DNA matches link Utahn to large Nigerian family

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Modern DNA technology is breathing new life into family history research, making the world a lot smaller for Deena Hill of Mount Pleasant, Utah.

She, along with her cousin Desi Campbell — who lives in North Carolina — have been in contact with dozens of Nigerian relatives after getting DNA matches.

“We started contacting them and finding out our heritage, and we could actually narrow it down to a town — it’s in Igbo Land. Igbo Land is just a little section of Nigeria,” said Hill.

The research duo found that Igbo land consists of five states: Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu.

One of the relatives Hill contacted was Uzoma Kalu, who lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“Since that time, Deena has been in contact with me for information and also Mr. Campbell from North Carolina. I have relayed the information to my family in Nigeria in Ohaifia,” she said.

Desi Campbell made contact with Oliver Udemba, another cousin in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“I am 100% Igbo, so I’m as African as it gets! I’ve met a lot of groups DNA test groups that are connected to my family,” said Udemba.

Knowing and understanding the mission of finding one’s family roots is something that’s near and dear to Udemba’s heart.

“Everybody wants to know where they come from. Nobody falls down from the sky. If you ask an average American, they will tell you, ‘we come from Europe.’ They will even tell you where the compound is in Europe,” he said.

Having the privilege of narrowing down details of one’s history to a village or compound is not easy for some families.

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Many African Americans have ancestors who were forced into this country as slaves.

“Subsequently, their identities were destroyed. So, it becomes difficult for them, if not impossible, to know where they come from,” said Udemba.

Even with this reality, DNA technology is giving hope to families searching for answers and throwing in a few surprises.

Udemba said on a regular basis he’s getting calls from new relatives of a different ethnicity but still have DNA matches just like Hill.

They’re still just as eager to learn more about their Nigerian heritage.

“So even though their color, their pigment might look different from mine, but right inside what flows through their veins, there’s a lot of Igbo there. There’s a lot of my family there,” said Udemba.

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