Many Enslaved Africans in the Diaspora thought they would return home one day, but unfortunately, they never did. some of their descendants who also wished to step their foots on the soil of the motherland also didn’t make it, but For Angela Matthews and Cindy Meyers, it was a tough decision but they took that bold step. They woke up on a beautiful day to return back to Ghana.
Angela Matthew and Cindy Meyer’s journey to Ghana may have signaled the utmost desire of the Africans abroad who are the descendants of the slave trade to retrace their roots.
In Washington D.C in September 2018, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo declared and formally launched “the year of return, Ghana 2019”. It was exactly 400 years after the enslaved Africans arrived in what is now the US. The “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” is a major landmark marketing campaign targeting the African-American and Diaspora market to Mark 400 years of the first enslaved African arriving in Jamestown Virgina.
Angela and Cindy were part of the group that choose to visit Ghana and particularly in 2019 for the very first time. One of the places visited was the Cape Coast Castle.
It was one of the important African bases for the British slave trades. Historians recorded that at least 12 million people were shipped from West Africa to plantains in the America and Caribbean’s.
As the two sisters walked down the dungeon in Ghana, they regarded the visit as an amazing one indeed. They both recently took a DNA test and discovered that they are of Ghanaian heritage which means their ancestors might have been held in the cells.
According to Angela, She expressed her utmost satisfaction to have come to be with her ancestors.
“You can imagine, I’m home, “I owe every ancestors of my bloodline great gratitude. I am sorry you had to go through all these, this place is very saddening and has revealed how you were treated,” She said satisfactorily.
At the Cape Coast castle, it was revealed that signs indications that enslaved Africans “were pushed through the door of no return” and onto waiting ships.
For many of the tourist who were on board with Angela and Cindy, it could be the last time they would ever see the continent.
For some black Americans, Ghana is more than a holiday destination but a big economy that is attracting young people who are searching for more than their identity. This is very busy, hustle Street, the main street and bustle right down the street is oxford street, the main street where people go out.
According to Voltaire Xodus,a consultant and founder of the company WeUp. He has been in Ghana for more than 5 weeks and since he arrived, he has been building his network as well going out to different places and event.
A big question on why would someone who has never visited Ghana before choose to move there?
Xodus giving a clue said living in the US, all of the streets are taken, all the big brands are there and here the cement is wet; you have to an opportunity to create set at the table. He also said, everybody is created with a gift while the big question is how long do you water the seed of potentials?.
Voltaire Xodus said the main difference of his life in Ghana and the US is the peace. He described Ghana as a very peaceful country. It is a place where you get a comment from friends like, “Be safe” while they live in Chicago, illinios where we have lot of violence. The irony according to him is if someone in Chicago is asking me to be safe in a place that is peaceful could be partly tied to the imagery that they are fed up every day.
To lakeshia Ford, she deiced to move to Ghana to start a new life and with it came with a new sense of identity. To me there is no such thing as a black woman in Ghana. I am a woman in Ghana. We are all black and I don’t see colour here because I am part of the majority and I think that is a privilege and a Luxury.
Back to the tour group, Angela, Cindy and others have been able to discover a different side to Ghana.
For Angela, retracing her roots has changed how she looks at home country. She said in this time and all the things going on in the US particularly the current President,it is significant to know where you belong and where you came from.
“I have a culture, I have a people and I belong. That’s significant for me ,Angela Matthews noted.
