10
Jul
Needle in a Haystack
From time to time we get inquiries to speak with people who have taken our test and then traveled to their country of origin. Two weeks ago, a few media outlets called to see if I’d just happen to know of any of our African Ancestry family members who would be in Ghana while the Obamas are there. Sure! Yeah, right. We have found Ghanaian results for at least 500 – 600 people. There has to be at least one needle in this haystack.
Kalimah Jackson is the needle in that haystack!
I sent emails to our 50 most recent Ghanaian cousins. Not only was she the ONE that had plans to travel to Accra but she was going to be there at the exact same time! This beautiful, artful, and outgoing woman shared her African Ancestry Experience with me in such a way that I knew it was divine intervention.
She traced her family’s maternal ancestry to Ghana in November 2008. When she shared the results with her family as a Christmas present, they were reminded of her older sister’s trip to Ghana many years ago. She called home every day during that visit to say that she was never coming back home to Detroit. The sense of belonging and place that she felt was so strong that she knew that Ghana was her home. Well her sister did come home at the end of the trip and from that day forward, Ghana was a part of her life. Kalimah brought the experience full circle when she told the family that they share genetic ancestry with the Akan in Ghana.
You can see Kalimah “at home” in Ghana on Good Morning America this Saturday morning. She is being interviewed by Ron Claiborne who is covering the Obamas’ visit. You can also check this sistah entrepreneur at her website, http://picnap.com.
Thank you Kalimah for being a part of the African Ancestry family!
I am a proud descendant from the royal Hausa of Northern Nigeria and Southern Niger who trace their collective heritage to Nubia in Sudan. Among my other accomplishments that define me, I treasure this identity and history as well. I am happy that I was able to trace the last 500 years of maternal heritage. As a teacher of film and literature, I always stress the twin concepts of locus ( a place where something happens) and focus (a concentrated effort of a particular thing and a unified quality). If you are interested in your particular African heritage, African ancestry.com is the place to ensure that the circle will remain unbroken. Currently, I am living in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. I will definitely make sure that I visit Hausaland when the time permits.