Reviews

The customer service was awesome. They contacted me when there was a problem with my certificate they immediately reached out. I was very surprised by my results but African ancestry gave a detailed breakdown.

African Ancestry has definitely changed my life in so many ways because I am pleasantly surprised to learn I am descendant of the Malinke Empire and Senegambia, both of which are Mali (maternal) and Guinea-Bissau (paternal).

I done those tests to change how I view myself as a black man living in America and I encourage any black person to take the MatriClan and PatriClan tests to trace their African roots.

By printing official certificates for my family, they can have something to look back proudly on.

NA results were

Regarding my biological African ROOTS, I have been trying to verify African Ancestry’s results for my Y-DNA (Akan-Ghana), since 2020. Principally because all the academic journals that discuss the Y-DNA marker “E-CTS421” found it, in what is now, Nigeria. But, also because there was a possibility, that it traced back to Angola (complicated family lore, hence the "biological" part) associated to the 1619 "20 and odd" Africans/FPOC.

I discussed my results with several renowned population and molecular Geneticist (including with Dr. Rick Kittle ). All of whom told me to be patient in my family history research, and don’t discard the results, just yet, remembering the artificial colonial borders, and the reality of genomic testing across the African continent, at that point. Along with the limitations of testing within the walled gardens of every DNA company's database (which is also exactly why I test with as many DNA companies, as I have:

Autosomal:
AncestryDNA; 23andMe; MyHeritage; FamilyTreeDNA

Uniparental (Y-DNA/MtDNA):
African Ancestry Inc; Family Tree DNA; Y-SEQ; Roots For Real; YFULL; and others

I’ve also discussed the different results with several brilliant historians and genealogist, over the years, keeping the results in view, as possibilities.

I even managed to find, in a scientific journal article, an Akan Y-DNA sample, with the same STR numbers that African Ancestry Inc matched me up with.

So… I was patiently impatient. Anxiously waiting for something to break, by way of providing evidence, for (or against) any of the results, I got, across these different companies; and shedding further light into my great grandfather’s paternal ancestry.

This year, 2024, brought just that. And provided overwhelming evidence for African Ancestry's analysis of my Y-DNA origins:

My paternal grandfather’s paternal half sister (my half grand aunt) gifted her grandson an AncestryDNA kit, shortly before she passed on. Our connection is directly through my Y-DNA great grandfather. This is important because my great grandfather's Mother was white from Europe. And his Dad was the admixed African, born in America, to formally enslaved Africans. So autosomally, it's easy to separate which ancestries came from which parent, on a chromosome browser/painter. I get back to this, later, in this email.

Regarding my Y-DNA results…

For a while, African Ancestry was the only Y-DNA company that pointed me directly to Ghana-Akan, for four whole years.
Then “Roots For Real” another Y-DNA & MtDNA testing company (whom I tested with as well) underwent a massive update to their database of reference samples. So I decided to have them re-analyze the prior sample, I submitted, against the updated database. This time, the found matches to men from the Akan macro group, from Ghana.

Then, over at 'Family Tree DNA', my BigY700 (most extensive Y-DNA test available at FamilyTreeDNA) received a major update to my Big Y Block Tree. They matched me to a recent tester, whose Father’s side is indigenous/Native to Ghana.

Autosomal DNA evidence to back African Ancestry:

And as I’ve already mentioned, my paternal grandfather's paternal half-sister's grandchild took an ancestryDNA test (which we share my direct-line paternal great granddad, as our most recent common ancestor). And it adds more support for African Ancestry's analysis along with breaking other brick walls down. One of the chromosomes my father and my Father's paternal neice share with my paternal 2nd cousin is chromosome 12, which is painted as matching their Ghana reference data. It shows up on my 12th chromosome as well, but AncestryDNA attributed it to the wrong parent, so now I've got to address that chromosome painting error, with them 😩.
That, being said, my Father's, 1st cousin (connects to my grandfather), and 2nd cousin's ( connects to my great grandfather) paternal Ghanaian Ancestry, indicates that my direct paternal Y-DNA 2nd great grandfather, was partially Ghanaian; and which African Ancestry (and the other Y-DNA test) indicates that the autosomal segment was inherited from the Y-DNA ancestor, who more specifically may have been an Akan individual.

I now have autosomal DNA painting support, for this Ghanaian connection on my paternal Y-side, too. How cool is that?!?!?

So, this morning, I just wanted to send you this bit of praise of the excellent analysis, Dr. Kittles and the team did for my Patriclan.

It is wonderful to finally have roots to look back on, thank you for this service you provide.

Thank you Afrikan Ancestry,

You all are truly valued. Thank you for doing what the others don't.

i thank the team for all yall are doing iam hoping that i go to the post office and my result will be there so just staying positive so keep on doing for the peoples hope to here real good news soon peace and love.

I didn't get it. Would you please send it to me again. Thank you

I was overwhelmed with my MatriClan Test Kit!!
Immediately I started researching my people in the area of Freetown, Bo, and also South Carolina!! I can’t wait to return home and I am studying the language and cultures in preparation!! I will reclaim my birthright, own land and immerse my family in the land and traditions of our ancestors!!

Looking forward to knowing my heritage

Very pleased

Very simple process.

I haven't received my results therefore I can't share a review.

Great product satisfied and delivered timely and changed my life 💜

How and when will I receive my results?

Continent Pendant (Small)

MatriClan Test Kit

I am particularly proud of the certificate and hope that the ancestors know how much I revere them as I add this certificate to my collection of memorabilia and family documents.

Test kit was delivered quicker than expected. Instruction on how to give a swab sample was easy to follow.

The test was very straight forward to take but to receive the results is bit longer than I expected.

It was easy and straightforward.

MatriClan Test Kit

The day I received my test, I immediately took the test and sent it back the same day. So far, I have not received notice or confirmation that you've received my test at your lab. It's been several weeks since I sent it.

The Kit arrived on time. The instruction was clear. The Kit content were in appropriate envelopes

I was really excited how quickly the PatriClan kit arrived. I’ve been so intrigued for so many years about my family’s history and now I will have answers! The instructions were simple and I sealed and mailed it off. Anticipating the day 🫶🏾✊🏾