I don’t think there was a specific moment when I discovered I liked travelling and settling in different cities. However, since I was a small child, I always wanted to escape from something. I don’t know how to say it without it sounding strange. I’ve always felt drawn toward elsewhere, not really because of dissatisfaction, but out of curiosity. I often imagined myself living in other places, learning from strangers, and experiencing different ways of life.
Today, I see this lifestyle as a continuous journey rather than a series of destinations. The world feels both immense and surprisingly interconnected, and every city I experience across Africa is like another page in a long, unfolding book about humanity. I believe that humanity is vast, and you can’t see it from a single window.
I think I love this lifestyle for a very very selfish reason. I hate the regular life. Going from city to city allows me not to get too attached to something permanently. But I don’t know if I can say it has worked for me; that is a big claim.
I am deeply curious about people and environments. Moving from one place to another forces you to confront new histories, languages, habits, and ways of understanding the world. That constant exposure pushes you to grow and adapt. I also have a spontaneous nature. I tend to move forward first and find solutions along the way. On a more personal level, I value independence and being in my corner. Movement allows me to remain open to change. But somehow, it is this mobility that gives me a sense of inner stability.
Not all countries have the same charm and not all cities shape me in the same way. Abidjan was love at first sight. It’s the city that saw my beginnings as an adult and where I first learned how to carve out a place for myself. I also love it because it is the land of alloco — you know, plantains. I think there’s no plantain in the world that’s better than the Ivorian plantain.
There is something very sweet about Dakar. It has things I really like, in terms of accommodation and activities. Its demographic diversity is also impressive. It is like a mosaic. Its diversity feels natural and creates a space where one can observe many facets of society at once. There is something calming about its rhythm, too, and I appreciate the balance it strikes between tradition and modern life.
Kinshasa is something else entirely. Despite everything the country is going through, it is my home. It is a place of endless possibility. It is also where my most important relationships were built. And maybe above all, it is the place where my most beautiful love story is.
Mobility comes at a cost, particularly financial ones, and maintaining this kind of life requires constant adjustment. I’m far from wealthy, okay? I often joke that I’m one of the poorest girls I know. But in terms of culture and human satisfaction, I feel incredible. The second challenge is loneliness. Even when you meet many people, you can still feel alone. And movement can amplify that feeling because you are always rebuilding connections from scratch.
What I’ve learned about Africa is that it just cannot be reduced to a single narrative at all. Each city, each community reshapes your understanding of the continent. You realise that humanity is not an abstract idea. It’s something that we need to confront constantly through everyday encounters and shared realities. For me, this lifestyle is about engaging with life more fully. Moving between places forces you to encounter differences and to question assumptions. Stepping outside what is familiar sharpens your perception of the world and of your own place within it.
This kind of life is not about escape; it is also about many other things, like our encounter with others, with the world, and ultimately with oneself. I think anyone who wants to experience this adventure should give themselves the means and the time to achieve it. For me, I hope the next trip will give me enough to stay.
One day, I would like to become a university professor. Teaching would allow me to continue exploring humanity, while sharing what I have learnt with others. I am not saying that I will stop travelling. No, not at all. I am just looking for someone I can have the same journey with. I remain open for now. I don’t know exactly when I will settle. But I believe each place I visit brings me closer to the version of life that will fit me best.
As narrated by: Wilina Gradi (Dakar, Senegal).
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