Canton Family Reconnects With Ghanaian Heritage
Members of the Canton family gathered at the University of the Virgin Islands to explore their ancestral lineage alongside visiting Ghanaian royal Prince Nashiru Kanton. Nearly 150 attendees joined the oral history presentation in person and online to help bridge historical bonds severed by the transatlantic slave trade. The landmark cultural event was organised by former Senate President Myron D. Jackson and Annice Canton.
In a deeply emotional cultural gathering, members of the local Canton family in the Virgin Islands joined together at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas to reconnect with their ancestral roots alongside visiting guest Prince Nashiru Kanton of Tumu, Ghana. Nearly 150 participants from across local districts and international online communities attended the oral history presentation.
The event, organised by former Virgin Islands Senate President Myron D. Jackson and Annice Canton, was dedicated to tracing family lineage and reviving ancestral relationships that were fractured by centuries of slavery and colonial displacement. Prince Nashiru Kanton, who represents the royal clan of Tumu in the Upper West Region of Ghana, participated in the event to share historical insights and connect directly with diaspora descendants.
The presentation highlighted oral traditions, genealogical connections, and historical records that tie the Canton surname in the Caribbean to its West African origins. For residents across the Virgin Islands archipelago, including the British Virgin Islands, initiatives focusing on oral history and genealogical exploration carry profound significance.
Throughout the region, communities share deep historical ties to West Africa, and many families continue seeking deeper understanding of their ancestral identities following the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade. Organisers highlighted the importance of preserving these family narratives for younger generations, noting that the gathering marks a meaningful step toward ongoing cultural exchange between the Virgin Islands and West Africa.
The exploration also opened the door for continued genealogical research and diaspora engagement between the Caribbean and Ghana in the years ahead.
Primary source: Virgin Islands Daily News (Website)