Here’s what you may have missed on Samuel L. Jackson’s visit to Ghana and ancestral home Gabon

Francis Akhalbey August 06, 2019
Samuel L. Jackson with the king of his ancestral tribe, the Benga -- Photo via @samuelljackson on Instagram

Acclaimed Hollywood actor and film producer Samuel L. Jackson is currently on the motherland in what has been a very worthwhile trip so far.

According to MyJoyOnline, the Avengers star is on the continent to shoot a documentary series focusing on the horrors and dangers of the Middle Passage during slavery.

Jackson kicked off his trip last month in his ancestral home Gabon where he paid a courtesy call on President Ali Bongo and his wife and visited other tourist spots, among others. He also met the king of the Benga, the tribe he traces his DNA to, describing his encounter with him as enlightening.

“When you meet The King of The Benga, your ancestral tribe & he turns out to be your best friend Skeeter!!! When you’re on a journey of discovery & a life choice becomes clear!,” he shared on his Instagram page.

According to reports, Jackson also received a Gabonese passport from the Foreign Minister – officially becoming a Gabonese citizen.

Here’s what you may have missed on Samuel L. Jackson’s visit to Ghana and ancestral home Gabon
Samuel L. Jackson receiving his Gabonese passport

Jackson took to his Instagram on Sunday to share photos of his next stop, Ghana, where he has so far visited Jamestown, the port city of Tema, as well as, the Elmina Castle.

He also visited popular Ghanaian sculptor, Kwame Akoto-Bamfo, who is known for his Ancestor Project. One of his notable works features the sculptures of the heads of enslaved Africans to pay tribute to them.

Here’s what you may have missed on Samuel L. Jackson’s visit to Ghana and ancestral home Gabon
Samuel L. Jackson with Kwame Akoto-Bamfo — Photo via kuulpeeps.com

Titled Enslaved, the six-part documentary series, which explores the harrowing experiences of slavery through underwater archaeology, will have Jackson, who is a licensed diver partaking in the search of slave ships that sunk with slaves on board, according to Deadline.

“For me, this is much more than a TV series,” Jackson said about the series last year. “For me, Enslaved is an attempt to give a voice to the millions whose voices were silenced.”

Take a look at some more photos and videos of his trip to Gabon and Ghana below:

Here’s what you may have missed on Samuel L. Jackson’s visit to Ghana and ancestral home Gabon
Samuel L. Jackson with Kwame Akoto-Bamfo — Photo via kuulpeeps.com
Here’s what you may have missed on Samuel L. Jackson’s visit to Ghana and ancestral home Gabon
Samuel L. Jackson with Kwame Akoto-Bamfo — Photo via kuulpeeps.com

Last Edited by:Francis Akhalbey Updated: August 9, 2019

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