Alma Asinobi, a Nigerian travel creator, is set to attempt a Guinness World Record for the fastest time to visit all seven continents. Her journey is more than a record-breaking attempt—it is a statement on passport privilege and the challenges Africans face when travelling.
With over 30 countries across five continents already explored, Alma now takes on her biggest challenge. On 15 March, she will begin in Antarctica before making her way to Australia and the remaining continents. The current record stands at 3 days, 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 4 seconds, held by Indian travellers Sujoy Kumar Mitra and Ali Irani since December 2022.
This journey comes with obstacles. Alma highlights the visa challenges many Africans face. “I’m doing this with a Nigerian passport to shed more light on the issue of passport privilege, or in our case… the lack thereof,” she says. “When I fully recover from having to apply for 10+ visas for this, and being rejected for 2 of them a total of 5 times, I’ll go in-depth about why we simply cannot afford to accept and be silent about the second-class treatment we’re subjected to when it comes to travel and visa requirements for citizens with low-mobility passports.”
For many Nigerians, visa applications are a long and uncertain process. Rejections are common, and approvals often come with restrictions. Alma’s journey is a reflection of the reality millions of Africans experience.
She hopes this attempt will inspire others while keeping the conversation on passport privilege alive. “I’m pushing the limits of one of the lowest-ranking passports in the world on this adventure, to show you what’s possible, and inspire you to see the world regardless of the limitations, while holding the spotlight over a much overlooked subject that affects over half of the world’s population—with the most affected people being Africans, both at home and in diaspora.”
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Alma’s journey is one of resilience, determination, and advocacy. Whether she breaks the record or not, she is making a statement that will not be ignored.