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From a shy, introverted kid to a global YouTube star, Tayo Aina has defied the odds, broken barriers and soared to new heights. Who would’ve thought that creating travel vlogs would change his life? Tayo didn’t but that’s exactly what’s has happened. The former Uber driver has now amassed over 100 million views and is approaching 1 million subscribers with his immersive travel content. From eating monkeys, zebra and crocodile to capturing the Masai Warriors in Kenya, Tayo exclusively shares with F Word about life in front and behind the camera.
Gracey Me: Hi Tayo. Welcome to F Word. How are you today?
Tayo Aina: I'm doing great, and you?
GM: I am all the better for seeing you now. You are Africa's most prolific travel content creator. What inspired you to create content and show Africa in a new light?
TA: When I started out, I used to be an Uber driver. I realised that there were no documentation of the locations where I dropped people. I also watched YouTube videos where content creators showcased places like the US, UK and other parts of the world, and wondered why no one did this for Africa. Why was she showcased online as a poverty stricken continent but the beautiful and culture-rich parts weren't displayed? So I decided that since nobody was doing it I was going to be the one to take that mantle and make videos about Nigeria and Africa; showcasing it to the world in a positive light. When I started, I noticed that my work resonated with a lot of people, especially those in the Diaspora because they could finally watch relatable and educational videos about our nation and continent. It became a big mission, by making videos and telling stories to actually change the narrative of Africa through the power of content and storytelling. That's how it started.
GM: That's incredible. You really are changing the PR of Africa. How many countries have you been to in Africa and what are the top three destinations that surprised you when you got there?
TA: I've been to over 20 countries - my top destinations have been Namibia, South Africa and Morocco. It's always very hard to pick because every country has something to offer. The country that surprised me the most was Namibia because despite hearing about the country, there was not a lot of content about it. So when I traveled there, I realised that it was very beautiful in reality. It’s one of the few countries I’ve been to where I wondered if I was still on earth because there are so many parts of it that are just so beautiful and untouched.
GM: I love that you're not limiting yourself to just showcasing Africa. You’ve gone to the Caribbean and many other countries. What was the catalyst to tell the stories of the Black Diaspora?
TA: It got to a point where I needed to expand. I couldn’t limit what I was doing to Africa with the knowledge that there's so much happening out there. We have Africans everywhere across the world. After doing a lot of stories in Africa, I thought, “what if I can tell stories outside Africa, or share the perspective of the world from our African view?" At the end of the day, I'm an African representing the Africans both in Africa and in Diaspora. I'm basically showing the world through the African lens. Africans and African businesses should never be limited to Africa. The goal should always be to expand worldwide. The same way the Asians are doing, the same way the Americans are doing. We can also build out of Africa, starting locally but eventually becoming global.
GM: Has your work inspired you to learn any other African languages, if so, which ones?
TA: One of the languages I would have loved to learn - I don't know if I will still be able to - is Swahili because it is spoken a lot in many East African countries. It's also one of the original African languages and it's interesting to be able to learn that.
GM: A way to a man’s heart is his belly, what African country has the best food?
TA: As much as I've travelled, I don't think anywhere beats Nigerian food. This might sound biased because I'm from Nigeria but I don't think anywhere beats Nigerian food so far.
GM: Is it true that you joined an Africa tribe in eating monkey?
TA: Yes, you're right. I tried that out in a video. This tribe is from a remote part of Tanzania and one of the things I love doing when traveling is exploring different cultures. I've done something similar with the ‘Hyena Men of Nigeria’ which most people had never seen. I did that in Kenya with the Maasai tribe. I love immersing myself into different cultures, not limited to African cultures and I intend on doing it across the globe. I believe there are cultures that have their own way of life, and they should definitely be documented because there's a lot to learn from them. This tribe is called the Hadzabe people of North Tanzania. Just as humans were before civilization, they live in the jungle and hunt every day; it's their lifestyle. So I traveled all the way to Tanzania and visited the place and it was a crazy experience. It was interesting to go back in time and see how life would have been without technology.
GM: What do you rate the monkey meat out of 10?
TA: It was just raw and they don't really spice their food. They also roast it so it tasted like barbecue meat. In countries like Namibia, they actually eat zebras, so I tried that out. I also tried out crocodile meat. I've eaten different kinds of animals across Africa. Out of 10, I'd put the monkey meat at 4. It's not something I would do again.
GM: You definitely have a strong stomach. What are your three top tips for visiting Africa?
TA: Firstly, you should definitely do your research. Be informed before visiting places because when it comes to Africa, it's not like other parts of the globe, some places are not well documented. The second piece of advice is, get a local to take you around. When people think of Africa, what comes to their mind a lot is Safari but there's so much more. If you really want to see Africa and you want to immerse yourself in the real experience, then get a local guide who can take you around, try out the best foods, meet with and speak to the people, and just soak yourself in the culture. Africa has so much to offer. Finally, have an open mind. Don't believe all that you see in the media. A lot of people ask me, “Oh, I'm going to this country. Is it safe?” The funny thing is, most countries I've been to in Africa have been safe. It's probably one or two areas that are not so good but it’s the same almost everywhere across the world. There are places you shouldn't go to in the US because you're at risk of being shot. In London, there are places you shouldn't go because you might get shanked or worse. Every country has their own dangerous places. Unfortunately, a lot of people label Africa as a place where there's so much violence but to be honest, for most of my trips that I've been to in Africa, I would say Africans are the most hospitable people I've ever met anywhere in the world.
