Matthew Levin wants to feel the African continent from the grassroots. Not from what African bureaucrats will tell him or ask him to join them enjoy the cosy atmosphere of their posh offices and homes.
Levin has defied some of the odds of the terrain, the tropical but lush forests, the animals in the wild and more. His motor cycle, equipped to suit the nature of his tour, will help him do the magic “ criss-cross the African countries”.
It may not be all the 51 countries that make up the continent but Levin's independent initiative is worthy of praise. From Buea, Cameroon to Nigeria via Calabar, Africanews.com bumped into Levin and grabbed him for an exclusive interview.
Can we know you better?
I am an American from San Francisco, the state of California, USA. I turned 29 in Buea, Cameroon while on my African tour. I am on a trip from Cape Town, South Africa heading to Morocco via the west coast of Africa and possibly going back to South Africa via the east coast. I am already half way into my journey, haven crossed the equator. From Buea, Cameroon I am heading towards Calabar, Nigeria.
Why this tour?
I want to have one last big adventure. I have been travelling a lot across the world and seeing places I have not been to before as much as I can.
I have also been saving a lot of money to go to graduate school. So, this African tour of mine is a kind of sabbatical. After this, I will get back to the real world.
What is the motivating factor?
It's a sense of being adventurous. It is a self challenge. I love travelling, meeting people of different cultures and one place that I think most Americans have not exploited is Africa. So, I wanted to come and see the place where a billion people live in.
Are you not frightened by the rugged terrain, the rivers, the hills, the mountains and the wild animals in the African continent, using only your motor bike?
Probably not! I should be intimidated than I am. I have had some unhappy surprises along the roads. I have had some real bad accidents while in Angola, where I spent some days in the hospital. You can see some stitches on my hands.
Generally, everyone has been very welcoming and generous towards me. The last thing I am scared of is the people. The railway lines in some places have been a nightmare, however, some of the roads are really good, well tarred, beautiful lay-out. The desert, the rainforest have just been incredible.
You are still not intimidated by the sad experience in Angola?
I thought about that. I have considered quitting a number of times. But any time it comes into my mind, I say no way!! I cannot give up.
Do you have a sponsorship for this tour?
No sponsorship from any body. Some other people will raise funds for a similar activity. I decided to do this independently. It is a personal journey more than anything. I have had a lot of contacts with different organisations as I go by and meeting a lot of people, who have also talked of a possible sponsorship.
But I am not interested for now.
What do you intend to achieve at the close of this tour?
It is a journey of accomplishment. I want to find out about the places that I don't know by myself. I am discovering the parts of the world that I don't know. From a personal conviction, I am thinking seriously about relocating to Africa and start a business venture out here.
Do you intend to tour all the 51 countries that make up the African continent?
Not all but I'll like to do most of them. I have been to a good part of the west coast of the continent and because of time concerns I would not touch all but I look forward to come back to them.
So, you are already prospecting for the countries where you will do business there?
Africa is the most fascinating place I have been to. There are thousand of different cultures, so many unique opportunities, such an entrepreneurial corner. You cannot just take western business and throw in Africa. You have to do it with a unique African touch, be on the ground to see how they evolve and understand it. That is what I want to do.
What is your assessment of the African continent so far, haven had the opportunity to meet the people at their natural setting?
Africa is probably the widest variety of everything on the entire planet. Talk about the animals, the people, the cultures, the wealth, the poverty and the list goes on and on. I have had incredible highs and incredible lows. I have had amazing times, meeting incredible people, had incredible experiences. There are times, which my trip has been awful, I think of going back home after a bad accident. That's how it has been so far. The feeling has been that of extremes but it has been fascinating.
How do you manage your food, water to drink, accommodation?
I buy food in any place like everybody else. There is always somebody for you in Africa. You are never alone in Africa. There is always somebody to sell you something and to help you out. People are very generous. Where I never had money, people helped me out with food, took me to their homes, paid my hotel bills in certain cases.
I remember in Congo-Kin, I slept in the house of a village chief and in some circumstances, I camped in the bushes.
What if your money gets finish along the line when you are still on the tour?
The money is running out already. I don't know what to do!! I will have to rely on the generosity of the people I meet. I am not too worried about money. But if it does run out, I will take a loan from somebody.
From what you have seen so far, if you had an advice to the African people, the powers that be, what will you tell them?
I will say that the powers that be should let the people showcase their creativity, their ingenuity and their entrepreneurial skills. These qualities of the African people are far more developed than that of other people in the world because many Africans have to employ them in order to survive. Let the people continue to develop on their culture, allow the people to develop their businesses, their rights should not be taken away from them and be restricted in other aspects of life. People should continue to build a strong spirit; they shouldn't give up even in the situation of repressive regimes. I appreciate the goodness in the African people, their culture and they should be proud of what they are.
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