From the Publisher
"A rigorous meditation on what it means to move through the world as a Black, African woman. . . . This is a thought-provoking book." — The New York Times
"In the great tradition of Said, Orwell and Bessie Head, Nyabola's is a profound, gripping and beautiful book of undeniable genius on exile, migration and travel in our catastrophic times. It speaks to all those committed to truth and justice." — Cornel West, author of Race Matters and Professor of the Public Practice of Philosophy, Harvard University"Through her experiences, [Nanjala Nyabola] brings to life the legacies of "othering" and colonialism that impact how Black people are perceived and treated around the world." — Metro"Nyabola"s insightful essays deal with identity and the notion of home and belonging, in a world challenged by mobility and dislocation. This collection joins a venerable tradition of Black essay-writing, as it discovers for the socially aware traveller new routes and philosophies to explore." — Margaret Busby, editor of New Daughters of Africa"What a book! Nyabola takes us on a travel odyssey and an inner quest, and with her we recognise what remains undone and how we see or unsee others. Lethal and restless, yet tender and vulnerable. Disturbing, delicious, defiant. A triumph." — Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, author of Dust and The Dragonfly Sea"A unique, provocative and thoughtful collection of essays. Part autobiography and travelogue, but also a powerful reflection on migration, travel, identity, racism, literature, language, Pan-Africanism and the experiences of a young Kenyan woman travelling throughout the modern world." — Hakim Adi, Professor of the History of Africa and the African Diaspora, University of Chichester, and author of Pan-Africanism: A History"At a time where the freedom of Black people to exist and move safely feels compromised, Nyabola"s collection of essays on travelling is an urgent intervention which powerfully marries cultural and political exploration to the intricacies of modern Black identity." — Jason Okundaye, writer and campaigner"A valiant exploration of one of humanity"s most fundamental needs: the freedom to move. Drawing on a captivating life of her own, Nanjala Nyabola powerfully reminds us of the complexity of human identity. Above all, an incredibly moving book." — David Lammy MP, author of Tribes: How Our Need to Belong Can Make or Break Society"Skilfully told . . . constantly challenging the reader to ask questions and see the world from varying perspectives."—African Arguments"[Written with] passion, erudition, and fluidity ... Provocative and always willing to take on the conventional wisdom, Nyabola emerges with this book as an important observer." — Foreign Affairs"A book you won't want to put down. [Nanjala Nyabola's] observations will make you glad she took you along with her."—North Dallas Gazette "Nanjala Nyabola's book . . . open[s] new worlds to African women travellers like her who are reflecting on how their race and gender have shaped their experiences of dislocation, exile, belonging and not belonging."— The Elephant "Nyabola's strength lies in an ability to join the dots and analyze what she sees before her, in fiercely articulate and erudite prose. ... [She] exhorts us to ... look at the bigger picture and rethink the status quo." — TLS"Nanjala Nyabola captures [the] nuances of race as she documents her travels across seventy countries." — CHOICE
