In a heartwarming event at the Nigerian Consulate in New York, eleven Americans discovered their Nigerian roots through ancestry DNA testing. This revelation has sparked excitement and pride, highlighting the deep, historical connections between Nigeria and the African diaspora.
The emotional ‘African Ancestry Reveal’ ceremony, held at the Nigeria House in New York, brought to light the rich, shared history between Nigeria and its diaspora. The Nigerian-linked Americans included Maleeka Harris, Shatara Corbett, Abel Watson, Darryl Rattray, Antonia Coleman-Brown, Nicole Williams, Pablo Blanco, Estena Turner, William Conley, Keith Howard, and Gina Paige.
Through ancestry DNA testing, these individuals were discovered to have Nigerian lineages of Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Yoruba-Fulani, and Fulani-Kanuri. Several others were also found to have roots linked with eight African countries, including Cameroon, The Gambia, Senegal, Ghana, and Niger Republic.
The consul-general of Nigeria in New York, Ambassador Abubakar Jidda, emphasized the significance of this discovery in bridging cultural gaps and celebrating the enduring bonds between Nigeria and the global African community. He stated, “As you may be aware, Nigeria, with its rich tapestry of cultures and history, stands as a leader within the African continent. And we have continued to celebrate this shared heritage.”
Dr. Gina Paige, co-founder and president of AfricanAncestry.com, praised the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development for its partnership in hosting the event. She highlighted the mission of AfricanAncestry.com to help Black people transform how they view themselves and Africa by using DNA to identify their last identities.
Paige expressed gratitude to Ambassador Jidda for warmly welcoming the participants and underscored the importance of reconnecting with their ancestral lands. She said, “Black people are the original victims of identity theft. We don’t know our names, we don’t know our languages, we don’t know who our ancestors were or are, and our families were continuously torn apart during slavery.”
The event also featured remarks from the consul of trade and investment, Ambassador Franklin Ogunyemi, who stressed Nigeria’s strategic importance in Africa and invited the diaspora to explore educational and cultural opportunities in Nigeria. Ms. Joyce Adewumi, Culture Ambassador of the Nigerian Consulate in New York, highlighted Nigeria’s rich culture, people, cuisines, and music that are globally acclaimed.
The New York City youth and community development commissioner, Mr. Keith Howard, congratulated the participants for discovering their identities and emphasized the relief that comes with knowing one’s roots.
This ceremony not only celebrated the discovery of Nigerian ancestry but also fostered a renewed sense of identity and belonging among the participants. It marked the beginning of a lifelong journey of discovery for many of them.
