The absolute pride that a US screenwriter feels after tracing ancestral roots to Igbo land
With Africa growing in a capacity, most blacks who have found themselves as naturalised citizens elsewhere, particularly the US want to make a comeback to Nigeria like the way the likes of American actor Forest Whitaker has done.
At this challenging moment in history when the difficulties going on in Nigeria have made some people want to leave and hope to never return to the country, others remain committed to finding their connection.
One such is the United States-born screenwriter, Dr Chastity Singletary who has been able to link her ancestral origin to southeastern Igbo land, an accomplishment she is proud of and feels was an extremely important box to check off her list of things to do.
Dr Singletary’s confirmation about her ancestry has been known to her for the past two years. All the single mother wants to do now is to pass on the knowledge to her daughter for the benefit of paving a way for the family, she tells the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Africa, being the originating point of humans before the spread to other parts of the world, has been discovering a reconnection that slavery and acts of conquest had earlier distorted.
With Africa growing in capacity, most blacks who have found themselves as naturalised citizens elsewhere, particularly the US want to make a comeback. Perhaps, not to return to become permanent residents, but at least to discover the place where they once belonged like the way Dr Chastity Singletary has done.
Her Majesty is a proud Crowned Chief and Ancestral Queen of Igboland, she tells news agency in a phone call held on Sunday, 18 February.
Tracing my roots for my family to know who they are was extremely important. I am proud that I have known my family in Nigeria for the past two years. Proud to learn the culture and traditions of my ancestors.
Reconnecting has and will continue to allow me to bring education and break stigmas that African-born and African Americans have against one another – to create unity, peace, love and understanding.
The impact on my people in Nigeria will be positive. I won’t give up. God is my lead as he continues to lead the way for me to pave for Nigeria (Igbo land) and my people here in America.
It is a two-way street the way one-time outsiders want to discover their Nigerian roots. This is because deep in Nigeria, the people also crave the external association they have been getting.
ALSO READ: The Birth of the UK’s Igbo First Daughter
One suggestion that the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena had Nigerian roots proved to be false. While visiting Nigeria for the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club’s Breaking The Mould Initiative (BTM) in 2012, Serena made sure to disconnect with such an idea in the most respectful way possible.
We have heard from many people asking whether we hail from the Badagry area of Lagos in Nigeria. But we are using this opportunity to clear the air once and for all. We are proud Americans, we are not from Nigeria but we love the people of this country no doubt.
And so it was for the American film star, Forest Whitaker. The lazy eye actor unlike the duchess can trace where he is from. A trip to Nkwerre in Imo State seven years ago confirmed this with the title Nwannedinamba of Nkwerre, which simply means a brother in a foreign land.
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
