It began in Africa.
Well, not exactly in Africa – but certainly inspired by the continent.
Inspired how? Aged 18, trekking off to Ghana, for my first real job as a journalist, falling in love with the continent and vowing to return. And aged 25, back in London now, looking for inspiration for journalistic projects, and again returning to Africa in my dreams and in my writings.
A documentary as part of the Human Rights Watch film festival was to provide my inspiration. Entitled The Greatest Silence: Rape In The Congo, the story of the Congolese women was sickening, inspiring and stirring. You couldn’t fail to be moved by the film, and to ask the question: Why is Africa so ignored? Why do we sit back and do nothing?
How ironic that Africa is known as the cradle of humanity, and yet is so ignored by the other supposedly civilised nations when tragedies occur. Rwanda, Sudan, Congo, Sierra Leone – we turned a blind eye for as long as we could.
But there is more to Africa than that. And I suppose that is why I am so fascinated by the continent; not only is it under-reported; it is also mis-reported, with only negative stories coming out. Where are the business, the fashion, the sports, the success stories?
It began in Africa. My love for travel, for the world around me, began in Africa. But it doesn’t end there.
