Tanzania. They should do higher.
To this point, I’ve been to 10 African international locations excluding Nigeria—Ghana, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Togo, Tanzania and Mali.
There’s a satan within the border officers at Mali. In my first journey to Mali, they nearly arrested everybody in my journey group, just because we had been Nigerians. They actually pick Nigerian passports at immigration and harass the holders. We needed to pay these motherfuckers ₦10,000 (~$25) every earlier than they allow us to go.
It’s the identical in Tanzania. Border officers are discriminatory as fuck. Some shoppers have additionally needed to pay $250 in bribes simply because they had been Nigerians. The final time I used to be there, they held us up for 4 hours, checking my visa and asking how I received it accredited. I didn’t need to bribe my manner by means of however I did miss my bus.
TC: What concerning the locations you really liked probably the most? I think about Kenya is high on the record.
Lily: You’d assume so, however Kenya just isn’t No. 1. Senegal is first on my record and Kenya is second.
My first time in Senegal was my finances highway journey. On the bus journey from Mali to Senegal, we met a girl—Sarah—who principally took care of us all the best way. She didn’t communicate any English, we didn’t communicate any French, however but, she taken care of us all the best way and helped us navigate discriminatory border officers. Once we received to Senegal, she took us to her residence to bathe and fed us breakfast earlier than serving to us discover a lodge. She even negotiated the deal for us.
And that’s the way it largely is in Senegal; there’s a robust sense of neighborhood. It’s straightforward to get robbed in Senegal, I have to say, however there are extra individuals wanting that can assist you than rob you.
And the sunsets, oh Senegal’s sunsets are unreal. There’s a lot happiness within the air. You see children laughing and studying tips on how to surf. Do you know that Senegal has the biggest browsing neighborhood in Africa?
However I suppose these are the highlights of being a nomad.
TC: However what are the lowlights then? You’ve spoken about language and immigration. Are there any extra? Possibly meals?
Lily: I truly draw the road of my adventurous sides at meals. I’ve by no means tried native cuisines and I don’t assume I ought to be ashamed to say it.
After I’m on journeys, I discover myself cooking lots. I like English breakfast so as soon as I’ve pancakes, bread, butter, eggs and low, I’m good to go. There’s additionally an abundance of meats and fruit all over the place, so I can get by on each whereas I’m on the highway.
For lowlights, I suppose it will be the pressure it places on relationships. It’s onerous to discover a place or somebody to name residence with for after I’m on journeys, I wish to immerse myself in and meaning I talk much less.
It’s all value it although, for the expertise.
TC: How do you afford all this? Simply so anybody who needs to stroll this path has a blueprint to comply with.
Lily: The very first thing I’d advise is to have a number of streams of earnings. I do three issues. First, I’m a contract digital advertising and marketing specialist, and I’m additionally a journey advisor which is the place I curate journeys for individuals, and eventually I’ve an idea retailer on-line known as Unrefhyned Studio the place I promote issues I’ve upcycled from my journeys.
Proper now, from all these streams, I earn about $1,500–$2,000 monthly. It’s not like I get pleasure from doing a number of issues, however I benefit from the safety that comes with having cash.
In all the pieces you do on this life, simply have cash—particularly for those who’re a girl.
I’d additionally advise—for those who’re going to toe this path—that you’ve got cash that may final you three months. Life can occur at any time and any disturbance can render you nonfunctional for weeks. Cash will shelve you throughout these occasions, it can hold you secure.
And eventually, don’t put your self in conditions that you could keep away from. Do your analysis, and like they are saying, when in Rome, do because the Romans do.
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