Hollywood actress Gabrielle Union and NBA superstar Dwayne Wade have shone a spotlight on Ghana while recounting their experiences during their visit to the “motherland.”
In 2022, Gabrielle Union celebrated her 50th birthday by embarking on a trip to Ghana with her husband, Dwyane Wade, and their daughter Kaavia James. Their journey took them from Ghana to Zanzibar, Namibia, and South Africa.
In a yet-to-be-released series called ‘My Journey to 50,’ Gabrielle Union highlights her life-changing moments in Ghana. She documented their experiences, from their arrival at Kotoka International Airport to various exciting adventures they had during their stay in the country. This highlights the increasing recognition of Ghana as a destination for cultural exploration and travel experiences.
“At the airport, out of customs, you’ll suddenly hear drumming and cheers and I am like ooh who Is here? I am looking around to see who is causing all of this excitement. And then I am like, oh it is for my husband. I see him getting this welcome from around the world. And then you’ll hear Kaav’s name, and Kaav’s name and Kaav’s name. Then I realized that there’s been a lot of people praying for our family and specifically for Kaav,” she said.
Gabrielle Union’s documentation of her visit to Ghana in the ‘My Journey to 50’ series offers insights into how the experience awakened their senses and connected them with their ancestral roots. This kind of deep and meaningful connection with Ghana is a common sentiment among many African diaspora visitors who find a profound and often emotional connection to the culture, history, and heritage of the continent.
“Ghana is that first bridge you cross as African-Americans into West Africa. As the beginning of our spiritual, emotional, physical and mental awakening,” she added.
Her husband, Dwayne Wade, also shared his encounter with the ‘Last Bath River’ situated in Assin Manso, where slaves bathed before being taken into ships.
The NBA star, in a teary tone, narrated:
“I am thinking mhern! Bringing them here to clean them up just to go sell them. Then they get branded. I could do nothing but think about how God built me and how my physique fit. As an NBA star, the same process that changed my family’s life and fortune is the same process that enslaved us. It’s the same thing. Clean up and let them draft me.”
Gabrielle Union, during an interview with iNews UK, revealed that her recent visit to Ghana had provided her with a profound sense of clarity about her life’s purpose. She shared a personal experience at the Last Bath River.
She said,”We had a chance to physically get into the river and say our prayers and call to our ancestors… a few years ago, they had done a ceremony so that I could have my child, and they did a similar ceremony for my husband and me this time around.”
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