CategoriesAfrican Lisbon Tour Uncategorized
Nina Simone
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Customer Reviews
Naky is an AWESOME tour guide. He has a great personality and a wealth of subject matter knowledge. This was a wonderful tour. Full of information that allows attendees to understand the unique contributions, although forced, that Africans provided in the development of such a beautiful place, Lisbon. This has been described by others as a master class in history and culture. I agree!!! I encourage everyone to do this tour, regardless of their cultural background, this isn't African history, it is Portugal's history. Enjoy!!!
Conswaila
( Chicago)
March 2022: Hands down the best tour I've been on. If you are headed to Lisbon, I highly recommend you take the tour. Naky is very knowledgeable and passionate about what he does and it shows. February in the USA is Black History Month and this was one of the best ways to end it.
Alicia
( Venise)
February 2022: A fantastic and informative tour with a thoughtful and deeply researched presentation. An open and fluid discussion of the roots of enslavement in Portugal and an open discussion of the broader implications of this history on the world. My wife described this as a "master class" on the subject and I agree. Important.
Keith
( New York)
I would recommend everyone to take the Africanlisbontour with Naky. You learn so much about slavery in Portugal and how it fits and related to the history of slavery in your own country. Naky is informative and very personable. He's like a long lost friend. Yes, there's lots of walking, but what you receive in return is priceless. I was in a great group of people and my life is better for meeting them and Naky.
Cynthia
( New York)
This is hands down the best walking experience I've done. Naky is so knowledgeable and willing to answer any question.
Erika
( San Francisco)
The best tour I've had in any country. Naky is a great host and I met great people while learning a lot of history. I would encourage anyone visiting to take this tour.
Ashley
( Los Angeles)
Naky is a great host: inspiring, welcoming and a born storyteller. I had no expectations but honestly this was the best activity I have done in this city. Not only did Naky tell us about the fascinating (hidden) history of Portugal's enslaved and colonial era, but I also met inspiring and like minded people on the tour itself! Great energy! Must do when you visit Lisbon.
Miriam
( Utrecht)
We absolutely loved the tour and Naky is dedicated, passionate, and possesses great insight! We were blessed with good company and picturesque weather. In order to decide if you truly love a place it is important to know all of its history and people. Naky did an excellent job of recounting stories in this beautiful city's past, in a way that connects to the present, and makes you want to be a part of its future. 😊
Denver & Stacey
( Los Angeles )
Oh my God where do I start. From meat up to closing, this tour blew my mind and exceeded all expectations. The tour guide was not only knowledgeable, he was passionate to share a piece of himself with us. He narrates well and gets you involved in the experience. A few stops along the way for drinks and the Grand finale with dinner. Met amazing folks and didn't want to leave.
Aicha
( Houston)
One of the best experiences I've had in years. It was a very important tour. History is always difficult when it's being told with truth and Naky tells the history of this city and this country so beautifully. The tour is also an incredible opportunity to make friends with other like-minded folks and we had a pretty amazing group with us. It was a great day in Lisbon and I'm eternally grateful.
Sekai
(Glasgow)
The tour was exceptional for me because I learned a lot about the African history in Lisbon.The host Naky ( who was awesome) gave honest opinions about his knowledge of Lisbon history, and the four hour walk seemed like one. He encouraged everyone to ask questions and give honest feedback. At the end of the tour we ate at an African restaurant, and it was a great experience talking to fellow guests of the tour because they all felt genuine. The entire day was a heart warming experience because everyone was so nice.
If you can definitely go on this tour. I highly recommend it, and you will not be disappointed.
Anetia
( Glenn Heights - Texas)
This was such a great experience. Being able to learn about the African history of Portugal with Naky was undeniably touching. Naky is very knowledgeable about history and has a true passion for spreading the truth. He is also very welcoming and encourages connecting with new people. To top it all off, he supports the local Black owned businesses in the area and has a wonderful rapport with them all. I highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in Black people. Also, don't be intimidated by the 4 hours of walking. It's an easy pace and plenty of stops.
Joy
( Atlanta)
I've experienced numerous tours in various places around the globe and this one is, by far, my favorite. Naky's tour starts on time, he's organized, knowledgeable and he encourages discourse and friendship among tour participants. This is not easy. He's an educator and a griot and I highly recommend this tour.
