On the 22nd of May, I was blessed with the presence of a wonderful soul from Rwanda named Goldie.
Hi, my name is Romão Nenane from Nenane Tours, and this tour was brought to you in association with Maputo Trips!
First of all, I owe Goldie a public apology. You see, before the tour, I saw the name “Goldie” and immediately assumed I would be meeting a woman. So there I was, standing proudly at the entrance of the Maputo Cathedral, scanning the crowd and looking for a female traveler.
Five minutes passed. Then ten. Still no Goldie.
Suddenly, a gentleman approached me with a smile and said, “Hi, I’m Goldie.”
At that exact moment, I realized two things: Goldie was not a woman. I was not nearly as clever as I thought I was.
Thankfully, Goldie found the whole situation hilarious. In fact, it turned out to be the perfect icebreaker. We started the tour laughing, and from that moment on, the conversation flowed naturally.
One of the things I always enjoy when guiding fellow Africans is the opportunity to discuss our continent’s future. No matter where we come from, there is often a shared sense of optimism and anticipation for that moment when Africa fully unlocks its enormous potential.
As we walked through downtown Maputo, Goldie and I exchanged ideas about Africa’s development, the opportunities available to young people, and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for countries like Rwanda and Mozambique. We talked about business, innovation, leadership, and what it will take for African nations to transform their natural wealth into prosperity for their people. These are conversations I never get tired of having.
Goldie also shared stories about his time in the United States and the opportunities he was able to seize while living there. Hearing how people navigate different cultures and environments always fascinates me, and his experiences provided plenty of food for thought.
What started as a simple walking tour quickly became one of those encounters that reminds me why I love meeting people from all over the world. Sometimes you begin a tour as strangers and end it feeling like you’ve known each other for years.
In fact, we got along so well that we made plans to grab a beer after work and continue our conversation. Unfortunately, life had other plans. Schedules got in the way, time ran short, and our well-deserved beer never happened.
So, Goldie, if you’re reading this, consider this my official apology. I still owe you that drink. The next round is on me. Hopefully, you’ll manage to bring your cousin to Maputo one day so we can finally make it happen and enjoy another great afternoon exploring the city together.
Thank you for the laughter, the thoughtful conversations, and for reminding me that some of the best travel experiences are not about the places we visit, but the people we meet along the way.
And next time I see the name Goldie on my booking list, I promise I won’t make any assumptions. Well… I’ll try.
A Luta Continua.