Of course, traveling is much easier than it used to be, but a journey to the same place can be a completely different experience for different people. Some people have to go through long visa application procedures and layers of bureaucracy, while others have to pay more attention to their safety and comfort. Until recently, this difficult side was rarely represented by those who experience it, and the diversity of travelers and their travel experiences was not seen.
We spoke to four Black creators who are broadening the horizons of their audiences in different ways. UK creators Temwa & Anjola, Toba, and Nigerian creator Tayo Aina are part of YouTube's Black Voices Fund program. They take their followers on adventures around the world, documenting everything from budgets and recommendations, easing bureaucracy and social openness to their experiences traveling solo and vacationing with their families. We spoke to them about their journeys.
Why do you travel?
Tayo: Before I started traveling, I never imagined that someone like me (Nigerian) from a country with the worst passport could travel. Now I travel to show people that no matter where you are from in Africa, you can travel and make money doing what you love. I travel to tell stories and change people's perceptions of different places around the world.
Toba: I'm an adventurer, so I love exploring new places and having new experiences. It's also a great way to clear up misconceptions and share my experiences with the world. When I first started traveling, I had some false preconceived ideas about certain countries and people, and 9 times out of 10, I was completely wrong. Traveling has opened my mind more, helped me grow, made unexpected friends, and allowed me to experience the world from a new perspective.
Temwa and Anjola: We want to share who we are, how we as a couple strengthen our relationship through meaningful experiences and travel, and now that we are parents, we are taking our children on these adventures too. Because life and travel don't have to stop when you have kids!
What inspired you to start your YouTube channel?
Tayo: I started my channel when I realized there weren't enough people telling stories about Africa from our own perspective. I see myself as an African discovering the world and sharing my perspectives and opinions on places based on my unique experiences.
Tova: I wanted to start many different channels on YouTube, but it was traveling that drew me. The aspect of being able to pack your bags and go, be free and not know what tomorrow will bring, is why I started traveling. Traveling is a way for me to share and document my experiences.
Temwa & Anjola: One of our main goals is to inspire and showcase the reality of travel and juggle the two. It's rare to see Black couples traveling and going on adventures together. To me, our content is about representation and showing you what we're like as a Black traveling family. And so far, so good! We've had great success because we can see we're inspiring people to want to book tickets.
When you upload a video to your channel, what do you want your viewers to take away by the end of the video?
Temwa & Anjola: As we upload our videos, we hope our viewers will be inspired to see a young Black family that goes beyond what we're often told family life should be. Although life has its emotional and difficult moments, it's also full of fun, date nights, and pure joy.
Toba: I hope that viewers will see the world through my lens, experience something different, gain value, and above all have fun and go home with new insights.
Tayo: I want the participants to leave feeling motivated to do what they want to do and passionate about chasing their dreams. I also want them to feel positive and have hope.
