A Man from Another Land: How Finding My Roots Changed My Life (35 page)

With my beloved grandmother “Muh Dear.” Cycling would soon play a key role in my unusual childhood dreams of my African destiny.

In the company of Uamahuno, the beautiful Himba woman I met on my first trip to Africa to play the lead in the film
Kin
, shot entirely on location in Namibia.

I had the privilege of working with John Amos—in the role of Troy Maxson and me as Cory Maxson—in August Wilson’s
Fences
at the Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, NY.

With my mother, Faye Marie McKee, who took me to a party where I first met a man who had African locks (dreadlocks)—an encounter that left an indelible impression on me.

With my lovely wife, Jenisa Washington, who reminded me of the beautiful woman I’d dreamed about after seeing Marie-Guillemine Benoist’s seventeenth-century painting
(below) Portrait of a Negress.

While I was at Howard University, I told people I wanted to be an actor and had a ten-year plan to work with Spike Lee, who was then a new director—folks wrote off my vision.

In my bearded phase with Moza Cooper, Melvin Van Peebles, and Jenisa, attending the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, February 2004.

I was honored to receive the 2005 Canada Lee Award. Lee was among the most respected African American actors of the 1940s and a tireless Civil Rights activist. With me are photographer Bill Jones of
JET
magazine; actress Vanessa Williams of
New Jack City, Melrose Place,
and the Showtime hit
Soul Food
; and Congresswoman Diane Watson.

My team on the May 2006 trip to Sierra Leone
(left to right)
: Guy Livneh (my cameraman), Dr. Andre Panossian (my doctor), Antonio K. Hubbard (my security), Raymond Scott-Manga (my tribal brother), me with my bodyguard standing behind me, Breton F. Washington (my architect), Crispian Kirk (my human rights attorney), and Adisa Jones (my soundman). The man in African dress was a guest at the reception whom we welcomed into the photo.

Before leaving the mainland of Sierra Leone, I gave thanks!

Wearing my
Oprah
T-shirt helped smooth the way with Sierra Leone’s customs officials.

I’m laughing with joy at becoming Chief Gondobay Manga II.