The Black Travel Experience : Be you, and unapologetic, confident but not cocky

The Black Travel Experience : Just like the name implies, we speak to various black people about their travel experiences. The good, the bad and the ugly (if any). No two travelers can be the same so just because it doesn't sound like your own story doesn't invalidate anyone's experience.

P.S whenever Africans also travel, we're seen as black even if some may not want to be identified that way but alas, it's the reality.

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Today's guest is Ope. He's a first generation Nigerian - Canadian who's currently into project management but does his thing in architecture too. He says the worst thing that can happen on a trip is he gets killed (morbid we know) but that just begs the question, does every black guy think this way about travelling internationally?

What’s your earliest memory of travel?

Local or international? As a child my only travel experiences were the trips to my home town and stuff.

Out of Nigeria, my first trips were a series of Business trips to Liberia as an “expatriate” architect from Nigeria and this was not long after the end of the civil war. Nigerians were seen as heroes then for the military’s role in ending the war.

At what exact moment or what experience ignited your love for travel?

As an architecture student in UNILAG (University of Lagos), we organized regular tours to Europe and across Nigeria. When our Euro tour was cancelled for failure to get the group visas, we organized a tour of Nigeria where we are able to visit about 25 states on a 16 day long trip. I ended up loving Obudu Cattle Ranch and Yankari Games Reserve and they are now my favorite places in Nigeria.

How many countries (or cities in the country you live in) have you been to?

Can’t remember how many cities I’ve visited here in ON, but I’ve been to 8 different countries apart from where I live. - France, Germany, The UAE, The US, Ghana, Liberia, Mauritius, Canada

What’s your favorite country so far and why?

I’m torn between Nigeria - because of the freedom it gives and Canada because of the standard of living and structure.

How does travel make you feel?

Free

How?

Lool. My answer could put me in trouble.

What’s your travel style like –adventure or chop life and enjoy?

Chop life and enjoy, who adventure epp?

LMAO. Street food or na?

Nah, I’m not big on food, I play it safe

Do you have a travel bucket list?

Nah, I’m spontaneous. I just take my trips as they come.

Which do you prefer, solo or group trip?

Solo, like to fuck up solo no one tells me nothing later

If and when you travel solo, what fears quickly come to mind?

None, fears kill fun. Worst case I get killed. Once on a trip to Florida, was at the beach chilling n drinking, met some guys fishing, we got talking and they said there was a better spot to get more fish, I went with these guys in their car to another secluded spot, these men could have killed me n dumped my body without anyone knowing. So, yeah no fears

If you travel with a group, do you think people are scared when they see a bunch of black guys traveling together?