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Courtesy of William Holland
Marvin and William Holland, from left, sit beside Ntomnifor Richard Fru during an African-American reunion in June. Genetic analysis suggests that the Holland brothers are distantly related to Fru's Cameroonian family.
Thanks to 21st-century genetic testing, William Holland is finally able to show some of his African cousins what happened to his slave ancestors back in the 18th century. The climax of Holland's quest came last weekend, when about 60 African-Americans and Africans gathered at Franklin County Recreational Park in Virginia for a teach-in about his family's ocean-spanning, three-century saga.
The 42-year-old Holland, who lives in Atlanta, left his job at Coca-Cola and turned his focus to the family quest nine years ago. The quest is particularly difficult for African-Americans like Holland because their ancestors came over in chains with their African identity erased. Holland eventually figured out that his great-great-great-great-grandfather was brought over from Africa around 1772 and sold to a Virginia plantation owner. He even discovered that his great-grandfather, Creed Holland, was forced to serve in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
But traditional genealogical research couldn't give Holland any further clues as to his African origins. Exactly where did his ancestors come from? Did he have any present-day cousins back in the old country? That's where genetic tests could point the way.
Holland had his DNA analyzed for markers that just might match up with African kin who had taken similar tests. Records held by the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation suggested that he might be related to the king of a region in Cameroon's Northwest Province, named Fon Angwafo III. When Holland visited Cameroon and laid out his records for the king and his counselors to inspect, he was welcomed as a long-lost relative. In fact, during a follow-up visit with other family members, Holland was ceremonially named Ndefru, after Fon Angwafo's father.
The Africans told how they lost their kin during the days of the slave trade — but when the African-Americans told how their ancestors lost their identity through slavery, Holland's Cameroonian cousins just couldn't believe it. So Holland invited "the Fon" and his family to come over to America and learn more about the other side of the slavery story.
It took months to make all the arrangements, and Fon Angwafo III himself couldn't make the trip because of political obligations at home — but late last month, the Fon's wife, Queen Kiko Anna Angwafo, finally arrived in America along with the king's son and nephew to see the region in Virginia where Holland's ancestor ended up. Holland and his family were the Africans' hosts for a family reunion on June 25. Cameroonians from the Mankon region ruled by the Fon and from the nation's West Region attended the event as well.
Courtesy of William Holland
African-Americans and African visitors wear traditional garb at the Frontier Culture Museum's West Africa farm exhibit near Staunton, Va. From left are William (Ndefru) Holland, Regina and Kamari Holland, Marvin (Tsi) Holland, Prince Peter Tseghama Angwafo, Willie Mae (Mankah) Holland, Queen Kiko Anna Angwafo, Ntomnifor Richard Fru and Eric Bryan, the museum's deputy director.
Courtesy of William Holland
Queen Kiko Anna Angwafo picks up a pestle at the Frontier Culture Museum's West Africa village exhibit.
One of the highlights was a visit to the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, Va., where a replica West African village has been built to give visitors a taste of life before slavery.
But the climax came when the Africans were taken to the old Holland plantation, where William Holland's ancestors lived as slaves (and took on the last name of their owners).
"The whole purpose was to tie in the missing links," Holland told me. And by that measure, he judged the reunion to be a great success. The Cameroonians saw a blacksmith shop from the Civil War era. They soaked in the history as they toured the plantation's old chicken house and slave kitchen. They walked around the graves where slaves and their owners were buried.
"They totally understood," Holland said. He quoted them as saying, "Now we know you weren't joking around when you told us about this. ... It's very clear now, the pain and suffering you went through when you came to America."
And there was a bonus: A descendant of the slave owners, John Sherrard Holland, served as the Africans' tour guide.
Courtesy of William Holland
William Holland's family and his African visitors meet with John Sherrard Holland, a descendant of the plantation owners who held William Holland's ancestors in slavery.
"It was a great honor and a pleasure to do that," the 55-year-old operator of a hunting preserve told me later. He went to school with members of William's family, and "we've always had the best of relationships," he said.
As for the dark past of slavery, John Sherrard Holland said that has been left far behind. "It's history," he said.
But William Holland said that history is worth reflecting upon once more, particularly at a time when America is celebrating Independence Day. He noted that when Americans heralded their freedom in 1776, his African ancestor had been unfree for four years. "Just imagine what he was thinking," Holland said.
"Is it time for celebration?" he asked. "I don't know. But now we're trying to do justice to that heritage — and that's something to celebrate."
Previous chapters in the tale of William Holland's roots:
- Sept. 8, 2010: DNA points to royal roots in Africa
- Feb. 1, 2011: Family roots get tangled up in Africa
- Feb. 28, 2011: Black history saga comes full circle
- African American news from theGrio
For further information about genetic testing for genealogical purposes, check out this guide on Cyndi's List, or this entry on Wikipedia. If you happen to be a Boyle looking for genealogical information, take a look at my Boyle family website. You can also connect with me via Facebook or Twitter. And if you really want to be friendly, ask me about "The Case for Pluto."
