I first heard about this trip while visiting Faithful Central one Sunday in 2024. I went to hear Dr. Foster speak in person for the first time, but he was away celebrating his wedding anniversary—a beautiful reminder of the importance of making space to nurture and honor the relationships we cherish. Bishop Moody was the guest speaker that Sunday, and in addition to bringing a powerful word, he shared that The Worship Center and Faithful Central were partnering with Sankofa US to take a group to Ghana in 2025. I was a visitor, but I signed up anyway. I ultimately missed the 2025 trip, but when I learned they were returning in 2026, I knew I had to be there. I must say, this trip was life-changing. The Sankofa team, led by Bishop Davis and LaNiece Thomas-Flagg, did an incredible job curating a meaningful and unforgettable itinerary for our week in Ghana. I saw people who look like me smiling, loving, working, celebrating, legislating, collaborating, ideating, thriving, and living full and vibrant lives. There were beautiful Black faces everywhere—in the streets, in the marketplace, on billboards, on television programming, in museums, and even on the currency. Seeing Black people centered in every aspect of daily life had a visceral effect on me. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride, belonging, and connection. It confirmed something I have known since I was a small child growing up in South Central L.A.: the narrative that is too often presented about Black people by mainstream media does not tell the full story of our greatness. The truth is, we are powerful. We are regal. We are intelligent. We are resilient. We are creative, innovative, resourceful, loving, and so much more. I am incredibly blessed and grateful to have been part of such a beautifully curated experience. I am not a member of Faithful Central or The Worship Center, yet I was embraced by both church communities and treated like family. I felt completely at home, and I made connections that I hope will last a lifetime. This is a trip I hope every Black person has the opportunity to experience. I pray that those who make the journey will be immersed in the truth of who we are—that they will see, feel, and experience our greatness in ways that cannot be fully communicated through words. And I pray that truth inspires each of us to live even more confidently, boldly, and unapologetically in the beautiful Black skin we are in. As Dr. Kwame Nkrumah so powerfully said: “I am not African because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me.” (Ama) Loureva Watson - 2026 Returnist

With all the delays that happened that were out of your control, you guys did an awesome job to make sure we didn't miss out. Your team are the most attentive and caring people to everyone in our group. On behalf of myself and my Mom, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts 💕. You guys stay blessed and you will always be in our prayers and top on our list of recommendations.

I had a wonderful time. The bus coach was comfortable, the staff went out of their way to be helpful, flexible, knowledgeable, and accommodating. The site visits were carefully curated, meaningful, and the tour guides knowledgeable. Thank you for this experience of a lifetime.

I had a great time on this trip. The staff was so supportive, the accommodations were supreme, plenty of dining and sites to see. It was very heart warming and gut wrenching at the same time, oftentimes bringing tears to my eyes as we recounted the journey of our ancestors. I always felt safe. I look forward to taking this trip again.

I had a wonderful experience on my trip to Ghana (Sankofa Return Experience 2, July 2026). The trip was both pleasurable and informative. I have visited the continent of Africa several times before, but this was my first trip to Ghana. I have described this trip to family, friends and colleagues as one of the most rewarding travel experiences of my life. The experience was well-rounded with a wide variety of tour attractions and activities. We had wonderful accommodations, with friendly staff, great food, and picturesque landscapes, and we were exposed to a wealth of contextual and historical information as we journeyed from one location to another, and the Sankofa travel team was outstanding – friendly, attentive, professional and well-informed. Well done SankofaUS! I would (and in fact already have) highly recommend this trip to others. --Best, Roshalda