Blogger Temmillenial is a Nigerian citizen has lived in various locations across the globe including in the US, Nigeria and Dubai. She provides some essential advice to those considering a... read more →
Blogger Temmillenial is a Nigerian citizen has lived in various locations across the globe including in the US, Nigeria and Dubai. She provides some essential advice to those considering a... read more →
Lauren Bradley and her family returned to South Africa after 20 years abroad. In her homecomer journey, she speaks about how a series of chance events led to her and... read more →
After a decade on the expat trail, which included stints in Beijing, Hong Kong and London, Zanine Wolf and her husband packed it all in and moved back to sunny... read more →
Lauren Bradley, her husband and their two small children returned to South Africa from the UK after 20 years. In her inspirational homecomer story she speaks about how chance events... read more →
On an unremarkable day in 2015, Tosin Duratoye woke up and decided it was time to move back home. At the time, “home” was the United States where she’d spent... read more →
On the 20th of September 2015, Burt Ronald got on a plane from London Heathrow to come back to South Africa, with no intention of staying. Just over four years... read more →
The Therons returned to South Africa in March, after living in China for a few months and then in South Korea for almost 14 years. We lived in the tourist... read more →
The Van Rensburg family returned to South Africa in mid-2018. They recount their homecoming journey after many years abroad. The 29th June 2019 marked a year back in South Africa... read more →
Aminata Dumbuya was living a privileged and comfortable job in California, USA. She had a cushy corporate job and was steadily climbing the corporate ladder. Yet, she was restless and... read more →
Claire Pryce left South Africa 15 years ago with the plan to just travel for a year. Life, however, took her on another path and she spent 7 years in... read more →
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has lived in Lagos on and off for a decade. In an essay for Esquire's new Travel & Adventure issue, she reflects on life in Nigeria's biggest... read more →
Tejumade Haastrup's move back home to Nigeria from South Africa in 2017 was more accidental than intentional. She recounts her homecomer story. I’d planned to return home for four weeks... read more →
South African-born chef Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen of Michelin-starred restaurant JAN in Nice, France, has become known as the country’s first chef to be awarded a Michelin star. Now, he’s announced... read more →
Sbonga Dlamini returned home after spending several years abroad in various parts of the globe including the US and India. I was born in a remote village in northern KwaZulu... read more →
Identities fracture unevenly. My actual hometown sits somewhere between a pot of jollof rice in the busiest kitchen in West Africa and a dining room table. It gives a shape... read more →
Obinna Okwodu, Founder and CEO of Fibre, returned to Lagos in 2015. He speaks about why he returned home and some of the advantages and disadvantages of returning. I was... read more →
Nina, who lived in London for many years, returned to South Africa after 15 years. Becoming You finds out what encouraged her to leave and why she and her family... read more →
Njambi Mungai returned to Kenya in January 2012. She speaks about why she decided to make the big move and provides an honest account of her life since returning six... read more →
There are countless things Nigerians miss about their homeland after moving abroad. We outline 9 things Nigerians miss most while in the diaspora. Being able to attend Owambe partiesNigerians have... read more →
It’s been 5 years since Shiko traded in her life in the diaspora for a permanent life in Kenya. She tells us why she and her family decided to return... read more →
Nigerian Born and England Raised Mariam Tijani's returned to Nigeria in 2015. She recounts her experiences of being an ‘IJGB’ or ‘Just Got Back’ in Nigeria. “The Tokunbor Experience” –... read more →
South African expat Jenni Baxter, Co-founder and Chief Editor of SAPeople.com, speaks about her first trip back to South Africa in five years and how after expecting the worst, South... read more →
Nigerian-American millennial, Didi Ajayi gave up a comfortable life in the United States to move back to Nigeria. My name is Didi. By profession, I’m a lawyer. I attended the... read more →
From the United States of America to the Queensland to the land down under, in the past decade more Ghanaians have repatriated than ever in history. Though many still pursue... read more →
