Africa to me is the motherland of my ancestors.
The land from which my roots grow.
While I have not had the ability to research what tribes and part of the continent my ancestors specifically came from, I am in fact African American, and therefore understand Africa to be the home of my distant ancestors. As I continue to grow my knowledge on the history of my people, the possibility on when my ancestors first arrived in what we call today the United States is wide.
Through various primary and secondary sources I have come to understand that Africa was a place of diversity. There are so many tribes with so many different cultures and languages within the continent. Growing up, I would hear a lot "In Africa we were kings and queens". Of course now I know that things were a little more complex than that. But who knows maybe I come from royal lineage.
When I think of Africa, I think of the beautiful scenery. The trees, the open plains, the artistic nature of the villages and homes, the animals, the rivers and waters. I think of the jungles and deserts. I think of kente cloth and so many other styles and fabrics that are eccentric, colorful, and dynamic. Each with patterns and color that symbolize different things as what tribes someone came from and what their culture might be. I think of families being the village, sayings like "it takes a whole village to raise one child".
When I think of Africa I also think of a place I never knew. A place where my ancestors were kidnapped from, by their tribal leaders, by their sister tribes, and by the Europeans, who meant to stuff them on ships and send them to a "new world", where they would be sold off as slaves. When I think of Africa, I think of a place where my ancestral line has been removed from for over 400+ years. I think of the trials and tribulations my people had to endure for centuries, with no hope of ever going home.
The motherland and all its beauty. The motherland I did not grow to know. The motherland that I have thus far only read about. The motherland I wish to have the privilege to step foot on one day.
Ancestral history, distant lineage, my roots.
That is Africa to me!
It's lovely to see that you have a deep affinity for Africa, our forefathers' homeland. Africa possesses an abundance of cultures and a long history. You described the breathtaking sceneries and the gorgeous surroundings in excellent detail; I especially appreciated that you mentioned Kente Cloth.
*I like you layout
I really give credit for going beyond slavery. Kind of reminded that Africa is found in the little things of life besides the trauma we are stereotypically taught.
I often think of Africa as a distant land, wishing I knew more about her, wishing I could see and experience her. You gave a lot of insight to what Africa should mean to all of us with African descent and the visions in your words was very interesting. I plan to do Ancestry.com in the near future to find out my roots.
Often, I, too, look at Africa for its land and its physical beauty. As an African America, I actually did not look at Africa in that light. I went to it being a "motherland" and home for people. The people who were actually born and raised from African family. Your blog was a great read! I loved your image portrayals of Africa in different medias, as well. I liked your spin in looking at it as a place that you actually don't know. You added a bit of facts and additional knowledge as well to allow people to get a much deeper feel on what Africa is or isn't to you.