My genetics is not landlocked: Traveling through Sahara Desert to Puntland!

Following my MBA, I gifted myself a journey through the Red Sea & Mediterranean Sea, tracing the biblical path from Egypt’s Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa, reaching 2,285 meters) to Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. The Red Sea, a body of water pivotal to global trade and deeply resonant with my Abyssinian ancestry, captivated me. This region, often hailed as the cradle of humankind, saw my ancestors born along its shores. For millennia, the Red Sea, approximately 2,250 km long, has been a vital artery, connecting Africa, Asia, and Europe, navigated by ancient Egyptians (as early as 2500 BC), Greeks (like Ptolemy), and Romans trading spices, gold, and ivory.

A nomadic spirit has always resonated within me. While my social, emotional, and intellectual foundations are rooted in my highland ancestors, my soul finds solace in free exploration, particularly sharing meals with the nomads of the Sahara Desert—the Afar (in the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest places on Earth), Bedouin (known for their desert survival skills), Tuareg (the "blue people" of the Sahara), and Berber (Imazighen, with a rich pre-Islamic history).

My Egyptian sojourn, from Alexandria (founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC) to Abu Simbel (built by Ramses II around 1264 BC), included sailing the Nile with Nubians (descendants of the ancient Kingdom of Kush) and hiking Mount Sinai with Bedouins. These experiences offered profound joy and a deeper understanding of my ancestors' history, civilization, and interconnectedness. I felt immense gratitude for the opportunity to uncover aspects of my heritage omitted from formal education, fostering humility and a renewed sense of purpose in my pursuit of wisdom, truth, and a life well-lived.

I am fortunate to have grown up surrounded by my uncles and aunts' ancestral stories, grounded in faith and love. This foundation empowered me to explore both inwardly and outwardly. In Egypt, ancient statues bearing my likeness revealed my homeland’s connection to what the Egyptians called the “Land of the Gods.” The Red Sea coast, encompassing present-day Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and northern Somalia, is widely believed to be the ancient Land of Punt, first recorded in the 25th century BC during the reign of Pharaoh Sahure. Punt, a major trading partner of ancient Egypt, supplied gold, myrrh, ebony, and exotic animals. Queen Hatshepsut’s 1493 BC expedition is immortalized in her Deir el-Bahri temple reliefs.

For my next destination, I sought not just sightseeing but an immersive experience blending adventure, history, relaxation, social awareness, and strategic business opportunities for the communities I serve. Djibouti, long on my mind, beckoned with the allure of whale shark diving in the Gulf of Tadjoura and the chance to connect with the Afar people, ancient inhabitants of the Horn of Africa. The Afar, one of the region’s oldest ethnic groups, have a history stretching back to prehistory, with evidence showing early hominid presence in the region. Intrigued by the Berbers' claim of eastern ancestry, I sought to explore the historical ties between the Horn of Africa and North Africa, extending beyond the Axumite Empire and the Nile to the Sahara’s cross-continental traders.

The Kingdom of Axum

The Kingdom of Axum, flourishing from the 1st to the 7th century AD, was a powerful civilization controlling trade routes between the Roman Empire, India, and the Middle East, dealing in ivory, gold, and frankincense. Axum’s obelisks, including the 24-meter tall Axum Obelisk, testify to its architectural prowess. Ethiopia, the first nation to adopt Christianity in the early 4th century under Emperor Ezana, shares this legacy with Djibouti, Eritrea, and parts of Somalia. Djibouti is home to Ethiopians, Somalis, and Afar people. The Tigrayan and nomadic Afar communities, early adopters of Islam in Africa, played a significant role in history, linked to the Adal Sultanate, which controlled much of the northern Horn of Africa and traded with Northeast Africa, the Near East, Europe, and South Asia. The Adal Sultanate, centered in present-day Djibouti and Somaliland, was a key player in the 16th-century conflicts with the Ethiopian Empire, backed by the Ottoman Empire.

My travels to Spain and Portugal highlighted the profound influence of the Muslim Berbers (Imazighen) in Al-Andalus, lasting from 711 AD to 1492 AD. Their 700-year presence left an indelible mark on art, architecture, science, cuisine, culture, and music, despite their conflicts with European powers. The Moors introduced advanced irrigation systems (like the "acequias"), new crops like citrus fruits, and architectural marvels like the Alhambra in Granada. Their intellectual contributions, including the translation of ancient Greek texts into Arabic by scholars like Averroes, fueled the European Renaissance.

Djibouti, despite its small size (approximately 23,200 sq km), hosts numerous foreign military bases, including those of the US, France, and China, injecting foreign currency but making it an expensive destination. Its strategic location at the Red Sea's mouth, near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, has been a geopolitical hotspot since antiquity. The international port offers a diverse selection of goods. A trip to Djibouti typically includes exploring Djibouti City, visiting Lac Assal (with a salinity of 34.8%), and Lac Abbé (known for its geothermal activity and flamingo populations), and experiencing whale shark diving or sailing the Red Sea. Lac Assal, one of the world's saltiest bodies of water, lies 155 meters below sea level, a relic of ancient geological shifts. Lac Abbé, with its otherworldly limestone formations, was once a bustling caravan route. The city's architecture and cuisine reflect African and Middle Eastern influences, ideal for exploration on foot or by car.

Through my travels and vlogs, I’ve become deeply fascinated by the Horn of Africa’s history, society, economy, spirituality, and trade—topics often overlooked in Western academia. My work in East Africa has ignited a passion to travel, research, deprogram, decolonize, and rewrite my narrative. It’s a journey to reclaim my feminine divinity, honor my history, and embrace a humanity without borders, exploring our geopolitical connections to evolve into our highest potential as individuals and as a collective.

You cannot envision an evolved society or a New Earth without acknowledging the truths of the past and the realities of the present.

Melkam Guzo (Happy travels).

By Dutchess@deldeyoch

“Take only pictures, leave only footprints, kill nothing but time.” ☆ Conscious Travel