He Had to Leave America to Be a Free Black Man

After walking away from New York and breaking free from America’s suffocating mold of Black masculinity, Baba Siete Saldávez made the ultimate decision: he moved to South Africa, built a life of complete spiritual sovereignty, and vowed never to return. In this raw, unapologetic, and deeply grounding second chapter, he pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to dismantle societal programming, find love across borders, and rebuild yourself from the inside out. Baba Siete’s transition from Brooklyn survivor to Cape Town priest is one of the most compelling relocation stories you will ever hear. Abroad, he stopped shrinking: he grew his hair to honor his ancestral taboos, shed the fear of judgment, and learned what it feels like to finally be seen as a whole man. From braving Cape Town's townships during lockdown to deliver food and supplies, to sitting in rooms with former ambassadors and ancestral elders, he reveals the unspoken reality of the Black expat experience—and why going back to the US is no longer an option. In this episode, Baba Siete opens up about the loneliness of living oceans away from family, finding romantic love during a global pandemic, the myth of "safe" vs. "dangerous" spaces, and why true freedom meant deciding that African soil is where he will one day be buried. This is a story of radical self-definition, ancestral alignment, and the courage to claim a home on your own terms. If this conversation moved you, make sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. TIMESTAMPS: ### Chapters - **00:00:00** Introduction: Leaving the American Script Behind - **00:01:28** The Sleep Schedule of a Night Owl & Spiritual Worker - **00:03:10** Adapting to Cape Town: From Vacation to Calling It Home - **00:05:15** The Hardest Truth About Living Abroad: Missing Your People - **00:07:22** "Abroad Is Where I Truly Became a Free Black Man" - **00:09:14** Hair Politics: Why America Won’t Let Black Men Just Exist - **00:12:05** Colorism, Homophobia, and Dismantling Toxic Hypermasculinity - **00:15:30** Reclaiming His Ancestral Taboos Without Apology - **00:18:45** Visiting the US: "I Saw Their Faces, But That’s Not Home Anymore" - **00:22:00** "I Will Be Buried on This Land": Deciding to Stay Forever - **00:24:10** Finding Love During Lockdown - **00:27:15** What It Feels Like to Be Loved as a Human, Not a Spiritual Figure - **00:29:30** The Reality of Dating in Cape Town - **00:31:45** Driving Into Townships During COVID: Taking Action Over Fear - **00:34:50** "I Grew Up in 90s Brooklyn—I Don’t Run Away From Reality" - **00:37:25** Digital Nomads & Giving Back: The Responsibility of Privilege - **00:40:15** Navigating Expat Communities and Distance from Whiteness - **00:43:00** Sitting at the Table with Elders and Ambassadors - **00:46:10** Never Shrink: What True Elders Demand of the Next Generation - **00:48:50** Why Cape Town Over Johannesburg: Water, Islands, and Spiritual Energy - **00:53:30** Final Thoughts: Freedom, Full Circle, and Holding Space #CapeTown #BlackExpat #BlackMasculinity #AncestralWisdom #SouthAfrica #BrooklynToCapeTown #MovingAbroad #TrueStory #PodcastInterview #IdentityJourney #SpiritualAwakening #AfricanDiaspora #SelfSovereignty #LifeStory