My Ancestral Journey
My DNA reveals a profound tapestry of African identity and survival, connecting me to Nigeria, Benin-Togo, Cameroon, Central West Africa, and Southern Bantu peoples. These regions align with sovereign civilizations disrupted by slavery—powerful kingdoms like Mali, Kongo, and Benin that thrived before colonization.
I also trace connections to Portugal and Brazil—two nations deeply tied to the transatlantic slave trade. Portuguese ships were among the first to carry enslaved Africans to the Americas, particularly Brazil, where many of our ancestors’ stories were lost, renamed, or erased.
Rupert’s Valley & My Legacy
Rupert’s Valley on the island of St. Helena holds sacred meaning for me. Over 25,000 Africans were intercepted there by the British Royal Navy from illegal slave ships. Many died and were buried in unmarked graves. My ancestry reflects the path of those who may have crossed through that valley—an ancestral link to liberation, resilience, and remembrance.
Sephardic Jewish Heritage
My DNA also holds traces of Sephardic Jewish ancestry—descendants of Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition. Many Sephardic Jews settled in West Africa and Brazil, where their culture and bloodlines merged with African and Indigenous people. This layer of my heritage speaks to forced exile, religious persecution, and diaspora survival across centuries.
Purpose Through Ancestry
This project is more than personal—it’s a spiritual responsibility. I carry the memory of those who endured, resisted, and survived. By honoring their truth, I seek healing not only for myself but for all who descend from stolen lineages. My story is part of our collective memory. Blood remembers—so must we.