Leave a Comment:
did the Africans apologize for selling their cousins into slavery?
That's exactly what I was thinking as I read it! Slavery is a very sad thing, but a lot of people don't really grasp the full context of what used to happen - neglecting to realize that Africans who didn't come over on boats were often the ones who helped fill the boats :(
Actually very few Africans were sold into slavery by their own tribemen! It was the Europeans who sponsored wars and raids in those days to get slaves building forts and introducing guns and carrying out expeditions inland! By Europeans we mean, the British, the Spanish, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the French, together with the backing of the Christian Church then! So everyone should know where the moral responsibility ly by now!
Evidently everyone does not know who you can say is responsible. The black african tribes enslaved each other, the arab slavers carried out raids and in mass enslavement of black africans long before the arrival of northern european arrival. The slave forts were established to trade cloth and metal tools ( that was the measure of price for a slave there, their worth in cloth and trading guns to aboriginal was forbidden by law of europeans) to tribal chiefs and "kings" in exchange for slaves, there just was not the manpower presence to venture much beyond those forts. Besides the issue of it is easier and cheaper as well as safer to have the slave brought to you rather than stand the chance of a tribe wiping out a small raiding group. The european took advantage of tribal practises and greed. That does not justify or excuse slavery in any form by any culture, but it also neglects the fact that slavery was common in every culture up to that historical point and not specific to any group. Today is a different perspective point and has different cultural values that are still not universal. Some cultures still practise slavery in africa and asia and the mideast. A good book that tries balanced discussion is "Slaves in the Family" by Edward Ball. A realistic exposure of the legacy of slavery based on extensive records from the establishment of slavery in N. America up to recent times. No appologies or denial but an interesting record of the evolution of slavery in N. America as practised and it did change with the rise of cotton agriculture.
No, they didn't apologize for selling their cousins into slavery. But do you think the Mexicans are going to apologize for selling us Meth, Cocaine, and marijuana? We're Americans and we are politically correct, if nothing else. We bought what they were selling. Shame, shame, shame??? (I'm not buying it.)
Aluceo: How did the Europeans manage to round up the slaves without the help of "their" people? That happens. People turn against each other within a small community that allows a larger community to take over. Stupid, but it happens and it happens everywhere.
And remember, all African Americans have at least one great grandmother (and probably more) who was a Cherokee princess. Since the Xena TV show these princesses have been upgraded to warrior princesses.
As someone who has been working on tracing my European ancestry for nearly 30 years, I know how challenging that can be. For Mr. Holland to trace his African-American genealogy back to 1772 is a fantastic achievement and I tip my hat to his hard work and dedication. I've debated being genetically tested myself, but I think this article tips the scales in favor of seeing what such testing may reveal.
Slaves or not, they had it better in this country than they ever would have if they stayed in Africa! Go to Africa today and make the same offer. Come to America as a slave or stay here and die from starvation and a hundred diseases. Which do you think they would choose? Slavery may have been wrong, but slavery as a way of life goes back to the beginning of men on earth. Nearly every culture had slaves. Some were treated better than others, but it was slavery none the less. I am tired of the stirring of the "slavery pot" for blacks! They were not the only ones who had it bad...just look what we did to the American Indians! You rarely see them complain. Give it a rest. Crappy article. By the way, Independence Day has nothing to do with the end of slavery, or independence of slaves.
1) You don't see the Natives complain because they're none of them left.
2) How bigoted is that comment? Europeans are responsible for the condition Africa is in right now. If Europeans would have stayed in Europe, the world would have been better off! This is the racist attitude I see common in white people, that you "saved" us from sure death and disease because we could not take care of ourselves, even though the evidence shows people were fine in Africa for 150,000 years, and ran some of the worlds greatest ancient civilizations.
Just remember, 40-60% of Europe died from the bubonic plague. If it wasn't for the Africans (Black, "Arab", and Berber "Moors") who launched Europe into a rebirth, and the subsequent exploitation of the globe by white Europeans, I'm certain that Europeans would be a lot worse off if it weren't for those 2 events.
A one sided view of this argument is always presented.
TekK ............
1) "You don't see the Natives complain because they're none of them left."
Where does that information derive from? Disease which the aboriginal had no immunity was devastating.... but the only regions I am aware of where the aboriginal no longer exists are the regions that suffered under the Spanish colonial system. That is not a factual statement to the question, even the most advanced aboriginal societies on the American continent (in south america) were barely beyond the stone-age level. Agriculture and in limited areas architecture levels were high, but stagnant. There were factors involved which the aboriginal had no control, I would suggest "Guns, Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond.
