Year of Return 2019

Times like this I wished I wasn’t afraid of flying. Big things are happening in Ghana and 2019 marked a major landmark calling all African diasporas home. It has been 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia. While August 2019 marked 400 years since enslaved Africans arrived in the United States.

So what is the “Year of Return” exactly? It is the celebration of the resilience of all the victims of the Trans Atlantic slave trade who were displaced and scattered throughout North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. According to recent comprehensive analysis over the course of the slave trade between 1525 and 1866,12.5 million Africans were shipped to the New World, where nearly 11 million have survived this horrific passage.

The main goal is to use tourism to attract business and investment opportunities, in order to rebuild what was stolen over 400 years ago.

Essence Ventures took another step in supporting cultural ownership through the launch of Essence Full Circle Festival, with partners whom include SheaMoisture, Microsoft, Conservation International and the office of Diaspora Affairs.

Celebrities like Akon, Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Campbell, Anthony Andersen, Jidena, Nigerian Youtuber Jackie Aina, and many many more all joined the festivities hosted in Accra, Ghana.

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