Who Are Our Ancestors?

If you ask our family, "who are our ancestors" some would say "we have a lot of Indian in us". Marlene asked Willie Wade to take a DNA test to help trace our family ethnic mix. I hope you find this information interesting. If you want to learn more...join us at the Wade-McCain Family Reunion, August 4 - 6, 2017.

Willie Wade

Ethnicity Estimate

• 25% Mali
• 18% Nigeria
• 17% Ivory Coast / Ghana
• 11% Other Regions

Mali (Land Of Our Fore Fathers)

Historically, parts of Mali fell within three great West African empires: The Ghana, The Mali, and the Songhai.

Ghana Empire

The modern country of Ghana (which actually lies miles to the southeast of modern Mali) takes its name from the ancient empire of Ghana. Founded by the Soninke people, the Ghana Empire lay between the Senegal and Niger rivers and dominated trans-saharan trade from about 700 to 1100 A.D. Ghana was rich in gold, salt, ivory and slaves all moved along the trade routes. Ghana also amassed wealth by taxing commodities that passed through its territory. Muslim traders from North Africa introduced Islam to the region, and today, more than 90% of Malians identify themselves as Muslim. 

Mali Empire

After Ghana's decline, the Mali Empire, founded by Sundiata Keita in about 1230 A.D., rose to take its place. Like Ghana, Mali had gold mines and the empires wealth also come from trade, which included gold, salt and agricultural products from the fertile lands around teh upper Niger River. Islam's influence grew as the empire's royalty adopted the religion and at its height the Mail Empire was a center of Muslim scholarships, with a famous university in Timbuktu. Arab writers told of Mail's fabulous wealth and Mali began to appear on European maps in the 14th century. 

Songhai Empire

The Mali Empire was supplanted by Songhai (or Songhay) Empire in the 15th century after the Songhai people rebelled against Mail. Led by Sonni Ali, who came to power in roughly 1464, the Songhai began expanding their holdings, taking Timbutku, Gao and Jenne (or Djenne). By about 1530 the Songhai Empire had become the largest empire in West African and ruled an area larger than Europe. Like the empires before them, their strength and wealth lay in gold and trans-saharan trade.