After 8 years of living in Australia, Stuart Turner and his family have decided to return to South Africa. He explains why... In this better part of a decade we... read more →
Analytical chemist Anthony Gachanja returned to Kenya with a mission to bring chemistry and equipment to scientists. The sixth of seven children in his family, Anthony Gachanja spent his childhood... read more →
We speak to Miranda Oben, Award-winning IT Engineer, internationally reputed multi-lingual presenter and founder of the Returnees Project on why it is so important for Cameroon’s Diaspora to return home.... read more →
I have just returned, to the place I call home, SOUTH AFRICA after living in a van and traveling halfway around Australia alone. It was absolutely liberating. I learnt things... read more →
A former London investment banker on a Ghanaian pineapple farm seems like a fish out of water. But for Jerry Parkes, leaving his finance career was part of a plan... read more →
Toluyemi Nathaniel remembers when she had the awakening moment of making the decision to return home to Nigeria. It was close to the end of her two-year stay in China... read more →
The below post was written by South African returnee Roxanne Grey who returned home after 10 years in the United Kingdom. If you have ever been on vacation to Africa... read more →
Yagazie Emezi is a highly acclaimed self-taught documentary photographer from Aba, Nigeria who left when she was 16 to live in the USA. She returned to Nigeria in April 2014... read more →
Born to a Sierra Leonean/Ghanaian father and American mother, Cordie sold all of her belongings, cashed out on her retirement fund and showed up at Accra's Kotoka International airport with 4... read more →
Below is a poem written by South African expat Cat Cade who recently made the decision to return home in October after 14.5 years in London. It’s time South Africa... read more →
Lifestyle blogger Demi Akin returned to Nigeria after 7 years. She speaks about the 3 things she loves most about being back home. When I left Nigeria 7 years ago,... read more →
On her 14th year in the States, in 2010 Christabel Dadzie resolved for New Year’s that it would be her final US chapter. By mid-year she was packed up and... read more →
Sunita Mcdonald and her family recently spent three weeks in South Africa and since their return to the United Kingdom, have never been more tempted to move back. She tells... read more →
Ope Adeyemi, a Solutions Architect at Softcom Nigeria, returned home after an almost 2-year stay in the United Kingdom where he studied for a Master’s Degree in Control & Systems... read more →
Jaffar Tonda walked away from a successful accounting career in the US and returned to Uganda. From inception, the plan was never to settle in the USA. A similar feeling... read more →
Andrew and Mikaela Donkersloot-Daniel and their family made the decision to return to South Africa. Andrew speaks about the highs and lows associated with their return – warts and all.... read more →
For Stephanie Busari, moving back to Nigeria from London was a big bold bet predicated upon her passion for telling authentic African stories, and her role as CNN’s Supervising Producer... read more →
Stacey Mwesezi is a Ugandan repatriate who relocated to Kampala in 2015. She speaks about the ups and downs of her move and how it feels to be a repat... read more →
South African homecomer Michael Charlton’s highly acclaimed My Father’s Coat is a one-man show written with the intention of bringing South Africa’s history to life. The show condenses South Africa’s... read more →
Business coach Stephanie Onwunali was born in Nigeria. She moved to the UK for 12 years and is now back in Lagos for good. Here is her homecomer story. I... read more →
Homecomer Oluwakemi Loriade shares 5 things she learnt since returning to Africa in 2016. It’s been over a year since I “moved back” to Africa.I kept telling friends and family that... read more →
After completing Matric, Jacqueline de Rozario-Knezevich, sold her first car and bought a one-year return ticket to England. The plan was to work hard, save money and come home to... read more →
Kim van Wyk and her family have been back in South Africa for just over a year. She looks back on her first year back home. We are so happy!... read more →
Heldana Tekeste is an Ethiopian repat who returned home in 2016. She has been involved in many areas, including the issues of startups and some humanitarian work. My homecomer experience... read more →
Ike Eze returned to Nigeria in 2014 after 22 years abroad. Ike was born in Nigeria into a diplomatic family and spent his nomadic childhood building his very first companies... read more →
Lynn Mackenzie returned to Cape Town from Los Angeles at the end of last year after being away for almost 17 years. She returned to pursue a post graduate law... read more →
