Ancestry DNA Matches from Africa - Are These Questions Ok to Ask Them or Nah?

[xoxodede]

Last week, I connected with a couple of my DNA matches from Africa.

One is a Male from Accra, Ghana from the "Ga" Tribe.

Another is also a male from Accra, Ghana and "Akan" from the Fante/Fanti tribe.

And the last is a woman from the "Abia State" of Nigeria and from the "Igbo" Tribe.

Q: I noticed for the two from Accra, Ghana - they are from two different tribes who went to war with each other. Could this possibly be how my ancestors were enslaved?

Ashanti–Fante War - Wikipedia

Ga–Fante War - Wikipedia

The Fante and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Q: If we share 5th or 6th Grandparents - since many Africans claim they know their ancestors and lineage- is it a chance they can ask their elders, check their family tree or tribe connects to help me find out what relative(s) were sold - the one whom I descend from?

Q: Did families remember or talk about their relatives who were never seen again? Or they thought were sold into the trade?

Q: I also read some tribes even sold their relatives. Can I ask if this was something normal in their tribe's history? Or should I assume they were prisoners of war?

I don't want to offend - so that's why I want to ask here first. I do want to ask questions and see if I can trace my ancestor and learn more about them.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

It is Igbo, not "Ibgo"

 

[xoxodede]

It is Igbo, not "Ibgo"

Sorry. Typo - will edit.

 

[AlainLocke]

I would ask, I wouldn't care so much about offending

 

[Samori Toure]

Last week, I connected with a couple of my DNA matches from Africa.

One is a Male from Accra, Ghana from the "Ga" Tribe.

Another is also a male from Accra, Ghana and "Akan" from the Fante/Fanti tribe.

And the last is a woman from from "Abia State" of Nigeria and from the "Igbo" Tribe.

Q: I noticed for the two from Accra, Ghana - they are from two different tribes who went to war with each other. Could this possibly be how my ancestors were enslaved?

Ashanti–Fante War - Wikipedia

Ga–Fante War - Wikipedia

The Fante and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Q: If we share 5th or 6th Grandparents - since many Africans claim they know their ancestors and lineage- is it a chance they can ask their elders, check their family tree or tribe connects to help me find out what relative(s) were sold - the one whom I descend from?

Q: Did families remember or talk about their relatives who were never seen again? Or they thought were sold into the trade?

Q: I also read some tribes even sold their relatives. Can I ask if this was something normal in their tribe's history? Or should I assume they were prisoners of war?

I don't want to offend - so that's why I want to ask here first. I do want to ask questions and see if I can trace my ancestor and learn more about them.

I don't know if you have a basic knowledge of that region, but here is what I recall. Now this is all from my recollection so it is probably wrong. I may have totally misremembered everything that I am about to write.

From what I remember the Akan people are the Ashanti, Baoule, Brong/Abron, Fante, Denkyira and a few other smaller groups. They are originally from the Kingdom of Ghana in the Sahel, but they (the Akan people) left at some point in the 1300's and retreated into the forest of modern day central Ghana and Ivory Coast; most likely to avoid the spread of Islam that was occurring among the Mande (Sonnike, Mandingos, Bambaran, Susu, etc.), Fulani and Berber ethnic groups in the Sahel. They traded goal mined in the forest belt with the Mande people in the Sahel.

Upon the arrival in the forest belt the Brong where the most dominant of the the Akan group, but over time the Ashanti, Fante, Denkyira, and Baoule became stronger. The Ashanti rose to prominence after defeating the Denkyira. Once the Ashanti rose to power many of the other Akan groups (except for the Fante) fled.

The Baoule fled to the Ivory Coast, wherein they are now the largest ethnic group in that Country, where they are something like 40%-45% of the total population in Ivory Coast. Branches of the Brong that were in Central Ghana, also fled to the Ivory Coast, where I think they are referred to as Abron; but in reality I think that they are still the same as the Brong that live in Ghana.

