When the Ancestors Called: A Soul-Stirring Return to Ghana’s Slave River

An African-American woman shared her experience visiting the Assin Manso slave river in Ghana, a place where Europeans once marched their ancestors, covering the distance from New York to Florida.

“They used to put the enslaved people in the river to clean them, then lather and grease them to give the appearance of good health, all to get the highest price,” she explained.

As we were walking down toward the river, my mom suddenly collapsed. She’s in her late seventies, and in that moment, I thought, My mom just died. Everyone around seemed to know what was happening. The cameras were rolling, capturing everything, and very clearly, I heard my grandmother’s voice though she had been gone for many years. She said, ‘She’s all right; she’s just taking a break.’

My grandmother then said, ‘Take me to the river.’ At that point, I was already crying, and we hadn’t even reached the river yet. When we finally entered the water, everyone settled into their own quiet spaces, meditating, praying, reflecting on what this moment meant.

I had lost track of where my husband was in the river, but on that beautiful sunny day, I suddenly heard him scream. I looked over and saw his arms outstretched like Christ’s, and then the sky opened up, releasing a sudden downpour of rain.

It was the most cleansing experience like something out of a movie. We caught it all on camera. He just stood there, as if being spiritually cleansed. Everyone was deeply emotional. It felt otherworldly, but when you listen to your ancestors and call upon them, they show up.

Writer: Frederick Nortey 

Email: nueteiafrohead@gmail.com

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Traveler, Tour Guide, Blogger, Writer, SMM