Renowned Ghanaian YouTuber and travel content creator Wode Maya has opened up about the difficult road behind his global success, revealing that repeated deportations while filming across Africa nearly derailed his journey-but never broke his resolve.
Speaking on Starr Chat with Bola Ray on Thursday, January 29, 2026, Wode Maya said he has been deported from several African countries while creating content, including Zambia and Uganda.
Despite the setbacks, he said quitting was never an option.
“I’ve been deported countless times from different countries before. I’ve been deported from Zambia, Uganda, for filming, but I never gave up,” he said.
According to him, what continues to drive his passion is the real-world impact of his work, particularly its role in reshaping how Africa is perceived globally.
“The impact is what makes me keep going,” Wode Maya explained. “When I see the impact, despite me being tired, I keep going.”
He also challenged assumptions about his storytelling approach, noting that his videos are not driven by rigid scripts but by inspiration and purpose.
“I never wrote a script for my stories,” he said. “It comes through inspiration, but there’s a vision; to showcase Africa’s culture in a positive light.”
Wode Maya stressed that his content goes beyond entertainment, describing it as a deliberate effort to counter negative narratives about the continent by highlighting authentic stories, cultures, and lived experiences across Africa.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Barbara Yeboah