Homecomer Jennifer McQuillan recounts her homecomer journey since returning four months ago. We arrived in Johannesburg in September, and the last four months have been wonderful and frustrating and... read more →
In 2016, Nigerian Olatorera Oniru left a corporate career spanning years of experience at the Fortune 500 companies Bank of America (Merrill Lynch) and General Electric, as well as Ericsson,... read more →
Denis Odera returned to Kenya after studying at Portsmouth University in the United States. Here is is homecomer story. Having spent my entire life in Kenya, going to study in... read more →
David Sengeh, a research scientist at IBM, returned to Africa after 11 years abroad. Like any immigrant, I was faced with a heightened sense of concern about moving to a... read more →
Wendelyn Okemini returned to Nigeria after spending several years studying at boarding school and universities in England and America. Despite living in Nigeria for the last three years, she still oscillates... read more →
Justin Foxton writes a letter to his sister who is about to return to South Africa after living in Britain for the past 4 years. Dear M, I hope you... read more →
Homecomer Demi Akin provides some useful tips to consider when planning a return to Nigeria While settling in for me has been quite easy and stress free, I must admit... read more →
Wangari Muchiri returned to Kenya from Australia last year after spending 6 years away from home. Having lived abroad for 6 years, I was unsure of what to expect, however... read more →
Tracy Hathorn returned to South Africa after spending over two decades in Uganda. She recounts why she is so glad to be home and speaks about what she missed most. ... read more →
Why on earth would you do that?” It was the question that surprised me from many Australians who thought I was mad to move to South Africa. After all, isn’t... read more →
Anne Jason, the executive sourcing leader for Sub-Saharan Africa in GE Global Operations, spent 13 years living and working away from home before returning to Kenya. She worked in consulting... read more →
Biola Alabi is the CEO and founder of Biola Alabi Media, a consulting, production, film and television company based in Lagos. She returned to Nigeria from the US in 2008. Alabi... read more →
Afua Osei moved to Lagos after her MBA, to launch a social enterprise called She Leads Africa. Afua was at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, looking to... read more →
Kenyan homecomer Edwin Dande has achieved global recognition after starting an investment management company that currently manages assets worth about $800 million. Below is his story I hold a BSc.... read more →
I have no regrets for coming back to Ghana after some 12 years abroad, studying to acquire a few advanced degrees and working unthinkable hours to boost the bottom line... read more →
Most graduates of the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston have their choice of six-figure-salary jobs after graduation. But for one graduate, a different calling has meant he's... read more →
In 2016 Mervyn George and his wife decided to return to South Africa. They uprooted their three young kids and moved from London to Cape Town. While they were both... read more →
Thirty-year-old chef Yohanis Gebreyesus Hailemariam is one of thousands of talented young Ethiopians who have chosen to return to their homeland after being educated or growing up overseas. His dream... read more →
Describing her works in Trajectory, at the KZNSA Gallery in Durban, Jennifer Morrison says modestly: "They are not quiet paintings." The canvases are super large, well over a metre, and... read more →
My return to Ghana was not really a return – because when I came to the country in 2010, it was my first time of ever coming. Born to a... read more →
Sisters Sonume Princewill Nnanna and Deinte Dan-Princewill returned to Nigeria after living in the United States for over 15 years. They have compiled a useful and humourous guide for Nigerians... read more →
Elmarie Goosen and her husband lived in the UK for 16 years and though it was a positive experience, she was homesick and longed to be back under the African... read more →
Below is an Africa Day poem written by homecomer J van Reenen on his love for South Africa and Africa. You drew me close then catapulted me away with a... read more →
Prudence Ukwishatse is an African development expert and professional, who has recently returned to Kenya to pursue a career in governance, leadership and youth development. I’m Rwandan by birth, Kenyan... read more →
27-year-old Harvard Business School graduate Nneka Ezeigwe grew up in Lagos and Abuja in a family of four children. My family was a fairly typical Nigerian family. My dad believed... read more →
