Up First from NPR The Sunday Story: The Diaspora's Troubled African Dream
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Feb 25, 2024 
In this engaging discussion, Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR's West Africa correspondent, and Lenval Ashley Skiers, a Canadian of Jamaican descent now living in Ghana, explore the Pan-African Village initiative. They dive into the emotional journey of reconnecting with ancestral roots, the allure of affordable living, and the tensions between diaspora settlers and local Ghanaians. Akinwotu highlights the economic struggles in Ghana, while Skiers shares his transformative experience. Together, they unravel the complex identity and privilege dynamics within this rapidly evolving community.
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Lenval's Move to Ghana
- Lenval Ashley Skiers, born in Jamaica and a long-time Canadian resident, moved to Ghana in 2019.
- He acquired land offered to the diaspora by a local chief and built a home, seeking a sense of belonging in his ancestral homeland.
Ghana's Year of Return
- Ghana's "Year of Return" initiative in 2019 encouraged diaspora members to reconnect with their roots.
- This initiative marked 400 years since the first slave ships arrived in the US and promoted Ghana as a welcoming homeland.
Connecting with Ancestral Homeland
- Lenval's visit to Cape Coast Castle, a former slave port, deepened his connection to Ghana.
- Feeling unwelcome in Canada due to racial discrimination, he saw Ghana as a place where he truly belonged.