Share Your Experience: A journey of self-discovery; Destination Africa

Africa is the embodiment of humanity. Africa serves as the nucleus our civilization and the place in which all ethnicities, trace their origin. Africa is a diverse continent, of various climates from arid deserts, to vast tropical forests with lush vegetation. With a land infused in rich diversity and an abundance of precious minerals and resources, it is bewildering that a majority of Africa’s population today is disenfranchised, and unfortunately lives a substandard life below the poverty line.

My trip to Africa was an indelible experience that changed who I am today serving as a personal journey of self-discovery.

We first landed in Casablanca, Morocco. My first step in Africa was overwhelming as I stood on the continent of where civilization began. My mother and I spent two days touring the city, visiting grand mosques made of precious marble and intricate Moorish architecture. We walked through downtown Casablanca, and neighborhood flea markets surrounded with vibrant colors, and materials made of silk and everything else imaginable. Although enjoyable, our stay in Morocco was only a precursor for the experience to come.

As we left Morocco, we then flew to Dakar, Senegal. Dakar became the official capital following Saint.Louis in 1960. Senegal itself played a pivotal role in the French West African Empire. Not only was Senegal the main headquarters of the French administration, but it was also one of the areas in which millions of slaves departed before their unforeseeable journey to the America's.

I spent several days getting acquainted with the lively city and visiting family. Much of the French colonial influence remains evident as it blends seamlessly with the West African culture. One of the last places we had visited before we left was Goree Island.

Final Destination……Goree Island

 After a short ferry ride from the mainland, we stepped onto the docks of the tiny yet historic island. As I stood on the shores of Goree, I embraced the moment, and the opportunity of where I stood. As we started our tour, I began to have flashbacks of the devastating events that once took place on the island. As I walked around the island, each preserved building, and pathway began to tell a story. I saw beyond the side cafés and gift shops along the shoreline for what they once were, as a mere layover for insatiable European merchants. As we walked through La Maison Des Esclaves French for House of Slaves, I felt as though I could hear the painful cries of women, men and children, being crammed into dreary diminutive cells, as they awaited their departure....

The most significant point of our tour was standing in front of the Door of No Return. As I stood there, a paralyzing feeling took a hold of me, as I envisioned what the door symbolized. As slaves marched through the very door, it was the final glimpse they had of their homeland, as they embarked on an unpredictable journey into an unpromising future.

My journey to Africa allowed me to connect with a part of myself that was unfamiliar for so long. My experience at Goree made me realize that today, I have an opportunity in life that was divested from my ancestors. Succeeding, and continuing to pursue my dreams will ensure that the pain and suffering they endured was not in vain.