The Hustle of African Freelancers

Late nights, low pay and big dreams: surviving freelancing as an African writer.

The Hustle of African Freelancers
By JanneyWrites

It is 2:47 AM. I am wide awake. Not because I
am a night owl or overly ambitious- but
because the client I am writing for is nine hours
behind me and believes everyone should be
online "asap."

This is the silent grind many African freelancers
endure.

The hustle begins with hope. We sign up on
platforms that promise "freedom" and "unlimited
income." We write perfect profiles, collect
five-stars reviews and chase projects that pay in
dollars. But soon, the reality kicks in: delayed
payments, ghosting clients and bidding wars
with writers from around the world- all while
juggling erratic power cuts and shaky internet.

We chase dollars because our currencies fail us.
We lose sleep because every minute offline
might be a missed opportunity. We smile
through 2 a.m. Zoom interviews and act
"professional" even when our stomachs growl
louder than our voices.

It is not always gloomy, though. There are wins.
The first Payoneer payment. A grateful client. A
viral article. These little victories remind us why
we keep going- for a better life, for freedom, for
dreams that stretch beyond borders.

But let's not lie to ourselves. The hustle burns. It
drains. It tests. Sometimes, it even breaks us.

And yet, every African freelancer I know still
wakes up- or stays up- believing the next
project might just be the breakthrough.

So here I am. Writing in the dark. Fingers tired,
heart hopeful.

Because if the is one thing African freelancers
have mastered- it is the art of chasing dollars
while losing sleep....and never giving up.