19

November 2012

/ Travel

"Welcome Home": Kevin Powell's Nigerian Journey

For the first time in his life writer and activist Kevin Powell travels to Africa

"Welcome Home": Kevin Powell's Nigerian Journey

At Kennedy Airport in New York City on my way to Nigeria, West Africa

The Mandera Mountains landscape, home of the 500-year-old Sukur Kingdom, a world historic site in Nigeria

Me with the American University of Nigeria group on hike up Mandera Mountain to visit 500-year-old Sukur Kingdom

Kevin Powell and American University of Nigeria group sitting with King Hidi (second row, middle) of the Sukur Kingdom

evin Powell and the children of the Sukur Kingdom village (plus a goat)

Kevin Powell and American University of Nigeria group hiking up Mandera Mountains to Sukur Kingdom

Male village person in the Sukur Kingdom

Kevin Powell praying at the foot of the Mandera Mountains before hike up to top and 500-year-old Sukur Kingdom

American University in Nigeria students listening and taking notes at Kevin Powell's leadership lecture

Kevin Powell lecturing on leadership at American University in Nigeria

Dorsey Spencer of the American University in Nigeria introducing Kevin Powell's leadership speech

Kevin Powell and group inside a hut with ancient artifacts used for sleep, currency and blacksmith work

Faridah Ibrahim, student government president at American University of Nigeria, and called by many "future president of Nigeria

Kevin Powell walking into Initiation Room, etc., in Sukur Kingdom

King Hidi's throne in Sukur Kingdom

King Hidi of Sukur Kingdom sitting in front of baobab tree speaking to Kevin Powell and group

Hiking up Mandera Mountains to Sukur Kingdom

Kevin Powell sitting in mountain pasture being grazed by sheep in Mandera Mountains

Kevin Powell sitting in front of King Hidi of the Sukur Kingdom in Nigeria's Mandera Mountains

Signpost about the tradition and history of Sukur Kingdom in Nigeria

Kevin Powell showing the children of Sukur Kingdom reverse camera angle as they stare at themselves in iPhone

Signpost leading to the Sukur Kingdom in Mandera Mountains, Nigeria

King Hidi of the Sukur Kingdom, and the young prince from the village at the foot of Mandera Mountains

Kevin Powell (white long sleeves) and American University in Nigeria group listening to translation of King Hidi of Sukur Kingdom

Kevin Powell with Sukur Kingdom representative (middle) inside a village hut

Kevin Powell showing children of the Sukur Kingdom how his iPhone works as elder woman passes by

Kevin Powell and some village men of the Sukur Kingdom

Little boy on streets of Abuja, Nigeria

On line to clear Customs in Abuja, Nigeria

Security at Abuja, Nigeria airport

Nigerian woman's traditional dress and bare feet at Abuja, Nigeria airport

Kevin Powell with Muslim school children in Yola, Nigeria

Kevin Powell addressing the students of The Farm School in Yola, Nigeria

Muslim mother and daughter at the market, Yola, Nigeria

LIttle boys of Sukur Kingdom marveling into lens of iPhone

Mother and her children at Sukur Kingdom in Nigeria

Kevin Powell self-photo on the Manderas Mountains trail to Sukur Kingdom in Nigeria

"Miss Krista," Director of The Farm School in Yola, Nigeria, introducing Kevin Powell

Nigerian woman carrying wood and leaves up one of the Mandera Mountains

Kevin Powell aboard British Airways flight from London to Abuja, Nigeria

Kevin Powell ducking under planks on Cameroon cargo boat at Benue River in Yola, Nigeria

Kevin Powell walking past Muslim men praying at Jimeta Market, Yola, Nigeria

Sign at Abuja, Nigeria airport

Women selling bottles of soda and water on side of road in Abuja, Nigeria

Black top yellow cabs in Yola, Nigeria

Kevin Powell's main means of transportation while in Nigeria

At Kennedy Airport in New York City on my way to Nigeria, West Africa

The Mandera Mountains landscape, home of the 500-year-old Sukur Kingdom, a world historic site in Nigeria

