Once upon a (recent) time in Africa

Friday evening. I’m worn out. Swift landing on my sofa. Same ol’ story. TV>Apps>Netflix>What’s new. There’s something new. Young, famous and African.

Me and friends were vibing over African music last weekend. The one trending on Insta was also my personal favourite — Love Nwantiti. And now Africa has put a digital footprint, in a jiffy. Africa is onto big steps.

Synonymous with hot weather, tumult and other myths — Africa has come a long way from what it once was.

My first steps into Africa. A friend had just moved in there and invited me to come to visit. He was exploring business and sensed a great potential, opposed to other saturated markets in both the east and west.

I was equally anxious as I was curious. I was going to visit Rwanda first, transiting via Addis, Ethiopia. On my long halt, I was trying to observe and absorb everything. I saw plump men and women draped in colourful gowns, complete with twin headscarves. Africa loves bling.

Onwards on my flight to Rwanda, the people appeared slimmer.

One is thankful for little mercies here. Oh! I found a biscuit from my hometown, praise the lord! Although it’s 5x the price I pay back home, praise the lord, you found it! There is pizza, not to my taste, but it’s still pizza, praise the lord! I ordered a thin crust and it took you an hour to get this fat bread to my table.

The initial few days were a scramble. My acquaintance with labour was laborious. I’d give instructions to my staff, yet was confused whether the message was understood. The recipient would always raise his eyebrows to signal the message is received. And ultimately, he sometimes went on to deliver the opposite.

The place teaches you patience. I instruct, make them repeat after me, micromanage, and follow up. If I skip anything in between, I’ve myself to blame.

Overall Africans value their me-time and protect it at all costs. Weekend emergency = “Que Sera Sera”. Whilst the American dream is all about hustle and achieving the greater next, the African dream — at least to my understanding — is hustle and more play. No one seemed accessible once the work was over.

I met a local friend for a casual soirée. Amid our conversation, I get a confirmation call from my bank about my transfer to my home bank. She raised an eyebrow at me. I raised one too. What is it? I asked. “Ae, Ae. You traditional folk, we’re living in the age of bitcoins and you still pay bank charges to send money home”.

I was impressed when she told me she was in it for the long-term, and how they have their own crypto community WhatsApp chat room.

This another time I had massive kidney-stone pain and there was no way I could get out of there without immediate surgery. The pain was persistent. I had no fellow mate who could testify the doctors’ testimonial. Stuck, I had to make do with what was available.

Much to my surprise, I glided through the procedure, a bit expensive, yes. I was happy until the doctor who performed my surgery came and yelled — yay! you’re alive. Was she just as surprised as I was?

The point remains, the facilities in terms of health care are advanced.

Upon my business travel to Nairobi, development showed. The buildings got taller. Crowds thronged the market. Parties were upscale, thanks to Akinyi, a Kenyan who’s got great exposure and brings in a slice of everywhere to Kenya. Hosting everthing — from InterNations events to sundowners and after-hours at the embassy, the lady knows how to spread cheer. They celebrate all the national days from wherever they got friends/expatriates, and their Halloweens are a special catch.

There’s nothing in 2022 of the world, that Kenya is devoid of. From the white-sand beach on Mombasa shore, to the good-paced city life in Nairobi, it is a tourist’s paradise.

At the safari of Masai-Mara, after you breakfast with the giraffes, you can go on to chase the cheetahs, or feel proud about visiting a pride group of lions.

Africa is something you can’t just do once. For its stunning kaleidoscope of wild landscapes and youthful exuberance, there’s got to be an encore.

Ashish Dewani is an avid traveller and writer. Twitter: @a5hush