Jessica Nabongo is a true, record-setting globe trotter.
Cue the parade, it’s finally happened. Jessica Nabongohas officially become the first black woman to have visited every single country in the world. The Ugandan-American touched down in Seychelles on Sunday—the last to be visited on the long list of 195 countries. Over 50 friends and family members traveled with her to the East African archipelago to mark the historic event.
Nabongo has been traveling since the age of 6. Though she was born in the US, her parents are Ugandan and she’s used both passports to travel the world. What’s most remarkable is the frequency with which she’s done so. As Africa News reports, Nabongo made the decision to attempt the global feat in 2017. At the time she had only traveled to 60 countries–-meaning she’s travelled to 135 countries in just 2-and-a-half years, an average of just under 7 days per country.
Nabongo was chosen as one of our 100 Women of 2019, a list of impressive and impactful women from the continent and across the diaspora. When we interviewed her for the list, she told us the motivation behind her traveling:
“I began my journey to every country in the world because I am a geography nerd, curious about other cultures, and want to show the world through a lens that we rarely view it from—that of a black woman.”
She also elaborated on her desire to alter the global narrative and perception surrounding of a lot of destinations–particularly in Africa–and highlight “that many countries are dangerous, that people are miserable, that you cannot have nice, luxury, vacations on the continent.”
If Nabongo inspires you to get off your couch, grab your passport, pick a destination and just go–she’s already made ways to help you out. Check out this article she penned for OkayAfrica about her tips for first-time solo travelers. Keep up with her journey and catch her if you can via her Instagram.
www.okayafrica.com
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