Marquita
( New York)
Die Tour war besser als gedacht! Es hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht und wir haben unglaublich viel gesehen, erfahren und gelacht. 100% empfehlenswert. Am Ende haben wir gemeinsam ein afrikanisches Restaurant besucht (sehr lecker!) und anschließend Drinks in einer Bar getrunken. Es war eine einmalige Erfahrung, Thank you Naky 🙏
Leslie
( Germany)
This was one of the best tours I've ever had! At school, we're usually taught a single, one-sided perspective of history, which can be further promoted by tours and media. With this tour, Naky shares a whole different perspective of the history of Lisbon and Portugal, mostly from the side of the African communities. It gave me a new understanding of our past, made me reflect more on current events, and shook my critical thinking and skepticism. Plus, we get the bonus of tasting interesting drinks and visiting nice spots of Lisbon, alongside a very friendly host. As a Portuguese who grew up in this country and lived in Lisbon, I highly recommend this tour.
Andre
(Portugal)
This experience exceeded my expectations! As a black woman, I wanted to learn more about the untold history of slavery in Portugal and the implications of it in modern Day society.
Naky is extremely knowledgeable and the tour in itself was more of a discussion as opposed to a lecture. We ate at a Cape Verdean restaurant afterwards, and it was delicious!!
Sandra
( Florida)
Ce tour avec Naky était passionnant. Il s'agit de se plonger dans l'histoire peu connue de Lisbonne, du Portugal et du monde. De voir aussi quelques éléments contemporains de la vie pour les personnes afro-descendantes. Naky est à la fois humble et très informé. Très recommandé.
Dimitri
( Ottawa)
This experience with Naky was unique and enlightening. The information that he provided is not summarized in a few sources but a collection of stories, narratives, and historical documents collected from many sources over years. He provides an unmet need to the historical account of Africans in Portuguese history. As a resident of Lisbon, I learned more than I expected and was able to have resources to reference in my discussions with friends and family. I feel inspired to learn more and do my part in sharing the information learned on this tour to a wider audience. At the end of the tour, he brought us to an authentic Cape Verdean Restaurant, which was delicious and I would describe as the comfort food of African cuisine.
April
(Los Angeles)
Dec 2019: This tour was a dream! Naky was probably the coolest, most welcome guide I've ever had. We started the tour at a location that I will never forget. I learned so much about African culture as well as the history of Lisbon. The scenic walk around the city was easy and very cool. O! We went to an African shop. I call it Little Africa! Book this tour! Such an experience.
Al
Isoke
(Owings)
July 2019: This was 2nd time (the first was in June of 2017) taking's Naky's tour concerning slavery and the African roots of Lisbon. As with the first experience, it was wonderful! Naky is knowledgeable, pleasant, careful with his words, and not afraid to speak of a past that most would rather silence or forget. I think he even slightly shortened the tour to accommodate those of us not used to being on our feet for 3 or 4 hours a day (I certainly benefited from the exercise). He offers opportunities for questions and even comments/shares from the group -even if people aren't particularly informed or knowledgable about the subject (most aren't). His information was more refined and he even had maps this time that I don't think he had before. A wonderful tour. And a great person. I highly recommend. (The stop at Tambarina for Cape Verdean food at the end as an added bonus!)
Alex
( New york)
highly recommend this culture walk to learn not only about the African roots of Lisbon but the current cultural climate of today. I make a few trips per year to Lisbon and the discovery of this culture walk was perfect timing.
I had been craving information on Lisbon and Portugal's African roots and was flummoxed by the negligible lack of memorials and tributes in my readings, neighborhood explorations and public discourse. This culture walk fills the gap, conducted by Naky, a knowledgeable, well informed and passionate person who guides you through Lisbon's African history from the mid 1400s to the current century. You'll also have the chance to visit a few African businesses in a couple of the neighborhoods. I could have spent an additional several hours on the culture walk to learn and discuss more so if demand calls for it perhaps it may be offered in the future.
Victoria
( Chicago)
The best tour I have ever done. So much to learn and see that you would never be able to find on your own. Naky knows his stuff inside out but it's his passion that really makes the experience. I wasn't sure if I'd be into the full five hours of walking but it was well paced and made the dinner at the end even better. 200/10.
Erin
( Chicago)
Going on this tour truly turned out to be a very unique experience which simply could not have been repeated very easily, be it because of the natural vibes from the host on the tour, be it the group of different people I met from different parts of the world and now become friends, be it the fabulous weather on the day, and be it the personable information and historical contexts delivered throughout the tour, and very much be it the exquisite meal at the Cape Verdean restaurant at the end of the tour, with a night out dancing with Naky and chatting some real talk about life and such.
