Four hundred years after the abolition of slave trade, some African Americans of Benin descent have traced their ancestral home of Benin Kingdom, with a visit to the Oba of Benin in his palace and tour of the ancient city.
His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin who received them on Friday in his Palace expressed joy that many African Americans are doing well in different fields of human endeavor.
The Benin Monarch said he was proud of African Americans like Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, Malcom X and the first African-American President of America, Barrack Obama, and expressed satisfaction with the group for their decision to trace their ancestral home after 400 years of the abolition of Slave Trade.
The Oba of Benin told His guests that as a student in New Jersey in America, he had first-hand experience of what racism, oppression and deprivation was and thank God and the ancestors that they all survived the struggle.
His Royal Majesty however said that it was unfortunate that modern day human slavery in the form of human trafficking and prostitution are still going on in the world today, and called on the African-American Group to collaborate with Oba Ewuare II Foundation in its determined effort to eradicate the scourge from the society.
The Omo N’Oba said the Palace would like to partner with them individually or collectively to develop the socio-economic and political potentials of the people.
The African-American Group was led to the Palace by the Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora, Hon. Osemwengie Ero who introduced the Head of the delegation and Managing Director of Jemi-Alade Tours, Mr. Ladi Alade who briefed His Royal Majesty about their mission in Benin City.
He said the Group was on return to Africa cultural tour and they considered it very expedient to visit Benin Kingdom on account of its historical relevance globally, saying that after 400 years of slavery, they have decided to come back and reunite with Africa, Benin Kingdom in particular.
According to the leader of the African-American Group, Betty Arnold, they are very happy to re-establish link with the people of Benin Kingdom, adding that they are also in Benin to learn about cultural heritage, as some of them have been able to trace their ancestry to Benin through the scientific method of DNA analysis.
