Sawubona, a greeting used by the Zulu people of South Africa to say hello. But the term is much more than just a warm welcome. It is also often understood and used to say, “I see you,” a sign of respect while acknowledging another’s presence.
During a recent trip to the country—my first since its reopening, but second visit overall—I certainly felt seen. From the moment I stepped off the plane and onto the rich soils of Johannesburg, I felt at home. Admittedly, I don’t know if my ancestors once inhabited South Africa, but I do know that regardless of the country they came from, Africa is my motherland.
Riding through Johannesburg’s busy streets, I experienced an instant sense of pride upon seeing men and women moving about their day. The joy radiating from their faces as they traveled to their respective destinations—whether it was work, school, or a restaurant to meet up with friends—instantly brought me joy as well. As a Black American woman, I always long to connect with my brothers and sisters on the continent, and as with so many of us, the global pandemic prevented me from doing so over the last few years. Then in February 2021, my mother passed away after a two-year battle with endometrial cancer—and as an only child, I have now found myself searching for communities and people that make me feel as ‘seen’ as she did. This was a time for reconnection with my ancestral land and its people. This visit was special.
Over the next 12 days, I traveled through Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town—and in each city was met with soul-piercing greetings of ‘hello my sister’ or ‘welcome home’ from locals. It may seem small, but for me, these simple acknowledgements were Sawubona personified. It was a way for my ancestors to let me know that I was home, and that I was okay.
I arrived in Durban—my first time visiting the coastal city—for the region’s Africa Travel Indaba, a multi-day conference that draws travel and tourism professionals from all around the continent and beyond. After only a few minutes walking through Durban’s International Convention Centre, I could see the global impact of Africa’s tourism sector.
Oftentimes, Africa tends to get lumped into one massive country—versus its 54 individual and unique nations. During the Indaba, a Zulu word meaning “business meeting,” my eyes were opened to not only the dozens of African nations represented, but also the hundreds of tour operators, hoteliers, and more working to share the continent’s beauty with the rest of the world. As I went to each table to meet with the representatives, hearing the way they proudly spoke of their respective business or destination helped strengthen my love and appreciation for each nation that made up the continent. Whether I was being introduced to the newest offerings from a small boutique hotel in South Africa or learning about how diverse Mozambique is as a country, I swelled with pride.