Meet the 4 Afro-Americans of Bissa descent

If you know your history, then you would know where you are coming from, says the late legendary Bob Marley

Tracing family roots back through generations can help a person connect more deeply with a sense of self by learning about their family’s past—where they came from, who they were, what they did, the trials they overcame, the accomplishments they achieved, and the dreams they had.

Researching genealogy can be a great family activity, involving siblings, children, and grandchildren. It can bring family members together around a shared interest and also inspire intergenerational storytelling and sharing. Learning about common ancestors has a way of opening up doors of communication. Sometimes, research will even end up reconnecting long-lost relatives in surprising ways.

And that is exactly what these four American-born Bissa have done.

Being curios about their family heritage, David Holland, Jason Legg, Jo-el Perryman, and Julian Vaughn in 2021 took up the challenge to trace their lineage by going for African Ancestry’s Y Chromosome DNA test, and a certified result linked them to the Bissas.

In a chat with Bissanewsonline.com, three of them, David Holland, Jason Legg, and Jo-el Perryman, told their respective stories in a more captivating fashion.

David Holland, 
Durham North Carolina

I live in Durham North Carolina, but am originally from the nation’s capital, Washington DC. I visited Ghana last year in the month of June. During my visit, I was inducted into the Bissa tribe and received the surname Naabo. This name translates as one who will return.

I hope to return next year to participate in the Zekula unity festival, meet other members, learn the Bissa language, and discover more of my ancestral history that was lost due to 400 years of separation in America.

I have dreamed of coming to Ghana for at least 28 years. I surpassed my expectations with the things I seen and heard while living amongst the great Ghanaian people. I observed that the Ghanaian people are smart, hardworking, resourceful and do a lot with a little. I hope to add to the resources of the proud Bissa collective by utilizing my background in Information technology, business and construction engineering. I am married with four kids. I hope to bring my family on my return visit.

Here is my family lineage (David Holland) going back to my Bissa ancestor. My Bissa ancestor is an unknown 6th great grandfather based on DNA approximation.

Jason Legg, 43 years old
Chicago, Illinois

Learning of my Bissa decent warmed my heart tremendously. It has been a rewarding journey to learn about the culture and the vast history we share. Likewise, as a husband and a father of a 6 year old boy, I am deeply grateful to share our history with him. I loved visiting one African country earlier this year, however, there is nothing more I look forward to than finally greeting my fellow Bissanno brothers and sisters later this year in Ghana. I hope to learn more and reconnect with my family. On behalf of my family here in America, I would like to say hello and send well wishes to all my Bissanno family abroad.

Jo-el Perryman, California

In 2021 I took the African Ancestry’s Y Chromosome DNA test to trace my paternal line. My result was 100% match from the Bissa people in Burkino Faso. This discovery was the amazing piece of information missing about my stolen history. I am privileged to know what happened to my Bissa ancestor. Along with my father, I have traced our family paternal line to the Muscogee Creek Freedmen; African people enslaved by Muscogee Creek Indians in modern day Georgia, Alabama, and Northern Florida. My 3rd great grandfather, Hector Perryman, was a slave to Mose Perryman, a Creek Indian.

But the story doesn’t end here. It has a few more twists. My childhood friend, Julian Vaughn also took the same DNA test and is also Bissa from Burkino Faso. Additionally, I visited Ghana in 2019. My father’s non profit making organisation has a sister organization in Tema called Meaningful Life International. One of the faithful employees, Tahiru Wahab Adams, has been working with my father, Grant Perryman, for the past 15 years. Wahab and I have become good friends. He is “Bissa gwaa”. Unbeknowst to me, I have been surrounded by “nda nyono” all my life. I plan to return to Ghana soon to connect with my new family.

“Moo yaada barka”.

Julian Vaughn

Bissanewsonline, however could not establish contact with Julian Vaughn to tell his side of the story.