SierrAfrica Diaspora Connect has announced a 10-day Heritage & Legacy Tour to Sierra Leone scheduled for April 22 through May 1, 2026, creating what organizers describe as a powerful bridge between the African Diaspora and its Sierra Leonean roots. Limited to just 30 participants, this immersive experience represents a significant initiative in cultural reconnection and economic collaboration that extends beyond traditional tourism.
The tour's unique approach combines multiple elements rarely found in heritage travel experiences. Participants will engage in a Business Expo hosted at Fourah Bay College, connecting global entrepreneurs with Sierra Leonean innovators, educators, and business leaders. This component aligns with Sierra Leone's national tourism strategy, which Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela Tunis recently emphasized by declaring 2025 the "Year of Ecotourism." Tunis noted that Sierra Leone is "reclaiming its rightful place on the global stage this time using tourism, culture, and conservation as its springboard." The Expo is designed to spark diaspora-to-local partnerships and encourage investment in agriculture, technology, tourism, and cultural industries.
Historical connections form the foundation of this initiative, particularly through the shared story of the Gullah Geechee people whose ancestors were taken from Sierra Leone's rice-growing regions to coastal areas of the Carolinas, Georgia, and various Caribbean destinations including Jamaica, Haiti, Grenada, and Barbados. The tour aims to strengthen the historical, agricultural, and cultural ties that bind these communities across the Atlantic.
A significant philanthropic component accompanies the tour, with each participant contributing directly to infrastructure improvements on Tasso Island, home to more than 5,500 residents. Funds raised will support clean water, solar power, sanitation, educational upgrades, and internet connectivity projects. This initiative ensures that descendants give back to the communities from which many African American, Afro-Caribbean, and British-African ancestors originated.
The tour will feature a landmark dedication ceremony in Freetown for artifacts that will be permanently installed at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park in Hilton Head, South Carolina—the first self-governed town of formerly enslaved Africans in the United States. This installation symbolizes a spiritual homecoming for the African American community. These events will be captured in the documentary Bridging Freedom, which explores the enduring cultural continuum between Sierra Leone and the Gullah Geechee corridor from North Carolina to Florida.
Participants will join Sierra Leone's 65th Independence Day celebration on April 27, experiencing the country's vibrant culture, musical traditions, and expressions of freedom—elements deeply resonant with Gullah Geechee communities who continue to preserve West African language, spirituality, cuisine, and storytelling. The tour also includes visits to historically significant locations including the ruins of Bunce Island and Mozza Beach.
Executive Director Marva Goldsmith describes the initiative as "a historic journey of heritage, entrepreneurship, and renewal—where Gullah Geechee legacy meets Sierra Leone's living history, and the past inspires a powerful future on both sides of the Atlantic." Curated by SierrAfrica Diaspora Connect, an international collaboration of leaders from the United States, United Kingdom, and Sierra Leone, the tour represents a rare cross-continental experience. Participation requires a $300 tax-deductible deposit that also serves as a contribution to life-affirming projects for the Tasso Island community. Full itinerary, pricing, and registration details are available at https://www.sierrafricanetwork.com.
