Homeward or Nowhere.

In today’s world, the movement of Black people across continents reveals a striking and profound irony. Many Black individuals who were born and raised in the West—African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, and second-generation African immigrants—are choosing to move back to Africa. They come in search of identity, purpose, peace, and sometimes, a place they can truly call home. At the same time, millions of Africans are doing the opposite—leaving the continent with hopes of greener pastures in Europe or North America, often only to be met with a different kind of struggle.

The reasons behind this growing reverse migration are complex but telling. In Ghana, the 2019 “Year of Return” drew over a million visitors from the diaspora and has since led to over 10,000 African Americans and Caribbeans relocating permanently. Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, and Nigeria have all seen a rise in returnees who bring with them not only skills and investments, but a desire to reconnect with their roots. Many speak of the emotional liberation of finally feeling like they belong, free from the racial microaggressions and structural racism that mark their lives in the West. For some, it’s more than just moving—it’s a homecoming.

And yet, even as this return unfolds, thousands of Africans are fleeing their homelands. Whether due to poverty, political instability, violence, or lack of opportunity, many embark on perilous journeys across deserts and seas in search of a better life. According to the UN, over 30 million Africans now live outside the continent, with most settling in Europe or North America. The price of these migrations is often heartbreakingly high: families separated, dreams deferred, and for many, the grim realization that the West is not the utopia they imagined. They encounter racial prejudice, economic hardship, and emotional isolation. The glossy images seen on TV or social media rarely reflect the truth of menial jobs, cramped housing, and relentless pressure to succeed and send money home.

This contradiction is heartbreaking. Those in the West are fleeing toward Africa. Those in Africa are running to the West. And both are often met with disappointment. It's as though everyone is running—yet no one is arriving.

What becomes clear is that neither “home” nor “abroad” holds the answer. Geography alone cannot offer peace or purpose. And perhaps that is the deeper issue—many are moving without direction, searching for belonging in a world that offers no guarantees. Migration alone is not the problem. It’s movement without divine direction that leads to disillusionment.

This is why the most important question is not “Where can I live better?” but “Where does God want me to be?”

Throughout the Bible, we see how location played a critical role in people’s destinies. Abraham had to leave his country because God had something greater for him elsewhere. Joseph didn’t choose Egypt, but God used that move to fulfill a divine purpose. Paul journeyed across regions, not for wealth or comfort, but to fulfill the mission given to him. Their stories show us that where we are matters—but not for the reasons the world tells us. It matters because God's purpose is tied to places and seasons.

In a time when so many are searching for where to build a future, raise children, or find peace, there is a higher truth: the safest, richest, most fulfilling place you can be is in the center of God’s will. That may be in Lagos or London, Kigali or Chicago. But unless He sends you, you may arrive—but never truly settle.

The Scriptures remind us that “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23), and “in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6). These are not poetic suggestions—they are divine instructions. The journey of life is too sacred to be navigated by guesswork or impulse. We need guidance. We need God.

So before we pack our bags or chase the dream we saw online, let us pause and ask, “God, where do You want me to be?” Because ultimately, it’s not about finding the perfect place—it’s about aligning with the perfect plan. And in that place, wherever it may be, we will truly be home.