CAN BUBAKARR TRAVEL THE ENTIRE AFRICA IN 6 MONTHS?CLICK TO FIND OUT!

Let’s talk about the millennial generation, each one is said to have some unique attributes such as being web-savvy, curious, independent, and tolerant. Millennials grew up in an electronic and online environment that created their eagerness to acquire new skills. Another attribute that has been predominant within their generation is the desire to find inspiration, go on adventures and explore new territories. The world is no longer mysterious but it has become the tool for learning through exploration.

We are at Day 39 out of 365 days in 2022 following the Gregorian Calendar; what better way to indulge this February than to hangout with a young man from Sierra Leone called Abubakarr Jalloh.

Bubakarr as he is fondly called by friends is on a ‘Big Mission’ to tour all countries in Africa within 6 months! We’ve been drawn to his story for a while now, initially to be very honest, it looked like a cruel joke to self. Why would a young man that had lived at home and in small urban cities nearly all of his life desire to venture outside of his safety net and away from his family and friends. What audacity or curiosity might have motivated him? It’s these questions that encapsulate the narrative that you are about to read.

Abubakarr dropped out of college to start his first business, he has always been curious maybe due to his nomadic heritage and the well acclaimed Fulani ‘entrepreneurial gene’ of turning a few coins into generational wealth. He had to try his luck, create his own path and reach his own pot of gold – if that meant leaving school – so be it. He felt he had a deeper purpose in life, he couldn’t find that simply trading – what was it that could quench his thirst for positive influence and dream to create something that will make impact in the lives of people all over the world?

As a teenager right through the years, he became a follower of many world travelers on social media. He was most inspired by Thor from Denmark. He excitedly told us about his hero ‘Thor will be the first human to travel the entire world without using a flight. He travels by road. He is such a risk taker and that’s what I love about him. He started his journey two or three years ago and he will be ending this 2022. He is my friend; I have met with him once in Gabon and we still keep in touch’.

Abubakarr, lived through these few minutes online.  He viewed different countries admiring the shared experiences, the rich culture, the learning that seemed to explode right out of the computer, bothering his soul to jump on!

2021, right when the world was starting to accept our new frustrating normal of COVID -19,  he felt that he needed to do something that will inspire people that there was still hope, reason to support each other, a rich heritage to pass on to our children. This wild impulse led him to start his journey in Mauritania. He didn’t fly directly from Sierra Leone, he was in Dubai so he flew from Dubai to Mauritania.

Countries Aboubakarr has travelled to so far: 

1: Mauritania  

2: Senegal  

3: The Gambia 

4: Guinea Bissau  

5: Guinea  

6: Sierra Leone  

7: Liberia  

8: Ivory Coast  

9: Mali  

10: Burkina Faso  

11: Ghana  

12: Togo  

13: Benin  

14: Niger  

15: Nigeria 

16:  Cameroon  

17: Gabon  

18: The Republic of Congo  

19: Democratic Republic of the Congo 

20: Chad 

21: Central Africa Republic

 (At the time of the interview) He has traveled to 20 countries in four months and two days.

Let’s hear from Aboubakarr:

‘Traveling has not been easy, especially when I have to apply for a visa in most of these countries because Sierra Leone does not have Embassies in most of these African countries and sometimes these visas can be expensive. Most times the prices range from 150 dollars to 300 dollars. So, I can say 70% of my expenditures goes towards getting visas and or other immigration requirements. The rest of my day to day expenditure is minimalistic – focusing on what really matters. Taking in scenes from my day-to-day explorations in different spaces, meeting new people, finding out what’s taboo for some and others quite okay.

On days that I miss home or get stuck wondering where I will get the means to travel on, I turn to my faith. As naïve as that may sound to someone, it is truly my number one strategy that I use to be motivated is reading the word of God and having faith in God. I grew up having no one to guide me when it comes to making decisions, so, I have learnt to take everything about me to God and He has been faithful in helping me.

Another strategy that I use is reading books and watching videos from the most popular CEOs in the world such as CEO of Google, Coca-Cola, Apple etc. Reading and hearing from these people has really helped me to view life differently as if there is no box. It reassures me that humans can achieve whatever they set their minds to do. I tell myself often, they have the same makeup as me, blood, flesh and water!

Every phase of my mission presents a different challenge so far, the most predominant has been my mission – its’ so weird that a young African that is not from a wealthy background or influence would have a dream like mine. Most times when I present my document for a visa and share the mission which is to travel to all African countries in six months, they tend to hold back and think that maybe I am a jihadist or a spy. Sometimes I will face denial and I would have to reapply and go all over the process again before receiving the approval’.

Mr. Jalloh believes strongly that his travel can inspire people from every part of the world to remove fear and follow their dream no matter the obstacles or lack opportunities.
Young Africans are allowed to dream big, traveling opens the mind, it shows that we only have geographical borders, physically we are mostly the same. I see myself as a peace ambassador to the communities that I visit.

‘In the future, after this journey I see myself creating a Pan Africanist company that will transform the lives of millions of people no matter where they find themselves. As I have seen first handed how divided we are in Africa, largely because of bad governance, poor infrastructure and a lack of faith in ourselves and our abilities’.

You can help Abubakarr achieve his dream with a small donation that will support him with logistics that will cover visa and accommodation in the different countries he is yet to visit. Send via Sierra Leone- Orange Money : +23278988923

You can also encourage this young man by sharing this blogpost, visiting his You- Tube Channel and or telling others about his journey: https://youtube.com/c/GoBubakarr