Warren
( UK)
Organisation regarding booking the tour and meeting up was prompt and efficient. The tour itself was one of the highlights of my little family's trip to Lisbon. Naky is a really friendly and easy going tour guide, with a thorough and well researched knowledge of his subject. (He may have been a professor in a former life!) Naky delivers the information in an articulate and passionate manner, yet the tour also manages to remain light and social - no mean feat!! The visit to the Senegalese shop and Cape Verdean restaurant really added to the experience, and meant that we experienced an 'off the beaten track' and alternative Lisbon that few tourists would otherwise see. I cannot recommend Naky and his 'Lisbon's African roots tour' highly enough. Anyone who wants an alternative take on the city and who wants to learn more about the history that they didn't teach you about in school needs to contact Naky immediately.
Karl
( Cork)
If you're planning on doing any tours while in Lisbon, this one should definitely be on the list. Naky has so much information that no other tour will even talk about, and the way he encourages discussions during the tour really adds to the experience and forces everyone to think critically. We need more of these types of conversations all over the world! Naky taught us things that were definitely not a part of my curriculum in the US, and I'm so glad I got to spend an evening sharing food and drinks with a great group and awesome guide. 10/10 would highly recommend!! Obrigada Naky!
Rebecca
(Seattle)
This is a MUST ATTEND tour. Naky takes you through Lisbon that tourists would not normally see. Navy's tour tells the story of slavery and how the slave trade from Africa shaped the Lisbon we now see and explore. It was amazing, because there were at least two monuments i had seen the day before on other walking tours and those hosts had never mentioned the connection to slavery that the particular buildings had. So it was like hearing one side of the story and the next day thanks to Naky hearing a totally different perspective on the same story. The work that Naky and his friends are doing to keep these stories alive and have this history be recognised is commendable. As a brown person from one of the largest ex-colonies of the erstwhile British empire - this tour really made me see history (and Lisbon) in its expansive, wholesome complexity. Thanks Naky! Again, MUST ATTEND this tour.
Swara Bashar
(India)
This tour was nothing like I've seen in all of my travels around Europe - a valiant attempt to recognize and share the history of Africans in Europe and Portugal especially since it is one the first countries to initiated slave trading. I loved the way Naky interweaves physical monuments and sites into a true story about Africans in Lisbon since the 14th Century! This is a must-do tour no matter where you're from but especially if you are of African descent! Truly inspirational, empowering and necessary! So grateful to Naky for doing what he does!
Rachael
( Illinois)
Tonight we met an amazing person. His name is Naky Gaglo and he created his own walking tour called African Lisbon Tour where he discusses and shows you their untold history here in Lisbon. We spent the evening with him, had an amazing dinner and will not forget him anytime soon.
Charlie
( Texas)
By far, Naky led the best tour I've ever joined. He's a delight to wander around Lisbon, and has many fascinating stories about all sorts of places. Naky is a man of great knowledge, and he has an amazing way of causing participants in his tour to re-think what they know of history. I would take his tour a second time!
Erin
( New York)
Naky's Tour.....One word, INCREDIBLE! So informative and enriching. We thoroughly enjoyed walking the bright streets with Naky. He's captivating and knows the city thoroughly. It's amazing to hear about ancient and modern influences that Africans have on Lisbon. What a trip!
Basche
(NY)
If you are looking for the kind of intimate, fun and culturally enriching city tour, then join Naki's. He will bring you through the streets of Lisbon, telling you a story that you will not find in any book. Much of the glory of the Portuguese colonial state in the past five centuries was built on the backs of African people. Naki will show you how this shaped its capital, from the early slavery trading period, to the most recent immigration waves from ex-colonies and beyond. His deep knowledge of Portuguese history will allow you to see the history of the country from an original perspective, as well as to engage with him in very intriguing conversations about the challenges that its society currently faces. Finally, Naki is a great fella: incidentally, my wife and I ended up forgetting to pay for our drinks... to date he has refused to give us his bank details for us to refund him. In summary: great tour, don't miss it.
Simone
( Austria)
This African Roots Tour was absolutely amazing. I encourage everyone looking for a different style of history and in-depth knowledge to go ahead and book this. You will not regret it. From the moment our group met up until departure it was a fun filled day of learning and new experiences. And the dinner at the end is the icing on the cake. Naky you Rock! Keep shedding your light and knowledge of Lisbon's African Roots through your gift of storytelling. This tour gets a 10/10.
Bee
( New Jersey)
Sitios que ya conocía, vistos desde una perspectiva completamente diferente, y sitios que no conocía previamente, en los que he aprendido una parte de la historia portuguesa para mí desconocida.
