WYCLEF: WHY AM I SO SEXY? I’M AFRICAN!

Haitian-born rapper, Wyclef Jean, recently joked he used to ask himself ‘why am I so tough, sexy and good looking?’ He then had a DNA test that showed he was 80 per cent Nigerian! His quip is a reminder of the indelible link between the Caribbean and Africa, brought about by the European slave trade.

In the 16th-century millions of African men, women and children were shipped abroad and sold into slavery in the Caribbean Islands, America and Europe. Most came from areas now part of modern-day countries such as Nigeria, Benin, Senegal, Ghana, and the Congo region. Major ethnic groups that contributed to the Haitian population include the Yoruba, Igbo, Fon, and Kongo.

Wyclef identities as an African, something that was instilled in him by his parents from a young age. His DNA test in 2019 just proved what he always knew.

The musician was speaking at a recent annual meeting of the African Export-Import Bank in the Bahamas. It states its aim is to strengthen economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean. But, as Wyclef explains, those ties run a lot deeper.

Video Credit: @afreximbanktv