Hassan, Ahmad Eldessouki, Jihad Mnasria, Toufic Abu Nader

Dubai - 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 traveler.

Growing up in Nigeria, Hassan Adebayo Bello was told that anyone who traveled a lot, had a global mindset, or liked adventures was called Ajala. "At that time I thought Ajala was like a spirit animal or deity of adventure. There were songs about someone called 'Ajala' who traveled all over the world, so I dreamt that one day I would also travel all over the world like Ajala," says Hassan, now 22 years old.
The Dubai-based software programmer, writer and adventurer who has travelled extensively to not only well-known cities but also never-heard-of villages and islands in Central Asia and the South East, said: "I had people tell 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 wasn't an authentic African, as I was into extreme sports, practiced yoga, had an advanced level of thinking and spoke English really well for an '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 traveler. That was when he came upon the story of Olabisi Ajala (an African explorer who traveled to 87 countries on a scooter over a period of six years to spread a positive message of love and compassion.)
"I didn't know Ajala was an actual person who traveled the world to spread a positive message and change the stereotypes people had about people, places and culture."
The decision to immortalize Ajala and all of what he stood for began from here. "Olabisi Ajala died an unsung hero as like most nomads and change makers of this era who are creating a social impact through their journey but no one knows about them," he said.
Hassan feels it is important that these stories are read and the people who've inspired these stories celebrated. "Since they are changing the narratives of how we see the world, I thought the best medium, other than storytelling, is art.
Hassan defines the Ajala Project as a movement created by a group of passionate nomads aiming to break down borders and change stereotypes between people and cultures.
"Our social media and website will bring together nomads, writers, and illustrators around the globe to collaborate and share their inspiring stories of creating social impact with the world."
The team aims to work on community projects to showcase the stories of local heroes in the Emirates and change the narratives of the underprivileged (laborers, maids, etc.) through artworks. They aim to create a platform for nomads, change makers, writers, tech-preneurs to connect locally and internationally through monthly or bi-monthly talks and events.
Also they 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.
"Art creates a lasting impression and gives a different perspective to their stories. It is used to commemorate and immortalize changemakers and nomads. Through the use of art, changemakers and nomads are able to reach, connect and engage with a greater community of supporters and patrons.
Talking about the number of artists they have roped in, Hassan said: "We are collaborating with 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 inspiring nomads of the Ajala project

Core Team