2) "How bigoted is that comment? Europeans are responsible for the condition Africa is in right now. If Europeans would have stayed in Europe, the world would have been better off! This is the racist attitude I see common in white people, that you "saved" us from sure death and disease because we could not take care of ourselves, even though the evidence shows people were fine in Africa for 150,000 years, and ran some of the worlds greatest ancient civilizations."
You are correct, all studies show humanity originated in Africa and did just fine there. But then you go into P.C. rather than objective. The black african stagnated at the tribal level with the exception of low level iron-age knowledge. The only exception I am aware of being one region that was comparable to Egyptian and no, Egypt was not a black culture. Were the black African beter off? depends, they were quite happy and successful at the tribal level and even after exposure to modern advances are today still tribal cultures with modern tools and weapons. Are the presnt day african better off or were they better off left alone? ....... I seriously doubt that region would have progressed much beyond the level that existed before European/Arab exposure but probably were happy at the level even with the survival agriculture, disease, slavery and wars of that level of existance.
The Black Death plague from asian sources (the highest level of civilization of the time but stagnant) did indeed devastate civilization in Europe. Advanced knowledge (even rudimentary for that matter) was set back for centuries, with a few exception in Celtic regions that kept records of previous Roman knowledge. The arab (not to be confused with black africa) made incredible advances in a very short period of time, the most beneficial in number notation and zero. The first plague prevented the reunification of the Roman civilization and set the stage for the Arab rise. Many advances did indeed come from that arab but it was short lived and collapsed back to the tribalism of today level, stagnated at the 7th cenury with 21st century toys. Following outbreaks also ended Feudalism and led to the explosion of culture and science in Europe. Whether any region would be better off without European exposure cannot be answered, that is like asking whether aboriginal groups were better off as colonies .... what is happening today under black leaders? Decreased quality of life and living standards but more personal control of destiny. Europe was inevitable to rise again from the massive population drop and central control collapse after the fall of Roman civilization, there was just to much knowledge retained (and new knowledge from arab peak) ready for use after population recovered.
All in all would aboriginal populations would be "better off" is subjective ..... would they be happier stuck in the stone age or happier with modern knowledge?
agreed with RJHuman history has always shown how the strong have taken advantage of others...,Slavery goes hand in hand with our lust for gold,silver , land, power and greed. It is not one perticular groups destiny ,all of humankind has been prey to it one time or another. There is no way every group, for being enslaves, from the beginning of time to now will apoligize..The point is..Slavery has to be justified physcologically and socially...so there in lies the biggest part of racism....Slavers have to contiue to dehumanize the enslaved....Today there is still slavery abound in the world..Indians,africans<children,women..we need to change our hearts and feed our minds..But as long as greed and and selfishness are feed we will contiue to have slavery...Apoligy for what....The whole world has become enslavers even today
I noticed how some people still are denial...The european nations have had more to do with the problems in other nations then any other sistuation.. They have left a mess in africa,india, afganistsan,iran,iqrac, middle east, south america, north america,asia...and now the crap has hit the fan...people past down personal history from child to child and people have long memories...All the so called eurpeons who think these people bring on there own problems by being "backwards" and "childlike" are in denial..Denial at there own "cultures" way of dealing with anyone not of their "tribe". Now there is hell to pay..Great grand children remember the stories...and the "treatments"...I am a veteran, My father,my great and grand father,s were, my uncles and my sons and daughter and the only one who forth a war that was close to the right, was my great grandfather who fought in the civil war for our freedom....Now we have to ask our children to fight "terrisom" which in large was created by Euorpean and Us policy towards there "colonies"....The bloggers who think the world is but a few are in troulble....People all over the world are waking up.. Stop being racist and join not a race or country or relegion....Join the humankind of the planet earth
I agree with your concluding statement but have some serious reservations about how you arrived at it.
I'm staying out of the debate regarding slavery that many of you are engaged in. I think it's beside the point of the article.
I'll simply say that this story of family research is surely a great one with a great ending because it makes for a new beginning.
Also, the photoes show definite look-alikes after all these years of separation. Amazing.
Interesting human interest story. Of course any group of people is interested in where they originated, human nature that is not relevant to anything useful. I wonder how the African distant relatives felt about the American relative that as a whole does not take advantage of education priorities, lack of self-reliance and opportunities available that they themselves would love to have? Do they ask why so few newly freed slaves did not take advantage of the opportunity to return to Africa in their own nation provided for them (Liberia). Do they ask why the former slaves treated the inhabitants of the new nation so badly (research the recent war there). Its all philosophical debate but interesting.
we must understand our past to truly begin our future... though our past is an ugly one it is time to turn a heavy page and create a brand new future. time waits for no one....