Slave Descendant: Abagana Celebrates Return of Long-Lost Son from Diaspora

The people of Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State celebrated the homecoming of Dr. Griffin Lotson, a descendant of a community member sold into slavery, who returned from the United States of America.

Lotson, 71, currently serving as a Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem of Georgia, USA, was warmly received at the palace of the community’s Regent by Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Founding Chairman of the Igbo World Assembly, the umbrella body for Ndi-Igbo in the Diaspora. The event also welcomed other US returnees over the weekend.

Speaking to journalists, Lotson expressed gratitude for the warm reception, saying, “I am delighted to be here with my biological people after over 71 years away. My return will add prosperity to the Abagana community, Anambra State, and Nigeria as a whole. I feel humbled to be wholeheartedly welcomed by this great Abagana Kingdom.”

Lotson, who is also a businessman, historian, and researcher, added that his return would positively impact the community and the wider African continent.

In his remarks, Dr. Anakwenze described Lotson’s homecoming as a historic and emotional moment for Abagana. “Our joy knows no bounds. Since the start of this week, the community has been in celebration,” he said.

He recounted that Lotson traced his ancestry through DNA to Abagana, noting that his mother was taken from the community into slavery in the early 19th century. “Many of their descendants have become accomplished professionals in the United States, yet they sought to reconnect with their roots. Today, Mayor Lotson and other returnees are experiencing the land of their forefathers firsthand.”

Anakwenze urged community members to support the returnees, ensuring they feel at home and can contribute to local development.