The parties that did the enslaving and the selling of slaves in Ghana and for that matter Ivory Coast is complicated. From what I can remember reading the Ashanti controlled the slave trade in that region, but they were not actually interested in selling slaves; they were actually only interested in the gold trade but they took slaves as a payment of tribute from groups like the Dagomba people. The Ashanti defeated the Dagomba in warfare and thus subjugated them. The Ashanti requested gold from all people they subjugated, but Dagomba specifically, chose to pay in slaves. The Ashanti in turn would sell those slaves to the Europeans at the coast.

The Dagomba are not an Akan people. I think that they are Gur. They live in Northern Ghana and Southern Burkina Faso and used slave markets at Salaga. I think that the Ga live Ghana and Togo. I don't recall any groups selling their own ethnic groups, but the Ashanti would have likely traded any groups to the Europeans that were given to them by the Dagomba.

Slavery in Northern Ghana


Baoulé people - Wikipedia
Denkyira - Wikipedia

 

[AlainLocke]

Since...I got time...

When it comes to finding out knowledge...I think you should be bold about it...

Ima about to do my ancestry test to get more indepth, but I got public records and the overall story about how I get here from the paternal side.

They even have a documentary about him and his slave wife.


Come from a prominent slavemaster that got a town named after him and his descendants...and they have a family reunion...the Black and White side...get together...for what IDK.

shyt is creepy...like some Get Out type shyt...

 

[xoxodede]

Since...I got time...

When it comes to finding out knowledge...I think you should be bold about it...

Ima about to do my ancestry test to get more indepth, but I got public records and the overall story about how I get here from the paternal side.

They even have a documentary about him and his slave wife.


Come from a prominent slavemaster that got a town named after him and his descendants...and they have a family reunion...the Black and White side...get together...for what IDK.

shyt is creepy...like some Get Out type shyt...

I am very mindful about feelings and tone - and I don’t want to come across wrong or disrespectful - in any way.

But, I do want to ask questions - but I also realize they might not know. Or even care to talk about it.

I’m going to ease into it slowly - so far they all have been kind.

And you have to keep me updated on your ancestors story! Honestly, the mixed family reunions are not rare.

Check out this podcast on The Hairstons’ - it’s a great listen.

The Hairstons

Snakes on a Plantation: The Hairstons Part 1 by The Nod

Diary of a Mad Black Cousin: The Hairstons Pt 2 by The Nod

 

[xoxodede]

I don't know if you have a basic knowledge of that region, but here is what I recall. Now this is all from my recollection so it is probably wrong. I may have totally misremembered everything that I am about to write.

From what I remember the Akan people are the Ashanti, Baoule, Brong/Abron, Fante, Denkyira and a few other smaller groups. They are originally from the Kingdom of Ghana in the Sahel, but they (the Akan people) left at some point in the 1300's and retreated into the forest of modern day central Ghana and Ivory Coast; most likely to avoid the spread of Islam that was occurring among the Mande (Sonnike, Mandingos, Bambaran, Susu, etc.), Fulani and Berber ethnic groups in the Sahel. They traded goal mined in the forest belt with the Mande people in the Sahel.

Upon the arrival in the forest belt the Brong where the most dominant of the the Akan group, but over time the Ashanti, Fante, Denkyira, and Baoule became stronger. The Ashanti rose to prominence after defeating the Denkyira. Once the Ashanti rose to power many of the other Akan groups (except for the Fante) fled.

The Baoule fled to the Ivory Coast, wherein they are now the largest ethnic group in that Country, where they are something like 40%-45% of the total population in Ivory Coast. Branches of the Brong that were in Central Ghana, also fled to the Ivory Coast, where I think they are referred to as Abron; but in reality I think that they are still the same as the Brong that live in Ghana.

The parties that did the enslaving and the selling of slaves in Ghana and for that matter Ivory Coast is complicated. From what I can remember reading the Ashanti controlled the slave trade in that region, but they were not actually interested in selling slaves; they were actually only interested in the gold trade but they took slaves as a payment of tribute from groups like the Dagomba people. The Ashanti defeated the Dagomba in warfare and thus subjugated them. The Ashanti requested gold from all people they subjugated, but Dagomba specifically, chose to pay in slaves. The Ashanti in turn would sell those slaves to the Europeans at the coast.

The Dagomba are not an Akan people. I think that they are Gur. They live in Northern Ghana and Southern Burkina Faso and used slave markets at Salaga. I think that the Ga live Ghana and Togo. I don't recall any groups selling their own ethnic groups, but the Ashanti would have likely traded any groups to the Europeans that were given to them by the Dagomba.

