Expat Diaries: Black Americans On Finding Home In Africa

My first time on the continent of Africa was during the Courtesy of Frankie Henry

Frankie Henry is a content creator and cinematographer from Atlanta, Georgia, now based in Cape Town, South Africa. Growing up in a Black American and Caribbean family, Henry learned early on that there was more to life than living in the United States. He started traveling solo at 25 to experience life abroad, and after visiting Cape Town for the first time, he knew it was the place he wanted to call home.

“Once I saw Morocco and South Africa, I knew I had to see more of this continent. I knew I would live in Cape Town because the social aspect was what gripped me,” he says. Following that trip, he sold his car, cut his lease short, and started planning his long-term move. “What made me want to stay was the jump in my quality of life and the ease of socializing.” 

But Henry is transparent regarding the difficulties obtaining a visa to stay long-term.

“It’s true that Americans can travel to a lot of places more easily because of our passports, but the immigration process is the same for us as anyone else,” he notes. First, he applied for a Business visa, then a Retiree visa—both were denied. However, in 2024, South Africa introduced its Digital Nomad visa, which was the perfect fit. With it, he can now stay in the country for up to three years.

Maryam Sherif is the co-founder and CEO of Mirrored, a wellness brand based in the Gambia. Philadelphia-born Sherif was first inspired to move out of the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, she and her then-boyfriend, now-husband, were witnessing the struggles happening Stateside when she brought up her dream of moving to Africa. “We started researching, and we literally became YouTube addicts and watched so much content around families relocating,” she recalls. “We knew we wanted to move to the continent of Africa, we just didn’t know where. He had some ties to the Gambia, and I’ve also visited, plus it’s English-speaking, so we went [to visit] and fell in love with the country.” After navigating the birth of their first child, they officially relocated in 2023.

As an entrepreneur, she sought a developing country where she could establish a business on the land. Other qualities that drew her to the Gambia were the pristine beaches, little to no political tension, and a diverse community (The Gambia is an underrated tourist destination, so people gather from all over the world). She shared that the nation is locally called “the smiling coast of Africa” and that it lives up to its name. As for visas, visitors can obtain one upon arrival at the airport, which will be valid for 30 days. After that, you can extend your visa at the airport for about $15 USD a month. Sherif advises bringing cash to the airport for your visa extension to make the process smoother.

Kea Waskesho Simmons is originally from Charleston, South Carolina, but Traverze Culture, a Nairobi-based travel concierge company specializing in humanitarian work, relocation assistance, business development, and medical tourism across Belize, Panama, and Kenya. 

Simmons shares that Kenya offers several long-stay visa options for individuals looking to relocate, but having the necessary funds to make that transition will significantly ease your move. You can apply for your visa online using the country’s E-Visa application form, called an ETA, and you’ll get your results back within 24 to 48 hours. That’s for the 90-day, single-entry visa. “You can also get a five-year multi-entry tourist visa online, and for permanent living, Kenya offers the digital nomad permit,” she says. “We’re getting a lot of relocations through the digital nomad permit because you can work from the States and live here in Kenya.”

Whether for spiritual grounding, a better quality of life, or the freedom to build something new, an increasing number of Black Americans are planting roots on the continent. My first visit opened my eyes—and my heart—to the possibilities. What started as a trip to Cape Town for a cocktail festival became the beginning of a deeper exploration into what it means to not just visit Africa, but to belong. For many of us, the idea of “home” is expanding—and it just might be waiting on the other side of the ocean.

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