So I've always had a desire to explore the vast world, but after a year of working since
I've graduated, I felt like I wanted to do something different with my life.
It wasn't until I met colleagues and made friends who have done missionary work that
really propelled me to be an explorer.
Based on a friend's of mine's experience teaching English abroad, I decided to search
for a job online.
Honestly, I really wanted to get out of the US and see what the world had to offer.
Three years in Korea led to three years in Thailand, and now I'm on my second year teaching
English in the Gulf region.
When people ask me where I'm from, I find it difficult to explain.
Do I tell them I'm from Oklahoma, where I live with my mom, or do I tell them I'm from
Kansas, where I live with my dad, or how about Utah, where I finished high school in university?
It's hard to say that I'm from any of those places now.
I've lived abroad for eight years.
The funny thing is, throughout my journey, people have asked me, are you Ghanaian?
Growing up, I really didn't feel connected to the US.
Instead, I felt dislocated.
But that all changed when I came across WB DeBoys.
I started to read more about Africa to explore my African self.
So that's how influential the voice is.
I had no idea.
This is news to me.
I know he spent his last years in Ghana, and he was very close to Dr. Kwame Ngakruma.
At his library, there were a plethora of books written by him in those he also contributed
to.
He really helped me to see that I had this double consciousness, an American self and
an African self.
This text has meant so much to me, discovering some of the social theories inside.
There was also more books in his study.
So this was their personal library and study, and in here we have 1500.
I have to admit this tour was very ambitious of me.
I packed in a lot within a short span of time.
In my preparation, I read a lot of books about Ghana in the African diaspora.
On my way to Cape Coast, something deep inside of me calls me to change my hotel.
This place is called One Africa.
I felt a desire to go to One Africa because I've read about Sister Emika's how she
repatriated to Ghana as an African in America, and I wanted to meet her.
Purpose of the museum is to be able to share the history of us as Africans born in the diaspora.
Not only with continental born Africans, but with anyone, so that we know ourselves, that
they know who we are.
This whole deals with some of our great African thinkers.
So we have Frederick Douglass, Amos Wilson.
Amos Wilson, fantastic psychologist.
He had a really wonderful book, Blueprint of Black Power, and if we followed that, we
would be a lot further ahead.
This is where I want to be.
I do a lot of traveling, but this is the family house, and as part of African tradition, there
is a family house.
This means that any member of your family can come here anytime they get ready, so that
my children, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, those yet unborn have a place here.
This is theirs.
I could have spent an entire day at One Africa, but I knew that I needed to visit other significant
places.
Cape Coast was run by various Europeans.
First it was the Portuguese who built a fort and used Cape Coast for trading gold, sugar,
and guns.
By the end, the British had built a fortified castle dungeon that was the hub to hold slaves
until departure.
The dungeons were awful.
The male dungeon in particular was small, dark, and provided little ventilation.
I saw a spiritual site with a priest, and I wanted to go there and connect with my ancestors.
As I was performing that ritual, I was trying to connect with my ancestral spirit.
I really didn't have words to express, so instead I tried to use my heart as a means
of communication.
While I was at Elmina Castle at the women's dungeon, I was immediately smacked with this
foul odor.
The tour guide told me that these slaves were raped, and those who were pregnant that made
it onto the boats were considered collateral damage, and so they threw them overboard.
I was very anxious as I was given my African name.
I knew my day name would be Kojo, but I had no idea I was getting an ancestral name.
I was very anxious as I was given my African name.
I was very anxious as I was given my African name.
He has given you the name.
You were born on Monday, so that is Kojo, but then he gave you another traditional name.
You see, the name of the shrine is Nana Tabir Shrine, and Tabir is actually the highest
of all the 77 gods in Cape Coast.
And since you've come back and you are here today doing this, he decided to add the name
Tabir to your name Kojo.
So he gave you the name Kojo Tabir.
So that is the name he gave you.
And in addition, he was like, when you are coming, you came with a machine.
When you are going, you are going to go back with a machine.
So may the gods of the land protect you and take you home safely.
At the same time, whatever your hands find out to do, may it be prosperous.
And may you always find your way back and forth as an African.
My Ghanaian name is Kojo Tabir.
My slave name, Lockhart.
My Ghanaian name, Kojo Tabir.
And also I would like to add Sankofa, which means one who is returning back to his or
her roots.
So I am Kojo Tabir Sankofa.
In the Senmonsu, the last bathing site for slaves, I was led to the river where this
took place.
And when I got there, I was carried across from one side to another.
So imagine that they have fed you, hey, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
So imagine that they have fed you, you are strong.
And then the raider will bring you to this place, then walk with this place to the market.
There was a point where I was able to just go in alone.
I was thinking how many slaves had actually made it this far.
A sense of calm came over me.
The place was tranquil.
The water was nice and cool.
I would like for the billions of people around the world to visit these historical and cultural
sites so that the past doesn't repeat itself.
So I would tell my sisters and brothers of the African diaspora to come back home, embark
on this spiritual pilgrimage for yourself, and you will be surprised what you discover.