Mandy de Lange, her husband and four children returned home after two years in the United Kingdom. She tells us about the highs and lows associated with moving back. “The... read more →
Kenyan homecomer Njambi Mungai speaks about the 9 things nobody told her before returning to Kenya, offering potential homecomers some valuable advice on what they should know before returning. Her... read more →
My name is Obi Ozor. I was born and raised in the farming village of Abor in Enugu state. I was admitted into Sacred Heart Seminary Nsude, but my education... read more →
Since moving back to Ghana in 2012 from Virginia in the US, Emmanuel Gamor has worked for Google, YouTube and Nestle, which all have offices in Accra. He’s currently on the... read more →
Terri-Anne Boers is a physiotherapist and mum of two. Four years ago she moved from London back to her home town of Johannesburg, and experienced all the ups and downs... read more →
Umra Omar, 33, left a career in the United States to help those without any access to healthcare in her homeland of Kenya. Border areas targeted by the terrorist group... read more →
Efe Adefulu, a Nigerian professional, returned home from the United States with her young family. This is her homecomer story. What inspired you to return home? I had three main... read more →
After living in the States for nearly two decades, Leigh Barrett decided to come back to SA – and fell in love with her homeland. I left South Africa in... read more →
After 11 years at a residential address that did not say Kenya, Amandla Ooka-Ombaka has decided to return home. She provides us with a very real snapshot of what to... read more →
Yemisi Adegoke, a freelance journalist and documentary film maker, returned to Lagos after living in the United States and the United Kingdom. Through the Nigerian lens, that crazy business idea... read more →
Story from: A Summer Bunny by Nyakarima King This week my friend Lydia (who I met through the blog) wrote this for me. She studied in the UK and moved... read more →
Story by: Deinte Dan-Princewill, Nigeria So I get this a lot, especially from my Instagram page, “Deinte, your Lagos is very different oh. You look like you’re having a blast!”... read more →
Story from The Diedericks Adventure Diary. Well, let’s get to it and just drop this bomb while it’s hot. WE ARE COMING HOME. (and no not with our tails between our... read more →
Kenyan homecomer Michael Awori returned home after finding a top job with Barclays at Homecoming Revolution’s London event in March 2014. Since returning home last year, he is Regional Head of... read more →
Karen Longley shares her experiences as a South Africa abroad in France, her favourite things about being back home, and the amazing things her company is doing to transform local... read more →
This is the homecomer story of David Chansa, Chief Risk Officer at FNB Zambia, who returned to Zambia last year after living in Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa for 25... read more →
Mohammed Mijindadi, General Electric Sales & Market Development Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, returned to Nigeria after 10 years abroad. Below is his homecomer story. I moved to Philadelphia in the United... read more →
My name is Raphael Afaedor, CEO, Supermart.ng, co-founder & ex-MD Jumia Nigeria. I’m a Software Engineer with a Master’s in Business Administration from Harvard Business School, an Entrepreneur and a... read more →
Ten years ago Kobina Graham could not find a job in London, so he moved to Accra, Ghana and he has not looked back since. He is one of a... read more →
Ritesh Doshi was born in Kenya, and after studying at the London School of Economics he pursued a number of work opportunities abroad, including investment banking. He saw an opportunity to... read more →
Lerisha Kissoon-Higgs was born and raised in Durban, South Africa. She returned home after attending Homecoming Revolution's London 2015 event. South Africa has always been home for me. I met my... read more →
Marck Barter knows my husband’s name, and his favourite beach breaks. Which boards he likes to use for each break, and who made them. He knows my daughter’s names, where... read more →
Funlola Abe left Nigeria in 2002, right after secondary school and was there for 11 years before moving to the United States for 2 years. I started my career at... read more →
The first part of my homecoming story was written 5 years after returning to our beautiful country and approximately 2 years after starting my recruitment business. Now, another 5 years has... read more →
Blogger Ilana Sharlin Stone speaks about why she loves the homecoming story of South Africans Leigh Lisk and Lucy Beard. Leigh and Lucy met at university in Grahamstown, South Africa, where... read more →
