Students in Brazil trace ancestry to African empires
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In Alcântara, Brazil, students in a quilombola territory, a community of descendants of escaped slaves, are researching their African roots through DNA testing, historical records, and oral traditions.
The Origens project began when teacher Lucas Sousa noticed students understood the history of slavery but lacked knowledge of their ancestors’ lives in Africa. Students investigated their origins, discovering strong genetic links to the Gold Coast and Slave Coast regions of West Africa, particularly the former Kingdom of Dahomey, now Benin.
The research connected to local traditions in Maranhão state, where the Tambor de Mina religion has roots in Dahomean culture through the figure of Na Agontimé, a woman brought to Brazil during slavery. Students also found connections to the Senegambia region, including the Mali, Jolof, and Kaabu kingdoms, revealing the diversity of African origins within the community. Kaylla Garcia, one student, felt anger upon learning about the disruption of African histories caused by the slave trade.
The project helped students view Africa not simply as a place of origin for enslaved people, but as a continent with rich and complex histories, inspiring them to want to visit their ancestral lands.
