A Dutch-born man of Nigerian descent has completed an extraordinary road trip across 13 countries to reconnect with his ancestral roots in Abia State, drawing a rousing welcome from his hometown.
Azubuike Onwuka, grandson of the late academic, Prof. Uga Onwuka, travelled by road from the Netherlands through Europe and Africa before arriving at Ebem Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.
His journey took him across the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and the Benin Republic before he crossed into Nigeria.
Speaking during a reception organised in his honour, Onwuka said the expedition was driven by his desire to reconnect with his father’s homeland despite being born to a Dutch mother and raised in the Netherlands.
“Although I was born and raised in Europe, I have always felt a deep connection to my father’s homeland. I wanted to experience the culture, traditions and history of my people firsthand,” he said, adding that a dream and his passion for adventure inspired him to undertake the solo road trip.
His arrival sparked widespread celebration in Ebem Ohafia, where community members welcomed him with traditional prayers, songs and cultural performances.
The famous Ohafia War Dance Group led a colourful procession to the palace of the traditional ruler, where Onwuka paid homage and received royal blessings before proceeding to his family compound for further celebrations.
In a statement, the Ebem Ohafia Development Union described the homecoming as a symbolic reunion that highlights the enduring bond between members of the diaspora and their ancestral homeland.
