I literally prepared that trip one year in advance. I wanted a lifetime experience. I needed to be mind blown every single day of that trip! But I didn’t want a big party; no party at all to be honest. I party a lot in NYC and Paris, so I wanted something totally different for my 40th birthday. I wanted to be close to the Nature, I wanted to feel, to (re)discover, I wanted to study, I wanted to eat some yummy food and fall in love with that country again.

The schedule was tight and detailed. My friend knew almost 1 year ahead what we would do so they could decide to join me or not! I even had the cutest presentation.

We arrived on June 15th 2026, it was the end of the Falls as we were entering the Winter. It is crazy for me because I’m a Summer baby in the Northern hemisphere but in the Southern one, I’m a Winter baby!

Something about me: I’m a big time sky lover! So every time that I get the opportunity, I shoot the sky!

Look at the Sun rise from the plane in Joburg <3 .

The first day was chill. We discovered the penthouse we rented. It has an outdoor jacuzzi on the rooftop! We were located in the Old Financial District. From one of the wealthiest area to a ghost town! At the end of the apartheid, institutions fled and the neighborhood declined. But some smart landlords decided to renovate and design gorgeous apartments for short and long rentals.

Speaking of which, June 16th is a very important day in South Africa: Youth Day, commemorating the Soweto Uprising of 1976 and the student-led protests against apartheid education policies. And this year was the 50th celebration. I scheduled a tour at the Apartheid Museum on that day. It took us 4hours to visit the museum but honestly, we could have stayed longer, but then you start to have headaches because it’s A LOT OF information. What was great is that the locals didn’t pay on that special day. And I was very surprised to see many foreigners from all over the world at the museum.

I am going to give you a lot of images, so if you won’t have the opportunity to head over there, at least you’ll learn some more about one of the biggest atrocities of the last century. And what is breaking my heart today is when I see what is going on in this country that I deeply cherished… I’m glad that I had a wonderful time but I won’t return if they keep treating other African people that way. As Desmond Tutu said perfectly in 1993, the oppressed today might become the oppressor tomorrow. And it is exactly happening in South Africa and another country… We all felt for them and supported them and now I don’t even have the words to express how I feel…

The museum has different sections: apartheid of course, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, the arrival of the Europeans, the atrocities that go along with the police brutality and the police violence during the Soweto Uprising. I couldn’t handle the videos of the police violence because the footages were too recent… it felt like yesterday because I was already alive when the criminal events happened.
It broke me thinking that my Mom or my people, either myself could have experienced that segregation/ rights removal if I was born on that side of the world. The physical violence was too much to take and even my friend was a bit mad at me for taking them there because his heart couldn’t take it anymore.

Sometimes we have to remember that some of us were born in places without war, slavery, segregation, totalitarianism, extreme violence and, poverty etc. That is a true blessing for us that we are empathic without ever having to experience those realities ourselves. But no one should ever have to experience that!

As you can see, the entrance is already very disturbing because it showed a reality that wasn’t too long ago…

And of course we did a LyaCopter!!!

The Nelson Mandela section was broad and covered a lot about his life.

Then his influence and heritage.

I was so shy of doing my LyaCopter…

Then then Bishop Desmond Tutu section

I was more comfortable doing this LyaCopter!

Then was the really heartbreaking section…

The tour was very emotional, challenging and overwhelming. Four hours is a lot but it was impossible to do less than that. I recommend a two days visit so you won’t absorb too much at once.

It is really hard for me to transcribe what was going on in my heart and bones as a first generation born with African roots. I’m always very much shook by slavery, colonization, apartheid etc. But I was so happy that my friends and I did it. Human History is far from being glamorous and I’m always eager to learn.

I know it's a very unconventional way to start celebrating a milestone birthday... but hey, it's me!

For me, turning 40 was never just about celebrating myself. It was about celebrating life while remembering those whose stories, struggles and resilience continue to shape our world. Visiting the Apartheid Museum was my quiet way of saying: "I see you. You matter."

After the roller coaster that was my last decade, I think this was my way of staying balanced. Of allowing myself to experience joy without disconnecting from reality. Of celebrating my life while still making room for empathy, reflection and gratitude. It was my way of being happy and still be aware of the world, without feeling guilty but grateful.

Maybe I can't fully put these feelings into words yet. Maybe I don't have to. I just know that this felt like the most authentic way for me to step into this new chapter of my life.

The next articles will be much lighter, filled with breathtaking landscapes, unforgettable encounters and plenty of laughter. But I wouldn't have wanted to begin this journey any other way. Sometimes, the most meaningful celebrations don't start with a party—they start with perspective.

Stay tuned!

I’m out