Some live within the confines of their environment, never daring to step outside what they know. Others are too adventurous to be confined, too curious to accept a single story about the world. They stretch out, explore, and challenge the limits of what is considered ordinary. Kunle Adeyanju belongs to the second group, the ones who dare. In 2022, this Nigerian man captured the imagination of millions when he embarked on an audacious journey: riding his motorbike from London all the way to Lagos, Nigeria. But this was no publicity stunt. Kunle did it to raise funds for Rotary International’s fight against polio, a cause close to his heart.
For those who know him, this feat didn’t come as a complete surprise. Kunle Adeyanju has always been drawn to adrenaline-pumping activities. He has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro twice, taken part in marathons, cycled from Lagos to Ghana and back, gone bungee jumping, and constantly seeks out new ways to test his physical and mental limits. Yet, even for someone like him, the London-to-Lagos journey was a different kind of challenge – one that required months of planning and preparation.
In an eye-opening interview with Tayo Aina, the Nigerian travel content creator with a global audience, Kunle revealed that before setting out, he did extensive research on the route. To his surprise, most of the places he would pass through in Africa were marked red on maps, indicating they were danger zones. If he had relied solely on these maps and the narratives he’d been fed by the Western media, he might have been discouraged from making the trip. But Kunle was determined, and as he rode through those supposedly dangerous areas, he encountered not hostility but warmth and generosity from ordinary Africans.
One incident stood out. Somewhere in Mali, while trying to avoid an oncoming truck, Kunle veered off the road and lost one of his tyres. The area was near a game reserve, which meant wild animals were close by. As it was nightfall, he climbed a tree for safety. From his perch, he saw a faint light in the distance. That light became his hope. He climbed down and sprinted toward it, discovering a small hamlet. The people there did not speak English, but they welcomed him, fed him, and helped retrieve his motorbike. They kept him safe until he was able to contact his interpreter, who came to fetch him. This was just one of many moments when the hospitality of strangers transformed a frightening situation into a story of human kindness.
Throughout his journey, Kunle experienced this kind of African hospitality again and again. Strangers became protectors, helpers, and friends. The narrative that Africa is a continent of danger, violence, and hostility melted away in the face of his lived experience. The journey was not without challenges, of course. Kunle faced three sandstorms in the Sahara so heavy that he couldn’t see. He endured body pains from hours on the road and struggled through rigorous border checks and frustrating delays. He often reflected on how much harder it is for Africans to travel within Africa compared to non-Africans, whose passage is often smoother and freer.
When Kunle finally touched down in Lagos after completing his London-to-Lagos ride, the reception was nothing short of spectacular. People lined up to welcome him. Social media buzzed with excitement. Nigerians and Africans everywhere had been following his journey religiously, cheering him on at every checkpoint. His feat united people in hope and pride. It reminded Africans of their shared resilience and adventurous spirit and inspired many to explore their continent and tell its true stories.
His journey also helped amplify a conversation that has been gaining momentum in recent years — the need to rewrite the narrative of Africa. For too long, the continent has been portrayed in narrow, negative frames: war, poverty, disease. But creators like Tayo Aina from Nigeria, Wode Maya from Ghana, Jessica Nabongo from Uganda, Steven Ndukwu from Nigeria and many others are using content creation, photography, and storytelling to change that. They travel, document, and showcase Africa’s beauty, culture, diversity, and humanity in ways that are relatable and inspiring. Kunle’s story became part of this movement, proving that Africa is not what outsiders think it is. It is far more complex, welcoming, and full of hope.
Kunle Adeyanju is from Offa in Kwara State, Nigeria, and he is not only adventurous but also well-read and widely travelled. Over the years, he has worked with prestigious organisations and has won several awards. But perhaps his most defining trait is his passion for educating people, for campaigning against polio, for championing good causes, and for showing that courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to act in spite of it. His bucket list is still far from empty; he has his eyes set on climbing Mount Everest someday.
Most of us may never ride a motorbike across continents or climb Mount Kilimanjaro even once, let alone attempt Mount Everest. We may never know what it’s like to face a sandstorm in the Sahara or spend a night near a game reserve in Mali. But Kunle Adeyanju’s story offers something we can all hold onto. It teaches resilience — the ability to keep going even when the road is long and hard. It teaches courage — the kind that pushes you beyond your comfort zone. And it teaches faith in humanity — that no matter how divided or broken the world may seem, there are still people who will open their homes, share their food, and keep you safe simply because it’s the right thing to do.
In the end, Kunle Adeyanju’s London-to-Lagos ride was more than a fundraiser or a personal challenge. It was a testament to what is possible when one person dares to believe that adventure can change the world. His story calls us to live a little more boldly, to question the stories we’ve been told about the world, and to step beyond the borders of fear and familiarity. Even if we never cross a desert on two wheels, we can all find ways to explore, to connect, and to leave the world a little better than we found it.
Stay frosty.
Disclaimer:
This post is written for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on publicly available sources, and every effort has been made to present facts accurately and respectfully. There is no intent to defame, sensationalise, or invade the privacy of any individual or group involved. The purpose of this post is to inform and inspire.
