April 16, 2025

We have been to the African continent many times now and my reaction is always the same: What can I do to make this a better place?

Don’t we all like to think of ourselves as travelers who would rise to the challenge: “To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before?” To travel like the late Anthony Bourdain and try every street food you come across? To venture into places unlike home, meeting people who live entirely different lives.

This brings up the uncomfortable subject of safety. I don’t want to assume that different places aren’t safe places, but I know that it is unwise to venture out in some ports in Africa. The ship issued warnings that we should be careful when going ashore in Senegal. Don’t wear any jewelry and hide your wallet. Be careful where you go. To be fair, these warnings could be the same in Barcelona, known for its pickpocketing, and other more “western” cities.

In Dakar, Senegal, the news was full of stories of political protests in this capital city, and police used tear gas yesterday to disperse the crowds. Getting tear-gassed was not the African experience I was looking forward to.

The stark reality is that parts of Africa are extremely poor, especially areas of Senegal. I could show you hosts of pictures depicting that poverty but to some degree that would be defeating the purpose I am trying to explore. Here are just a few examples:

One thing travel has taught me is that my view of world history was stuck in the 1970s. I learned about current countries almost as if they existed in current political forms throughout history. But of course, situations change. Don’t they?

I’m not so sure about Africa.

Even as I looked for change, there were new “shanty towns” that did not exist on my last visit. Sometimes these townships are on beachfront property.

If the world is a family, how do we describe Africa? Is Africa the child who can’t survive without help? It is always stuck in a crisis always trying to develop but never developed. That it is only defined by poverty or corruption or what’s missing. The challenges seem too innumerable to change.

I believe that tomorrow is not something to wait for it is something to reshape.

What can I do to make this a better place?

It seems for now the only thing I can do is pray that Africa’s tomorrow will be brighter.

Thanks for traveling with us.