An African-American discovers her ancestral origin…

  

 I am unsure of where to begin my story. It is thru mitochondrial DNA testing that I learned that my genetic origins are from the Temne people of Sierra Leone. Perhaps, I should begin with sharing that since I was a child I had wondered where my African ancestor derived.  Once I learned my genetic origin it took 5 long, daunting years to raise the money to return to Sierra Leone. Ironically, the discovery of my ancestral origin was around the time that I had received, as a gift, a partially working camera that I had no clue how to operate.  My journey started long before I got Sierra Leone. It was not an easy one but as the old Negro spiritual goes, I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now...

Mythical Creature

I was being ferried, to the place my African ancestor had been taken. As we got closer to land I could see what at first I could only describe as a “mythical creature”. I soon discovered it was a small child. He was alone and dangerously, familiar with the water. He was just as intrigued by me as I was of him. It was as though I had my own personal town crier  to declare my return. He led the way everywhere I went.