Kenyan Sneha Shah is the Managing Director of Thomson Reuters Africa. She is responsible for the growth of the business through the development of regional hubs in East, West and Southern... read more →
Nigerian-born and US-educated, Alex Okosi is responsible for driving the growth and development of Viacom International Media Networks' Africa portfolio of iconic kids, youth, music, comedy and general entertainment brands... read more →
Cameroonian Acha Leke, a partner at Mckinsey & Company, and the co-Founder of the African Leadership Network and the African Leadership Academy, tells Homecoming Revolution why he decided to take... read more →
Ghanaian Samuel Mensah is founder and CEO of KISUA, an innovative ecommerce platform offering exclusive African inspired fashion online to global consumers. Here is his homecomer story. Prior to founding... read more →
My name is Edward Ndopu, I am 25 and currently head Amnesty International’s Youth Engagement Programme for Africa. I moved back to South Africa last year after graduating with High Distinction... read more →
Debbie Peters is a consultant with extensive experience private equity funds, investments, infrastructure, real estate and healthcare with a focus on Africa. She has set up various off-shore funds in... read more →
Fashion designer Helena Aya Aidoo-Morrison the brain behind the Aya Morrison fashion label, spent six years living abroad before returning to Ghana. Her brand is one of the most popular... read more →
Folake Owodunni, a strategy consultant, non-profit enthusiast, writer and soon to be mom, returned to Nigeria after studying a Bachelors in Biology from the University of Oregon, USA and a... read more →
South African Shirley Duma spent 25 years living in the United States before returning home. Below is her homecomer story. I grew up in Dobsonville, Soweto with my parents and... read more →
The below is a homecomer story by South African Simon Middleton. South Africa is a not a place for "sissies". I realise now that it has always been a ‘frontier... read more →
"With some of the world's fastest growing economies, the continent offers Africans in the Diaspora tremendous opportunities,"says Amini Kajunju, President & CEO of the Africa-America Institute (AAI). The AAI was founded... read more →
Kenyan Hazel Ojany lived in Chicago, London, Philadelphia and New York City for 10 years before returning to Africa. Here is her homecomer story. I chose to return to Africa... read more →
Ntombenhle Radebe returned to South Africa in January 2014 after doing her MBA on entrepreneurship and strategy in Israel and the Netherlands. After years of working in the field I... read more →
The below is Kristoff Adelbert’s homecomer story. I don’t think I’d be far off the mark if I were to say that South Africans are a bit tense at the... read more →
From a tent meeting in Emalahleni (Witbank) to a school hall in eThekwini (Durban); from a synagogue in Parktown to a church funeral in Port Elizabeth, I find a strain... read more →
Ikpeme Neto spent over decade training and working as a doctor in Ireland and New Zealand. He moved back to Nigeria in April to implement an idea that puts patients... read more →
When I go to the World Economic Forum Africa this week I will, of course, be there as the Executive Director of Oxfam International. While on a deeper level, I... read more →
Kenyan businessman, entrepreneur, industrialist and philanthropist Chris Kirubi tells Homecoming Revolution why it is so important for the Kenyan diaspora to return home and serve their nation.
The below opinion piece was written by freelance writer and editor Mandy Collins. Some of my best friends are expats. No, really. I’ve been through two waves of people leaving South... read more →
Mandy Wiener says South Africans experience the full spectrum of emotions on an almost daily basis. This country makes us so angry sometimes. Like throw things against the wall angry.... read more →
Nigerian Tosin Dinah spent over a decade studying and working in France and England before deciding to ‘take the plunge’ and move home in January 2013. Dinah is an Operations... read more →
In this 2013 TED talk, South African wildlife activist Boyd Varty speaks about his passion for Africa and shares how Nelson Mandela influenced him, saying the global icon was the... read more →
Chris Okwuraiwe, a 32-year-old entrepreneur, recently moved back to Nigeria after a 12 year stint in Budapest, Hungary. Born and raised in FESTAC Town, Lagos, Okwuraiwe left Nigeria to study... read more →
Before I start with why I returned from London, let me start with why I left. It wasn't due to potholes, nor was it due to load shedding and it... read more →
Proteas captain AB de Villiers has thanked the people of South Africa and all those who supported the Proteas during their World Cup campaign for their unwavering support.
