ANDILE NDLOVU: When is an African not an African? When he’s North African
Nothing will mess with your psyche like being a dark-skinned Sub-Saharan travelling to North Africa. This past December‚ my best friend and I settled on Egypt for our year-end getaway. It wasn’t our first choice by any means. We wanted lots of sunshine and beaches and cocktails and to switch off‚ after what had by far been the worst year for us — individually and within our relationship. We considered quite a number of visa-free and reasonably priced destinations. Eventually‚ after crossing off a few countries‚ we agreed that Egypt would make for a stimulating experience — and it could provide the relaxation and‚ of course‚ its famed monuments. Neither of us had visited Egypt — or any North African country‚ for that matter. You’d never think you’d be made to feel so aware of your blackness and African-ness in another African country — but we found it at every corner: immediately at customs at Cairo International Airport‚ and just outside‚ while negotiating with cab drivers‚ to the v...
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