'You Don't Need to Move to Africa': Entrepreneur Kea Wakesho Simmons Says Diaspora Return Must Be About Legacy, Not Trends
Kea Wakesho SimmonsForKea Wakesho Simmons,encouragingpeopleofAfrican descentto reconnect with the continent is about far more thanmoving abroad— it is about building lastingrelationships,. . .
Kea Wakesho SimmonsForKea Wakesho Simmons,encouragingpeopleofAfrican descentto reconnect with the continent is about far more thanmoving abroad— it is about building lastingrelationships, creatingopportunitiesand leaving alegacy. ThefounderandCEOofTraverze Culture, aplatformthat helps people explorerelocation,investmentand cultural connections inAfrica, is challenging theideathat everyone needs to leave theirhomecountryand move to Africa. In arecent video shared on Instagram,Simmons opened with amessagethat maysurprisesome people familiar with herwork:“You don’t need to move to Africa. ”Simmons explained that hermissionhas never been about convincing people to relocate, but about helping them make thoughtful decisions basedontheir individual circumstances. “Relocation isn’t for everyone, and I’ve never believed in convincing people otherwise,”she wrotein a post accompanying thevideo. She said decisions about moving,investing, retiring or visiting Africa should be based onfactorsincluding finances,lifestyle,healthcareneeds and long-termgoals. “Myjobisn’t to sellKenya,”Simmons said. “It’s to help people make informed decisions. ”But while relocation is not the only option, Simmons said she believes the growingconnectionbetween Africa and itsglobaldiasporarepresents ahistoricopportunity. She described themovementas a chance forpeople of African descentto reconnect with a continent theirancestorswere separated from through centuries of forceddisplacement. “For thefirsttimein hundreds of years, people of African descent are returning back to a continent that our ancestors never had the chance to do,”she said. According to Simmons, thatreturnshould not be viewed only through the lens ofmigration. She encouraged people to consider other forms ofengagement, includingtourism, investment,partnershipsandknowledge exchange. “We can visit, we can invest, we can build partnerships,”she said. “We can also retire and contribute to theempowermentof African people globally. ”Simmons warned against treating African relocation as atemporarytrend or lifestyle movement driven bysocial media. “I don’t want this to become a trend,”she said. “I don’t wanthistoryto look back and say, they came a few years and then they left. ”Instead, she said she hopesfuturegenerations view the current moment as one where diasporacommunitiescreatedmeaningful connectionsand contributed tosustainabledevelopment. “I want history to say that we came back and built something,”Simmons said. “That we created opportunities. That we transfer knowledge. That we strengthened relationships between Africa and its global diaspora. ”Her message also pushed back against narratives that portray Africa as a place needing outsiderescue. “Africa doesn’t needsaving,”Simmons said. “Africa needs partnerships. ”Through TraverzeCulture, Simmons has positioned herself within a broader conversation about diaspora engagement,cultural reconnectionand economiccollaborationbetween African nations and communities abroad. For her, the goal is not simply relocation — it is creating relationships that endure. “To me, that’s the mission,”she said. “Not just moving to Africa. Africa doesn’t need saving. Africa needs partnerships. Because this moment is bigger than relocation. It’s about legacy. ”Gee NYGee NY is a seasoned journalist whose work spans U. S. politics, law, culture, and current affairs. With more than a decade of experience in media management and strategic communications, Gee brings both depth and versatility to stories. A member of the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners, Gee holds a BA in Communication Studies.