South African author, futurist and strategy consultant, Graeme Codrington, tells Homecoming Revolution why he decided to return home with his family. Me, my wife and two daughters moved as a... read more →
South African icon Pieter-Dirk Uys says you may be able to take a South African out of South Africa, but you can't take South Africa out of a South African.... read more →
South African comedian Nik Rabinowitz has an incredibly funny and inspirational message for South Africans abroad. "Sometimes we lose perspective. We go to other places and forget how great it is... read more →
“Foresight and natural intuition is what brought me back to Nigeria and as patriotic Nigerian I thought it was a positive move to be in Africa and feel the energy,”... read more →
Far from the Beloved Country, the feeling of being South African is stronger than ever. I watch the State of the Nation address in rapture from my bedroom in Montmartre,... read more →
Bankole Cardoso, founder and CEO of EasyTaxi Nigeria, left behind a successful career in New York city to return home to Nigeria. Cardoso, who is listed as one of Forbes’... read more →
Athlete, writer and pastor Tom Basson argues while life in South Africa is hard, messy and complicated, he would rather be actively involved in the country’s future than criticise from... read more →
Bernina RSA posted the following story a couple of days ago about one of their employees. It has since gone viral. Some 19 years ago, a man in his early twenties... read more →
Dear Thuli, It is April 2012, 5 months before our big 5-0 birthday. I am your future. At the moment, you are 16-and-a half years old, doing grade 11, known... read more →
Award-winning South African born author Jonny Steinberg writes on how he is giving up on his comfortable life in London to move to Johannesburg and surrender himself to a world... read more →
Toni van Niekerk examines the state of our nation and calls on everyone to stand up and be counted, saying each and every one of us can make a difference to... read more →
1. Shame! This is an endearing term that is used by South Africans in just about every social situation. Seriously, when in doubt, just say “Ag shame” and your sentiment... read more →
New York, California and Texas are the top three states that are home to the majority of African expats, according to the US Census Bureau. A five-year estimate of the... read more →
There is no question that South Africa is not for sissies. People can either adopt a “get on with it” mentality and seek opportunities from the country’s shortcomings or complain... read more →
The African economy is projected to grow 77% annually between 2014 and 2019, around double the rate of advanced economies, according to a recent report by Deloitte. Africa: A 21st... read more →
I fell in love at the age of 43. Not that responsible love which I know, or that infatuated love which I also know. But I fell in love in... read more →
Reverse culture shock: At first, you are excited to return home, see family and friends and immerse yourself in the ‘familiarity’ of life back home, but expats often have a... read more →
"What make me a great entrepreneur? I have a curious mind. I am always asking: If I do this, what happens?" says Siphoakazi Feke. (Image: Barry... read more →
Returning home to South Africa brings with it a sense of excitement, expectations and of course that unsurpassed feeling of returning to where you belong. But it also brings with... read more →
1. Friends and family Home truly where the heart is. Emotional ties to family and friends are the top thing that Africans in the diaspora miss most about home. Kids... read more →
“Indeed mother you are always our helper. For what else are we born?” Alan Paton, Cry The Beloved Country. ANGEL JONES EXAMINES HER UNPREDICTABLE LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH SOUTH AFRICA AND... read more →
Matimba: My name is Matimba Mbungela, born and bred in Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga and I currently live in Johannesburg. Interviewer: I believe you spent time abroad. Matimba: Yes, I did. I... read more →
Homecoming Revolution recently came across this inspiring story on the movebacktonigeria.com website. This week we had a chat with Ivie Omoregie who moved to Nigeria having been born and bred in the... read more →
Homecoming Revolution recently came across this inspiring story on the movebacktonigeria.com website. We were excited to catch up with Osato Aghatise this week. He moved back to Nigeria in August 2014, having... read more →
Homecoming Revolution recently came across this inspiring story on the movebacktonigeria.com website. We revisit the entertainment space in Nigeria this week with our ‘lively’ interview with Vivien Ike, who recently moved back... read more →
I am British but my wife is South African and in 2009 we decided to move to SA – my wife had been in the UK since 1999 (straight after... read more →
I was hired via Linkedin by a foreign firm to execute some preliminary cost engineering work on construction projects. My professional experience is in construction, engineering, estimating and project planning.... read more →
For some South Africans, ours is a nation ever on the precipice. They can hardly find anything of value to say about it. These people exasperate FirstRand Bank founder Paul... read more →
After a holiday to Ghana, Jennifer and her husband Harry completely ruled out settling and raising their family in Ghana. “All the reasons not to come back came to the... read more →
“I want to go to Holland or to England because it’s clean and beautiful there,” said my 11-year-old sister Lidya, who has never traveled outside of Addis Ababa or owned... read more →