The New Chapter in Africa’s Story Begins with a Return
“I came to Canada with two suitcases and a dream. But I went back to Lagos with a plan.”
That’s how 33-year-old Efe summarizes his journey. A software engineer who spent nearly a decade working in Toronto’s bustling tech scene, he decided to trade North America’s stability for Nigeria’s untamed potential. Efe is part of a growing wave of Africans making the bold choice to return to Africa not out of desperation, but out of determination.
This cultural and economic shift is disrupting outdated narratives. Once, the most common story was about Africans leaving the continent in search of better futures. Today, a new story is being written about people coming back to Africa to build, innovate, and reimagine what success looks like on their own soil.
From Brain Drain to Brain Gain
For decades, Africa suffered from what was commonly referred to as “brain drain”—a steady outflow of doctors, engineers, teachers, and creatives to Europe, North America, and the Gulf. The loss was deeply felt in critical sectors and national development.
But today, that tide is reversing. The return to Africa is turning into a wave of brain gain. According to the African Union, diaspora remittances reached over $95 billion in 2021, and now, that financial contribution is being matched by the return of skills, capital, and cultural capital.
Returnees are no longer just sending money—they’re sending themselves.
Why They’re Coming Back: Push, Pull, and Purpose
1. Push Factors from the Global North
Increased xenophobia, rigid immigration laws, and economic instability have made many Africans abroad question their long-term futures. Movements like Black Lives Matter exposed the emotional costs of assimilation, making people yearn for spaces where their identity doesn’t feel like a liability.
2. Pull Factors from African Cities
Africa is no longer viewed only as a continent in crisis. Cities like Kigali, Accra, and Nairobi have become tech hubs. Rwanda has positioned itself as a leader in environmental policy and digital infrastructure. Ghana’s Year of Return campaign in 2019 brought global attention to the promise of reconnecting with heritage and purpose on the continent.
3. The Purpose Factor
Beyond economics or politics, there’s a generational calling. Many Africans are returning to Africa to find deeper meaning—to reconnect with ancestors, give back to communities, and rewrite the African narrative from within.
Platforms like Movemeback, a curated community that connects African professionals abroad to impactful opportunities across the continent, have made the process of moving back to Africa more structured and empowering. It’s not just about coming back—it’s about plugging in.
What They’re Building: Four Powerful Returnee Stories
1. Tech and Innovation in Kenya
Sharon, a 30-year-old Kenyan tech entrepreneur, left San Francisco after working at a leading startup. In Nairobi, she launched a data analytics firm serving African governments. “In the U.S., I was one of many. Here, I can make a real difference.”
Today, Kenya is home to over 200 tech startups, with many of their founders being returnees or diaspora collaborators. The continent’s digital leapfrog has made room for innovation without legacy systems holding things back.
2. Fashion and Cultural Exports in Senegal
Aïssatou, who studied fashion design in Paris, returned to Dakar to create a fashion house celebrating West African silhouettes and textiles. Her designs have graced runways in Milan and Lagos alike.
She says, “We used to think we had to go abroad to be world-class. But Dakar is world-class—we just had to believe it first.”
3. Education Reform in Nigeria
Uche, a teacher turned edtech founder, moved from London back to Abuja to create an online learning platform tailored to Nigeria’s national curriculum. With an app now used by over 50,000 students, he’s filling a gap that Western education models could never address.
His mission? “We’re not just educating kids—we’re decolonizing knowledge.”
4. Climate-Smart Agriculture in Rwanda
A group of returnees from Canada and Belgium joined forces to start a regenerative farm near Musanze. They focus on organic crops, soil restoration, and youth training. Their work supports local food systems while building climate resilience—one farm at a time.
The Challenges No One Talks About
Returning isn’t always a smooth homecoming. The back to Africa journey can be paved with frustration:
Cultural Disconnection: Diasporans can feel out of touch with local customs or languages, and are sometimes viewed as “foreigners.”
Bureaucracy: Setting up a business can be a test of patience in countries with inconsistent policies and red tape.
Reintegration Pressure: Family expectations, economic instability, and the need to “prove” your return was worth it can weigh heavily.
Still, many returnees see these as challenges worth facing—especially when the payoff is personal fulfillment and societal impact.
Data Meets Identity: UNESCO’s Insight
Institutions are starting to take note. A 2023 report by UNESCO explores how return migration to Africa is no longer just a “reverse” of previous flows—it’s a sign of a maturing, self-confident continent.
UNESCO’s findings highlight how returnees are contributing not just to economies, but to the decolonization of knowledge, preservation of indigenous languages, and intergenerational cultural transfer. In other words, they’re not just coming back—they’re carrying something back with them.
Decolonizing the Idea of Success
Perhaps the most radical part of the return to Africa movement is the redefinition of success. In the past, moving abroad was the highest achievement. It meant you had “made it.” Today, coming back is becoming just as aspirational.
Instead of seeking Western validation, more Africans are investing in African value. This includes:
-Buying land and building sustainable homes
-Founding startups that address local problems with local solutions
-Creating art and media that reflect African narratives with global appeal
-Forming hybrid families rooted in African languages, food, and traditions
This is not about rejecting the world—it’s about returning to the center of it, from an African point of view.
Digital Return: Coming Home Without Boarding a Flight
Even for those who can’t relocate physically, the back to Africa movement is accessible. Digital platforms have made it easier to invest, volunteer, mentor, and collaborate from anywhere in the world.
– Diaspora investors are using apps like Afriex and Eversend to fund businesses.
– Storytellers are using platforms like TikTok and YouTube to spotlight African culture.
– Nonprofits like ADIS are bridging gaps between returnees and communities on the ground.
Being African is no longer defined by borders—it’s a borderless identity that transcends location.
The Return Is a Beginning, Not an End
The return to Africa is more than a physical relocation—it’s a spiritual, economic, and cultural awakening. It challenges us to reimagine home, redefine wealth, and reclaim narratives that have long been told from the outside looking in.
If you’ve ever felt the tug of your roots, maybe the question isn’t if you’ll go back to Africa—but how.
Will you build? Will you teach? Will you invest?
The door is open. The continent is calling.
Join the Conversation
Have you returned or thought about going back to Africa? What inspired you—or held you back?
Know someone building something incredible after returning? Tag them or share their story with us!
