Alma Asinobi, a 26-year-old Nigerian travel content creator, is aiming to set a new Guinness World Record by traveling across all seven continents in just 60 hours.
As the youngest and only Black solo traveler attempting this record, Alma seeks to challenge stereotypes and highlight the impact of passport inequality through her journey.
The adventure, tagged #AlmaChasingContinents and #7in60, began on March 20 from King George Island, Antarctica.
Since then, Alma has traveled across six continents, despite encountering several visa and travel delays due to the challenges associated with holding a Nigerian passport.
With this daring feat, Alma hopes to inspire more conversations about global mobility, representation, and access in the world of travel.
“I don’t even know if it’s because of the Heathrow fire thing, but the bigger issue is that the only other flight to Europe is to Madrid, and it’s full. The worst part is that the next flight to Europe is on Monday.
“Even if I don’t break the record, I just want to finish what I started. I want to prove that limitations are not denials,” she shared during one of her challenging moments.
“My village people free me naaaaaaaa! We have a whole lot of work to do for our passport and our spot in the world. It feels like as I am chasing continents, my village people have started chasing me.
“I just wanted to help someone out there with low-mobility passport like mine dream beyond all the restrictions. I just wanted conversations to start so my fellow Nigerians can enjoy the beauty of access that developed countries enjoy. I didn’t want the dreams of my people to be restricted because of the colour of their passport,” she added.
These challenges highlight the complexities and expenses associated with traveling on a low-mobility passport.
“Cairo here we comeeee. For a lirru context, I was supposed to head to a different African country but I wasn’t allowed to check in online because of my passport and check in closed but when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade and sell the t-shirt.”
Upon arriving in Egypt, Asinobi wrote on Saturday, “Made it to my continent! So bummed I couldn’t go to my home country, Nigeria. I won’t lie, I’m missing the jollof, the puff, and all our sweetness… but don’t worry I’ll be home soon. Let’s bring this home.”
“Tired but not defeated! Continent 5 done and dusted, let’s chase 6 shall we? Dubai, UAE! We are going to Asia – Continent 6! The visa processes for UAE are not very favourable for Nigerians right now, but… here we comeeee. I hope that through this movement, things like this can change,” she continued.
Despite these obstacles, Alma remains resolute in her pursuit, seeking to prove that limitations are not denials.
As Alma nears the completion of her journey, with Sydney, Australia, being her final destination, she reflected on her experiences.
“I was just denied boarding on my flight to Perth, Australia for my final leg of the trip. Due to visa issues.
”I was put on standby for confirmation from Australia till boarding closed and the gate agent had to rebook me on the next flight to Australia. He asked me to choose between Brisbane and Sydney, and I chose Sydney since it’s the Australian city I’ve always wanted to visit anyway.
“I was tempted to cancel the flight altogether and just head home to where I’m loved, but I’m not one to start something and not finish. This journey has taught me way more than I set out to learn. I’m taking the sweet with the sour and hoping that one day – hopefully in my lifetime – we see change.
“From where I’m standing, we’re nowhere close to that day, but I know it’s possible. Hanging my boots here for now, till I land in Sydney, on my last continent, and recover from all the humiliation and stress I’ve taken in huge doses within the past 56+ hours. I’ve cried, I’ve run, I’ve met new people along the way, and now I’m nearing the finish line.
“Right now, my final mission is to fly our Nigerian flag on the 7th and final continent and bring it home. I cannot wait to be home, and I cannot wait to see you when we come out in solidarity to sign this flag.”
“Dear green passport, all the hardships we’ve faced so far on this journey, I hope it counts for something. You won’t believe all the privileges, access, and options that were available but not to me, because of the colour of my passport.
“The things I missed, the routes I couldn’t take, the extra checks I was subjected to, the delays I experienced just because of my passport. Me and my passport have seen shege promax in the last 52+ hours.” She wrote in a separate post on Instagram.
