‘Ajala’ brings nomads together in Dubai to break down borders
dubai — Growing up in Nigeria, Hassan Adebayo Bello was told that anyone who travelled a lot or liked adventures was called Ajala.
A young Hassan imagined Ajala as a spirit or deity of adventure and dreamt about travelling all over the world like Ajala.
Now at 22, Hassan, knows Ajala was an unsung hero like most nomads and changemakers who were so passionate about travelling.
The Dubai-based software programer, writer and adventurer has travelled extensively not only to well-known cities but also to never-heard-of villages and islands in Central Asia and the South East. He shares with Khaleej Times, how his decision to immortalise Ajala began, and why?
Hassan is now the founder of Ajala Project, a movement created by a group of passionate nomads aiming to break down borders and change stereotypes between people and cultures. But what made Hassan to think about such an innovative movement in Dubai?
“I have heard from people telling me I’m a different African, some of them even thought I was American, French or British. That was because I didn’t fit their narratives of the Africa they know, based on what they’ve seen on National Geographic (people wearing in loin clothes and living with animals) and in movies or what they’ve read in books and stories. To them I am not an authentic African...”
Realising the wrong notions of what the West and other countries had about Africa and all developing countries for that matter, Hassan decided to start a blog and named it “Ajala, the traveller.”
It was then he came upon the story of Olabisi Ajala, an African explorer who travelled to 87 countries on a scooter over a period of six years to spread a positive message of love and compassion.
He died an unsung hero like most nomads and changemakers. Hassan feels it is important that these stories were to read and the people who have inspired those stories have to be celebrated.
“Since they are changing the narratives of how we see the world, I thought the best medium, other than storytelling, is art.”
Illustrated stories
Thus Ajala Project was launched to create a platform for nomads, changemakers, writers, techpreneurs to connect locally and internationally through monthly or bimonthly talks and events.
Hassan said: “Our social media and website will bring together nomads, writers, and illustrators around the globe to collaborate and share their inspiring stories through artworks. Art creates a lasting impression and gives a different perspective to their stories.”
The team aims to work on community projects that showcase stories of Emirati heroes and also change the narratives of the underprivileged (labourers, maids, etc.).
They also plan to have illustrated art books, colouring books depicting the stories of these changemakers and nomads as well as developing a travel app with the places they visited.
Talking about the number of artists they have roped in, Hassan said: “We are collaborating with
Since they are changing the narratives of how we see the world, I thought the best medium, other than storytelling, is art.” Hassan Adebayo Bello, Founder, Ajala Project
over 32 different artists, 26 of which are currently working on new illustrations or have already created illustrations inspired by the stories of the changemakers and nomads of the Ajala project.
The team founded by Hassan, comprises Narmeen Naser, 29-year-old Bangladeshi, who is into Global Health and Project Management; and 34-year-old Giovanni Morra, an Italian, who works in Engineering Management. The team also has 15 interns from 10 different countries, who are volunteering for the project.
saman@khaleejtimes.com