We love all the Black travel influencers who show up in underrepresented spaces and deliver content that amplifies what it’s like to be a Black traveler. However, some influencers take their storytelling to the next level, creating content that redefines travel through the lens of the Black diaspora. Whether it’s traveling across uncharted territories, giving us information on Black-owned businesses and cultural events worldwide, or offering tips on navigating new destinations, here are the influencers that you should have on your radar for traveling through the diaspora.
Martinique Lewis (@Marty_Sandiego)
Martinique Lewis is an award-winning travel consultant who is considered a connector among her peers. Lewis’s groundbreaking app, ABC Travel Green Book, is the go-to resource for Black travelers seeking Black-owned businesses and experiences around the diaspora. Inspired by Victor Hugo Green’s Negro Motorist Greenbook, her app is a celebration of Black culture and Black communities.
Lewis wears many hats: the president of the Black Travel Alliance, an entrepreneur, and a diversity consultant for tourism and travel brands to develop meaningful diversity initiatives. She also creates content that showcases Black culture in places you would least expect, such as Carnival celebrations in Japan.
Wode Maya (@mrghanababy)
Berthold Kobby Winkler Ackon, popularly known as Wode Maya, is a Ghanaian YouTube personality, vlogger, and digital media influencer. He is a “proud village boy” who has connected the global diaspora to Africa. His videos tell stories of African countries and cultures to eliminate negative perceptions of the continent. He also actively promotes the movement of bringing investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and visionaries together to build opportunities in Africa, the Caribbean, and the global diaspora with events such as The Guba Trade & Investment Conference.
Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir (@aisha_shaibu_lenoir)
Aisha is the creator of Moonlight Experiences, a platform dedicated to unique queer experiences. The platform reshapes how the LGBTQ+ community navigates travel and community in Africa, Europe, and the United States.
“We exist to build better communities as we help to uplift queer women, non-binary, and Black/POC members through harnessing the economic power of tourism & nightlife to tackle the lack of diversity,” Aisha writes on the brand’s website.
In addition to Moonlight Experiences, Aisha and her partner, Lexie, also created the Queer Travel Club. Their community enables LGBTQ+ travelers to explore destinations with their tribe through curated itineraries.
Ime Umoh (@imeumoh_)
If there’s a drone shot on the continent that gives you chills, it’s probably done by Ime Umoh. The Baltimore-native left his corporate job to travel the world and is now a drone pilot and content creator who shows both Baltimore and African countries in their natural beauty and glory.
One of his recent trips to Northern Nigeria showcases a diverse landscape that feels otherworldly. From the dunes of the Yusufari Desert to the majestic cliffs of the Shere Hills, Umoh inspires travelers to explore the lesser-known roads.
Thobeka “Thobi Rose” Mthembu (@thobi_rose)
Thobi is a Zulu South African who left her job as a content producer in 2019 to take on the travel world, creating content on her terms. Her love for travel and passion for South Africa is why she has a community of over 90,000 followers. She is known for showcasing the gems of South Africa and the continent. Recently, she launched Sweet Escapes with Thobi Rose, a series about finding hidden gems in South Africa that she hopes will replenish your soul.
Mario Rigby (@mariorigby)
Most people know Mario Rigby as the first to walk solo across the length of Africa. Born in Turks & Caicos and raised in Germany, Rigby is an explorer, athlete, and advocate for sustainable adventure. His mission is to inspire the world to explore responsibly while pushing human potential to new limits. His relentless year-long walk across Africa has served as a newfound inspiration for visiting the continent and connecting with countries in a unique way.
Oneika Raymond (@oneikaraymond)
Oneika Raymond is an OG travel influencer with over 130 countries under her belt. Raymond is an award-winning travel correspondent on television and on-camera talent for the Travel Channel. She also serves as an Expedia ambassador and the host and producer of Marriott Bonvoy’s travel show, About the Journey.
Dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and destinations, she has hosted over 50 television segments featuring BIPOC businesses, entrepreneurs, and initiatives for NBC New York Live. In 2020, she won a New York Emmy for her work on the show.
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