There is nothing that compares to making that decision to leave everything you know behind. To choose to make a home in a foreign place.  And while you might have some pre-conceived ideas … you might even have done your research…none of it will quite compare to the experience itself.

 In our story this week, Michael’s journey is more than about moving from place to place, but also a journey through different stages of his life.

177 Nations of Tasmania: Micheal from Benin

Since arriving in Tasmania about a year ago, Michael has got somewhat accustomed to people questioning whether Benin is a real country - an indication of how little known his homeland is in Australia.

Benin is a small country in West Africa, squeezed between the much larger Nigeria and Togo. It was formerly part of a much larger Kingdom of Dahomey and was also one of the centres of the Atlantic slave trade. A legacy of this is seen in places like Haiti, Cuba, Brazil and New Orleans, where Voodoo is still practised, a belief system originating in Benin. In western culture this has become associated with pushing pins into dolls, but in Benin it is still a very much accepted bona fide religion.

Michael's story is remarkable other ways though. From a tough time as a child at a boarding school in Nigeria, to University studies in Ghana, where he'd secretly hoped to further his soccer career, he eventually got a scholarship to study agriculture in Israel. During his year in Israel he fell in love with a Filipina, and she was the eventual inspiration for him to come to Tasmania.

This story was originally published on 177 Nations of Tasmania, produced by Mark Thomson. To hear the full episode head to www.markthomsonmedia.com or search ‘177 Nations’ wherever you get your podcasts.

With additional editing by Jespher Wen.

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All The Best Credits

Host Kwame Slusher

Executive Producer: Phoebe Adler-Ryan

Editorial Producer: Melanie Bakewell

Community Coordinator: Patrick McKenzie

Artwork: Mark Thomson, 177 Nations of Tasmania

Mixed and Compiled by Emma Higgins

Theme Music composed by Shining Bird 

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