Naky es una persona afable, tranquila y educada, entusiasta de la historia de la herencia africana en Lisboa, que paso a paso, como si de un enorme escenario se tratase, va desvelando las circunstancias, los personajes y los lugares en los que dicha historia se desarrolló.
Julia
( Spain)
El Tour fue genial, muy interesante, muy humano. Descubrimos partes de la ciudad de Lisboa, y de su historia, que no conocíamos y que han sido muy importantes para su desarrollo. Naki fue un guía perfecto; nos condujo a través de las calles y plazas de Lisboa, hablándonos sin parar de fechas y nombres de personajes, y haciéndonos preguntas para conocer nuestra opinión sobre cada detalle. Fue muy generoso con su tiempo: estuvimos seis horas y media con la visita!
Paramos a cenar en un pequeño restaurante con platos muy sabrosos de Cabo Verde.
Durante la cena, Naki compartió con nosotros detalles de su historia personal y familiar, y de sus proyectos. Es una persona muy activa, muy polifacética, y muy comprometida con la cultura africana.
En resumen, una experiencia muy recomendable.
Gracias Naki!
Jose
( Spain)
Naky's tour is the best! He's a thoughtful, erudite, gregarious, street historian. Thanks to Naky, we saw so much of Lisbon -- and through a lens few tourists get to look through. It was one of my best travel experiences ever. Naky took us through history from the beginning of Portuguese slavery right up to the present, stopping at monuments, giving them meaning, and at African groceries, where we tried a fruit from Guinea Bissau that he'd never even tasted before, and winding up at a Cape Verdean restaurant for dinner. He's incredible. If you go to
Is on, go on Naky's tour!
Robin
( NY)
Spending hours walking through museums and staring at artifacts is great, but can become a bit boring after a while, which is why you should go on Naky's tour if you're looking for something different to do while in Lisbon. This experience is a dynamic walking tour that explores Lisbon's African roots, history, and contributions to the country. I had a great time on this tour--not only is Naky super chill and engaging, but you can also tell that he has done a lot of research and is passionate about sharing and bringing this particular part of Lisbon's history to the forefront. Also, it was interesting to learn about the African experience in Lisbon in the past and present and to hear from Naky about his personal experience emigrating from Togo to Lisbon. At some part during the tour, we also stopped at a tasty Cape Verdean restaurant to share a meal, which was a nice touch. I would definitely recommend Naky's tour!!!
Aiyana
( Boston)
Fabuleux! Plongée directe dans l'histoire africaine de la ville de Lisbonne. Ce tour est une véritable pépite. Je le recommande à toutes et à tous. Vous ne serez pas déçu(e)s. Un grand merci à Naky pour ce beau partage. Cette visite est tout simplement exceptionnelle, unique, et à faire absolument.
Farelle
(France)
Naky was awesome! He was very responsive and helped me resolve an issue I had before the tour that would have compromised my level of participation.
Ineza
(Rwanda)
I would cross the pond and come all the back to Lisbon again and again just to participate in this tour.Naky is well versed in the history of Portugal and the arrival of and integration of Africans.He speaks with confidence and has remarkable skill in remembering specific and multiple dates.He comfortably walks you through reach century and lands you at key locations during this walking tour to give live meaning to each story told.He sets a beautiful vibe that fosters fellowship with others on the tour, great conversation, gracefully leaves you with so much to think about.He is passion about his work. I learned so much. After 8 days here, this by far was the highlight. I strongly encourage people visiting this region to book this well priced tour.
Monique
( Baltimore)
Naky's African Roots tour is phenomenal. (I won't say much about the content of the tour so that patrons can enjoy the experience first-hand). The experience exceeded my expectations. It has made moving through the city so much more intriguing as I contemplate all of Libson's sites, place names, and monuments in light of what I learned from Naky. In addition to helping with the general navigability of the city, as most tours do, because Naky's tour is rich in historical content, it helps to put Lisbon and Libson's idea of itself into context. The kind of context that is otherwise hard to uncover here. Crucially, African Roots offers an experience you won't get from other tours in Lisbon. It tells of (and shows, of course) the African presence in the city from the 15th century to the present. It's rife with fascinating narratives of the culture and politics of African and Afro-descended people in Lisbon. Most interesting in my view, is the way it re-orients standard accounts of Lisbon to account for the African population which, despite official concealment, is everywhere visible throughout the city. Naky kept us engaged for almost 600 years of history --so much so that I was a bit sad to see the tour end!
Ellen
(NY)
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