My mother was a legal aid lawyer in Africa, dedicating her career to providing legal assistance to local communities and advocating for the rights of the vulnerable. From a young age, I often traveled with her to Africa, moving between vast savannas, bustling markets, and remote villages. Those years exposed me early to the continent’s breathtaking beauty and warmth—herds of elephants roaming the golden grasslands at sunset, children kicking a worn-out football in dusty open spaces, women balancing water pots on their heads while singing on their way back to the village… These scenes left a lasting imprint on my memory. While my mother worked, I would often sit in the back of courtrooms, watching her argue cases in fluent Swahili. Her relentless pursuit of justice taught me the weight of responsibility and courage. Africa was not just a second home in my childhood but also shaped my worldview, teaching me to build bridges of understanding across cultures.