No money, no plan: This vagabond ventured past stereotypes to reclaim Africa’s story

She’s met Beyoncé on the job. And yet the glamour of being an entertainment journalist no longer resonated with Lerato Mogoatlhe’s soul. She craved far off-lands, ancient architecture, and a deeper understanding of Africa. Beyond the stereotypes of poverty, danger, and corruption, Mogoatlhe desired an authentic experience. So in 2008, the writer resigned and booked a flight to Senegal with no accommodation or concrete plans. Mogoatlhe set off to traverse countries and connect with the continent. “What I thought was going to be a three month holiday turned into five years of discovering Africa and myself,” she says. 

Mogoatlhe moved out of hotels – and her comfort zone – to immerse herself among locals. Between losing her passport and running out of cash, she picked up native languages, befriended strangers, and watched the beauty of Africa blossom before her. In the deserts of Sudan, people left clay jars of water outside their homes for strangers to quench their thirst. At a taxi rank in Ghana, drivers pooled their money to contribute to Mogoatlhe’s transport fees. She marvelled at the kindness, honour, and community spirit that prevailed in every one of the 27 countries she lived in.

Mogoatlhe has now recounted her experiences in Vagabond: Wandering through Africa on faith. With her memoir, she looks past the continent’s struggles to celebrate its value. “It’s time that we as Africans take it into our own hands to write narratives about who we are,” Mogoatlhe says. She’s authoring this land as it is to its people – home.

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