Slavery in Northern Ghana


Baoulé people - Wikipedia
Denkyira - Wikipedia

Again - thank you so much for this thoughtful and detailed response! I really appreciate it.

 

[AlainLocke]

I am very mindful about feelings and tone - and I don’t want to come across wrong or disrespectful - in any way.

But, I do want to ask questions - but I also realize they might not know. Or even care to talk about it.

I’m going to ease into it slowly - so far they all have been kind.

And you have to keep me updated on your ancestors story! Honestly, the mixed family reunions are not rare.

Check out this podcast on The Hairstons’ - it’s a great listen.

The Hairstons

Snakes on a Plantation: The Hairstons Part 1 by The Nod

Diary of a Mad Black Cousin: The Hairstons Pt 2 by The Nod

I didn't mean bold like aggressive...but bold in like unfearful about it...

You talked to I guess...distant cousins off of Ancestry DNA?

My mom and grandma wants use Ancestry DNA.

I wanted to make an ancestry thread in the Root.

I guess this could be it.

Thanks for the links.

One of the good books about Ghana and the slave trade is...it's on Amazon Kindle for 12

The Fante and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (Rochester Studies in African History and the Diaspora

 

[Samori Toure]

Again - thank you so much for this thoughtful and detailed response! I really appreciate it.

No problem.

 

[xoxodede]

I didn't mean bold like aggressive...but bold in like unfearful about it...

You talked to I guess...distant cousins off of Ancestry DNA?

My mom and grandma wants use Ancestry DNA.

I wanted to make an ancestry thread in the Root.

I guess this could be it.

Thanks for the links.

One of the good books about Ghana and the slave trade is...it's on Amazon Kindle for 12

The Fante and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (Rochester Studies in African History and the Diaspora

I know - but that is something I am working on - my bold can come off very direct and assertive. And I hate it...lol.

That’s why I’m mindful - I’m forever getting checked by my mom - apparently “I talk to her like she’s my child” - when I ask or respond to a simple question.

I blame it on my 8th house Stellium.

And yup - but make sure to upload your DNA to Gedmatch, DNAland and the others - so you can find even more info out.

And make sure you do your tree on Ancestry- as it helps give you “ancestors hints/matches” on your DNA matches.

And thanks for the book recommendation!

 

[Black Haven]

Not to derail your thread but its pretty admirable @xoxodede how you are able to trace your family history back so many centuries and unique stories that come with it(and it seems you have found relatives on the continent as well)same goes for @im_sleep and @BlackPearl The Empress too. Meanwhile I'm having trouble finding info past my grand parents on the gotdamn census records

 

[xoxodede]

Not to derail your thread but its pretty admirable @xoxodede how you are able to trace your family history back so many centuries and unique stories that come with it(and it seems you have found relatives on the continent as well)same goes for @im_sleep and @BlackPearl The Empress too. Meanwhile I'm having trouble finding info past my grand parents on the gotdamn census records

Thanks

Lots of time, work and research - I have been working on my tree for over 4 years.

On African matches - you can search your matches on Ancestry.

It’s sounds like you need to order your grandparents death certificates - you can’t find them on Ancestry or Family Search?

If you can’t find your paternal grandparents work on your maternal grandparents. And vice-versa.

 

[Tim Dripcan]

My mom and grandma wants use Ancestry DNA.

Tell your family to use this instead.

African Ancestry – Trace Your DNA. Find Your Roots. Today.

It's expensive, however, they do superb work on tracing your mother or father lineage right down to the core. The company itself is black-owned too.

They have different kits you can buy. It's expensive because they don't have the big-time sponsors backing them up like Ancestry DNA or 23andMe.

 

[im_sleep]

Not to derail your thread but its pretty admirable @xoxodede how you are able to trace your family history back so many centuries and unique stories that come with it(and it seems you have found relatives on the continent as well)same goes for @im_sleep and @BlackPearl The Empress too. Meanwhile I'm having trouble finding info past my grand parents on the gotdamn census records

Were your grandparents born before or after 1940?

What states were they born in?