Me with the American University of Nigeria group on hike up Mandera Mountain to visit 500-year-old Sukur Kingdom

Kevin Powell and American University of Nigeria group sitting with King Hidi (second row, middle) of the Sukur Kingdom

evin Powell and the children of the Sukur Kingdom village (plus a goat)

Kevin Powell and American University of Nigeria group hiking up Mandera Mountains to Sukur Kingdom

Male village person in the Sukur Kingdom

Kevin Powell praying at the foot of the Mandera Mountains before hike up to top and 500-year-old Sukur Kingdom

American University in Nigeria students listening and taking notes at Kevin Powell's leadership lecture

Kevin Powell lecturing on leadership at American University in Nigeria

Dorsey Spencer of the American University in Nigeria introducing Kevin Powell's leadership speech

Kevin Powell and group inside a hut with ancient artifacts used for sleep, currency and blacksmith work

Faridah Ibrahim, student government president at American University of Nigeria, and called by many "future president of Nigeria

Kevin Powell walking into Initiation Room, etc., in Sukur Kingdom

King Hidi's throne in Sukur Kingdom

King Hidi of Sukur Kingdom sitting in front of baobab tree speaking to Kevin Powell and group

Hiking up Mandera Mountains to Sukur Kingdom

Kevin Powell sitting in mountain pasture being grazed by sheep in Mandera Mountains

Kevin Powell sitting in front of King Hidi of the Sukur Kingdom in Nigeria's Mandera Mountains

Signpost about the tradition and history of Sukur Kingdom in Nigeria

Kevin Powell showing the children of Sukur Kingdom reverse camera angle as they stare at themselves in iPhone

Signpost leading to the Sukur Kingdom in Mandera Mountains, Nigeria

King Hidi of the Sukur Kingdom, and the young prince from the village at the foot of Mandera Mountains

Kevin Powell (white long sleeves) and American University in Nigeria group listening to translation of King Hidi of Sukur Kingdom

Kevin Powell with Sukur Kingdom representative (middle) inside a village hut

Kevin Powell showing children of the Sukur Kingdom how his iPhone works as elder woman passes by

Kevin Powell and some village men of the Sukur Kingdom

Little boy on streets of Abuja, Nigeria

On line to clear Customs in Abuja, Nigeria

Security at Abuja, Nigeria airport

Nigerian woman's traditional dress and bare feet at Abuja, Nigeria airport

Kevin Powell with Muslim school children in Yola, Nigeria

Kevin Powell addressing the students of The Farm School in Yola, Nigeria

Muslim mother and daughter at the market, Yola, Nigeria

LIttle boys of Sukur Kingdom marveling into lens of iPhone

Mother and her children at Sukur Kingdom in Nigeria

Kevin Powell self-photo on the Manderas Mountains trail to Sukur Kingdom in Nigeria

"Miss Krista," Director of The Farm School in Yola, Nigeria, introducing Kevin Powell

Nigerian woman carrying wood and leaves up one of the Mandera Mountains

Kevin Powell aboard British Airways flight from London to Abuja, Nigeria

Kevin Powell ducking under planks on Cameroon cargo boat at Benue River in Yola, Nigeria

Kevin Powell walking past Muslim men praying at Jimeta Market, Yola, Nigeria

Sign at Abuja, Nigeria airport

Women selling bottles of soda and water on side of road in Abuja, Nigeria

Black top yellow cabs in Yola, Nigeria

Kevin Powell's main means of transportation while in Nigeria

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Kevin Powell: From Africa With Love #10<br />

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Kevin Powell: From Africa With Love #8

Kevin Powell: From Africa With Love #8<br />

Photos by Oluwaseun Famuyiwa and Kevin Powell

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