African Diaspora Travel Bloggers You Need to Know
Guides, local knowledge, and amazing photography, the African diaspora share their travel and international lifestyle experiences in this list of must-follow travel blogs.
As technology and innovation has evolved, so too has travel to and from the continent of Africa. The travel industry is thriving more than ever before, and with the help and advice of bloggers such as those listed below, eager travellers are able to make the most out of their travels. Travel bloggers are considered by some to be as important as travel journalists, bringing the latest travel news to eager audiences across the world. These are the names and faces of the most influential African travel bloggers making us swoon with wanderlust.
Omo and Eulanda
Omo and Eulanda are an award-winning blogger couple who discuss travel, food and lifestyle at Hey! Dip Your Toes In (HDYTI). From Lagos, Nigeria, Omo is an IT risk manager by day, while Eulanda is his better half from Denver, Colorado who lives and breathes content creation throughout the day, running campaigns for brands as well as HDYTI.
Now living in London, they both share their love for food and an enriched life while globe trotting on adventurous trips, dipping their toes in one country after another, while taking in the cultural experiences each has to offer.
Asiyami Gold
Asiyami Gold is a Nigerian-born art director and visual artist based in Atlanta. She started blogging in 2010 as a way to document her life and capture her evolution on her self-titled blog, Asiyami Gold. Eight years on, she’s built a recognisable personal brand and has become one of the most sought-after bloggers working with reputable brands like Gap, Vogue, J.Crew and Pantene, among others.
She sees blogging on her website, as well as her expertly-curated Instagram feed, as a means of storytelling, captivating her audience with her evocative images and thoughtful captions. Although based in America, Gold is forever on the move.
Lee Litumbe
Lee Litumbe is the Cameroon-born, America-raised founder of travel blog Spirited Pursuit, which launched in 2014. For Litumbe, her mission is to be in constant pursuit of travel, adventure, and new cultural experiences, which she’s managed to share effortlessly with her 97K+ community on Instagram.
Litumbe left her corporate job in America to pursue life on the road as a travel blogger in Africa. She now calls Senegal her home and from there she sets out on trips to other parts of the great continent and beyond.
As well as her own original content on travelling solo to jaw-droppingly beautiful destinations in Africa and other parts of the world, Litumbe also curates magical travel stories from other adventure-seekers on her blog. She has been featured on Refinery29, Huffington Post, Essence magazine, USA Today, The Guardian, and Ebony magazine, and was listed among the most Inspiring Instagram Accounts that Make You Want to Travel by Elle Canada.
Jessica Nabongo
Jessica Nabongo is a globetrotter of Ugandan descent who’s on a quest to become the first black woman to travel to all 195 countries of the world. Her awe-inspiring trips are shared on her Instagram page and blog, The Catch Me If You Can, where she also covers other lifestyle topics.
Growing tired of her life as a high-achieving pharmaceutical sales person, she quit her job and travelled to teach in Japan. Years later she moved back to America to start a boutique luxury travel agency called Jet Black while continuously being on the road. She has currently travelled to 126 countries, and so has 69 to go.
Glory Osei
Glory Osei is the Nigerian-born and raised travel connoisseur of the Nigerian Abroad Instagram page. Unlike the other travel bloggers listed here, Osei doesn’t own a traditional blog. Her Instagram page, which she uses to document all of her travel experiences, makes her as good as they come. Using a down-to-earth, humorous style to convey her travel experiences, as well as share hotel and flight tips, and procedures on applying for visas as a native Nigerian, you’d think you were reading an entry in her private diary. Seriously, you’re bound to laugh and ‘wow’ at some of the experiences she’s had travelling with a Nigerian passport.
However, her insights into travelling as a business owner thoroughly engages her audience and leaves them well-informed long after she’s hit the publish button.
Temi Otedola
Temi Otedola, also known by her blog name JTO Fashion, is a Nigerian fashion and travel blogger studying towards a History of Art degree at University College London, in the UK.
Otedola started her blog in 2014 as a means to express her passion for art, fashion and travel, and has continued to stun her audience with her effortless style. She also runs a YouTube channel where she documents moments in her life and shares her top travel destinations around the world. Take a look at her page to find out where she’s off to next.
Lola Akinmade
Lola Akinmade is an award-winning photographer, journalist and travel writer. Born and raised in Nigeria, she later went on to study Information Systems at the University of Maryland, USA but is now based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Her work has been featured in National Geographic, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Travel + Leisure, Slate, Travel Channel, Lonely Planet, Fodor’s, several in-flight magazines, and New York Times online among others. In addition, she is a founding member of the Nordic Travel Bloggers collective, which brings together top professional travel influencers and storytellers in the Nordic countries of Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.
Jubril Agoro
Jubril Agoro is a world traveller and digital marketing extraordinaire who makes working while on the road seem as sweet as sipping a pina colada while getting a thai massage on the beach.
Agoro is of Nigerian descent, born in the UK and raised in the USA. In 2016, he founded Passport Heavy, a travel platform used to deliver original content on destinations all over the world. He says the mission of Passport Heavy is to “educate through travel and to influence a new narrative in media, so as to break down old views allowing people to experience the world differently and truly.”
Silvia Njoki
Silvia Njoki is a respected Kenyan fashion stylist and travel and lifestyle blogger based in Kenya. Her self-titled blog initially started as a creative outlet for her DIY creations, but soon evolved into what it is today.
She studied fashion styling at University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martin, UK and Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano, Italy. And continues to travel around the world and attend fashion shows in London, Mauritius, Rwanda, Nigeria and Tanzania.
She’s a self acclaimed ‘stamp collector’ with an Instagram feed dedicated to all of her travel pursuits that will be sure to leave you wanting more.
Doyin
Doyin is a London-born Nigerian creative behind the blog Move With Doyin. In her travel blog she shares first-hand experiences of travelling around the world, as well as offering travel tips, resources and guides for other travelling enthusiasts. When it comes to travelling, Doyin is as knowledgeable as they come. Now working as a freelance writer and travel consultant, her clients include the BBC and LAPP.
Furthermore, she co-founded Black British Travel Meet Up with another expert travel blogger, Hannah Ajala; as well as The Wind Collective, a dynamic travel company that curates wanderlust-worthy travel experiences to destinations all over the world.