GM: You’re currently sharing stories of people that have relocated from the continent. What would you say has been the biggest driving force; and as you’ve done the same, what would you advise to anyone considering making the same move?
TA: I've spent a long time speaking to a lot of Diasporans, and one of the things they always say is do your research before coming. It's not as rosy for a lot of people as they say but I believe that if you know what you're searching for, and you feel like you can't get it in whatever country you are in, then definitely make the move. I used to be against the ‘Japa’ way before, but over time, I got to understand that there are just some things that you can't get back home because of the environment and other factors. For example, personally, my quality of life has definitely skyrocketed since I moved because now I'm able to express myself in multiple ways. I've started trying to learn new things that I probably wouldn't have had the time or the access to learn. I'm also trying out different hobbies and interests.
GM: For anyone considering travel content creation, do you have any tips?
TA: I would say fall in love with what you're doing. Once you fall in love, every other thing will literally fall in place. Another piece of advice is start from where you're at. A lot of people look at content creation and they are very overwhelmed. “Where will I start? Where will I get this gear?” Start with what you have. I was an Uber driver with an iPhone 7. That's what I used to make videos in Nigeria. I was eventually able to expand out of Nigeria to Africa, and was finally able to afford my first camera. My progress came gradually and now I currently live in Portugal with almost 1 million subscribers. It’s a gradual process but don't wait till you have access or money to travel to Europe/UK/US. If you're living in Kenya, start making content there. There's a high probability that a lot of people have not seen Kenya from your eyes before. Even if there are other Kenyan creators, just start!
GM: Insightful! What has been your career highlight so far?
TA: There have been many highlights that have come in different stages. One of my first career highlights was when I got to film J Cole when he came to Nigeria which led to my channel receiving that first bump. Another one that happened recently, last year, was spending twenty four hours with Davido in Botswana, flying across the world with him, and experiencing, as well as documenting his life. YouTube has given me access to people that I will never normally be able to just walk up and speak to. It has opened so many doors. Another highlight was moving to Portugal and traveling to the US and London for the first time. A big highlight that I can remember is getting my new passport, which now allows me to travel across the world. For a long time, I had a Nigerian passport that limited the amount of places I could go to. I’ve been able to invest and buy a Caribbean passport that now gives me access to over 150 countries across the world.
GM: With this new access, do you plan to travel to all the countries in the world or is there a specific number in mind?
TA: Funny thing is that now that I have the passport, the access and freedom, I actually want to travel less. I'm way more specific about where I want to go than I was but I've never been to Asia before so I want to explore it, as well as South America next year. I just want to explore places I've never been to, the places I dreamed of visiting when I was a young boy. Not many people get this opportunity. I'm thankful to God for bringing me this far.
GM: You spent the last seven years telling the stories of others. Can you give us a glimpse into your story growing up?
TA: I grew up in a lower middle income class family in Lagos, Nigeria. I was a curious kid who was also very restless. My mom told me that I was a very restless kid who always wanted to take things apart and figure out how they worked. I was an introvert and mostly kept to myself. I had few friends, I still do till today. I never imagined I would be in front of the camera, because I was very shy. I went to university in Akure which is in Ondo State, Nigeria. It was a very strict school; all we did was exams and tests - there was no social life. There were less modes to express myself. I spent a lot of time on the internet. A friend of mine used to call me ‘internet guy’ because I was always on the internet researching and learning. I was very curious and the Internet was my outlet before I eventually got the chance to take my first trip in 2018 which was to Russia.
GM: You've told us about your past, give us a glimpse into what's next. What does 2025 look like?
TA: By God's grace, I believe it's going to be filled with more adventures to places that I've never been to: South America, Asia, and other parts of the world. I used this year to get settled in Portugal so next year is for more exploration. There are plans to launch other brands. I don't just want to just be known for making videos. I have so many interests: design, real estate and other businesses. The plan is to launch more brands off the back of what we have built already, off the channels of the platforms we have, and just basically to live a life that motivates people to do what inspires them. That's what I want to keep pushing for; for any other kid in Africa who also dreams of starting locally and going globally.
GM: Before we wrap up, do you have a message for your family, your friends, your following?
TA: Keep pushing and never settle. Never be fine with the status quo. Always be looking to do bigger, do better, to push forward, to think differently and not just follow the paths that have been laid out. Go out there and do whatever inspires you because that way, others will find inspiration from that, and you will light up a fire in other people.
GM: Thank you so much. What's your favourite F word?
TA: My favourite F word is fuck.
