Title: An African Abroad
Author: Olabisi Ajala
Year of Publication: 2023
Number of Pages: 281
Category: Travel Memoir
If you are Nigerian especially if you love travel you have most likely heard the phrase “Ajala the Traveller.” What many people may not realise is that this popular saying comes from a real person: Olabisi Ajala, an adventurous Nigerian journalist and globetrotter whose life was anything but ordinary.
This newly published edition introduces readers to a man whose boldness is almost unbelievable. At a time when international travel was neither easy nor comfortable, Ajala set out to roam the world with nothing but a scooter and an unshakeable sense of confidence. Unlike today’s travellers who move effortlessly from one country to another by air, his journeys demanded courage, resilience, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty.
Olabisi Ajala travelled to an astonishing 78 countries, interviewing presidents and other prominent figures along the way. Yet, as you read, you are often left wondering whether he was simply doing his job as a journalist or recklessly courting danger. At times, his actions inspire admiration; at other moments, they provoke anxiety. He frequently finds himself in risky situations, and as a reader, you cannot help but worry about how he will escape them.
Rather than covering all 78 countries, the author focuses on selected regions such as Asia, the Middle East, Russia, Australia and a few others. Some countries clearly hold more personal significance than others. Interestingly, this book reads less like a traditional travel memoir and more like a historical account. Ajala does not romanticise his experiences; instead, he presents them honestly, including the unpleasant realities of the places he visited.
One of the book’s strengths is its structure: readers can choose to read by country, depending on their interests. As the stories unfolds, recurring themes emerge, racial discrimination, poverty, assault, and police brutality. These accounts can be deeply unsettling and may even make readers question whether they should visit such countries. However, it is important to remember that these experiences occurred in the 1960s. This contrast encourages readers to reflect on how much the world has changed, or to seek reassurance by comparing past realities with present-day conditions.
Ajala’s experiences feel authentic, particularly because many readers may recognise or relate to the maltreatment he describes. This makes it clear that he is not exaggerating. The book also leaves you with unanswered questions especially about how he managed to fund such extensive travels. If he were alive today, readers would undoubtedly be eager to ask him countless questions.
At certain points, the journeys stop feeling adventurous and begin to feel stressful. Ajala moves from one country to another with reckless casualness, almost as if crossing borders required no more thought than a trip to the supermarket. He often travels without a clear destination or purpose, something only Olabisi Ajala could successfully pull off. While some chapters offer fascinating insights into different cultures, others seem driven by drama, leaving readers wondering what exactly he was searching for as he roamed the world.
True to expectation, the story ends with him marrying a foreigner perhaps the most predictable outcome for someone who spent his life crossing borders. Amid all the tension and chaos, the book is laced with humour, often making readers laugh out loud despite the seriousness of some situations.
By the final page, you may find yourself questioning your own desire to travel. Instead of awakening a longing for adventure, the book occasionally provokes unease, though this was clearly not the author’s intention. Instead of rushing to dust off your passport or plan your next trip, you may pause, reflect, and reconsider. Yet, in a strange way, the book still succeeds: it reminds us that travel is indeed one of the greatest forms of education. The only question is whether you are brave enough to seek that education in the way Olabisi Ajala did or whether his story will simply spark your curiosity from a safe distance.
About the reviewer
Titilade Oyemade is a business executive in a leading organisation and holds a degree in Russian Language. She’s the convener of the Hangoutwithtee Ladies Event and the Publisher of Hangoutwithtee magazine. She spends her weekends attending women conferences, events and book readings. She loves to have fun and to help other women have the same in their lives. Email: titi.oyemade@gmail.com Social: @tiipreeofficial
