Travelling Solo as a Black Woman

 Last week, travel enthusiast Pelumi Nubi finished her solo drive from London to Lagos. In her Peugeot 107 Pelumi completed travelling solo for two months and travelling within 17 countries.

Pelumi Nubi, born in Lagos Nigeria but grew up in London, decided to start her inspiring, daring voyage on January 24 from the UK, in her Peugeot 107. For over two months, the 29 year old travelled from city to city, country to country, experiencing different cultures and ambiance in 17 countries.

“I wanted to showcase the continent I was born in, Africa, West Africa specifically. I wanted to connect two dots, which I consider to be home, London and Lagos.” - Said Pelumi on her interview with BBC

The solo-driver continued, “Driving through Europe felt like a breeze, because of very open borders. When I was crossing between France and Spain, ‘I didn’t even notice.’ But straight away, once I got into Africa, there were very clear demarcations, like the immigration that you had to go through, sometimes pretty strict."

Strict Immigration

Pelumi mentioned the challenges she faced once on the continent. The strict immigration policies affecting the movement of Africans within Africa.

This has affected the continent's economy directly or indirectly. The tourism sector is greatly diminished with these policies which deter people’s swift movements within the continent.

Numerous border points together with road blocks and expensive visa fees, with allegations of bribes asked by border officers. All these really affect the image of the continent.

One of Africa’s most influential Youtuber ‘Wode Maya’ from Ghana, once shared his experience at a West African border in Togo. Wode was filmed fighting immigration officers at the Togo border because he refused to pay a bribe. Togo shares a border with Ghana. Wode Maya is one of many who have experienced such injustices on African borders.

December 2012, I witnessed a similar scenario at Busia, a Uganda-Kenya border post where a family of 8 South Sudanese were barred exit from Uganda.

This family of 8 was requested to pay a fee of 50 USD each for an ‘Exit Visa’. Being legally in Uganda without an overstay in the country such a fee was unprecedented.

I had my own experience at one of these borders in February of 2022. I was from attending the acclaimed Amani Festival in Goma, a eastern town of D. R. Congo. After the festival, I decided to use the Bunagana border point which neighbors Uganda’s Kisoro district. At the Congolese immigration I was asked for a 70 USD exit visa. I refused to comply with the officers, who, of course, denied me exit. I ended up paying 20 USD for an exit Visa.

From these few scenarios and many unknown, movement is affected on the continent and raises a question ‘How ready is Africa’ for an open border system.

Pelumi hopes to raise awareness on the freedom of movement in Africa.