Returning to My Hometown After Decades: Where i LIVED, will Shock You!

In this video, I'm sharing with you my story of going back. After living in the UK for over 35 years, I finally decided to return to my hometown where I was born.
When I first arrived, I was shocked by how much my hometown had changed. But I was also excited to finally be back in my hometown, and to see the friends and family I'd missed so much.
Watch this video to learn about my experience going back, and to see for yourself how returning to your hometown can be a life-changing experience.
SANKOFA, is a word in the Twi language of Ghana meaning “to retrieve" “Go back and get it.” and also refers to the Bono Adinkra symbol represented either with a stylized heart shape or by a bird with its head turned backward while its feet face forward carrying a precious egg in its mouth. More literally, it means if you forget and you go back to get it, there is nothing wrong with it.
The arrogance of succeeding generations may lead them to ignore established conventions and traditions because the events and experiences that led to their construction would have faded out of the general consciousness but this is a grave error that must be avoided.
Sankofa embodies the spirit and attitude of reverence for the past, reverence for one’s forebears, reverence for one’s history, reverence for one’s elders. The mythical bird effortfully bending its neck to reach back for the abandoned but precious egg signifies the diligence and effort required to pay due reverence to the past and give it its proper place in the current scheme of events.
I went back to where I was born." I was born in a small town called Juaso in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. I lived my childhood years there till i was five when my parents took me to London.
As an adult, I always dreamt of going back with my family to retrace my beginnings. I finally managed to do so. Returning to My Hometown After Decades and realizing how I LIVED was an eye-opener. I was humbled and realized I have to even work harder and won't allow my hopes and dreams to be sidelined or co-opted ...

[@audreyquaye4095]

What struck me is the compound house system! It creates more opportunity for interaction within families. Thanks for sharing this with us.😊

[@ArabaWaters]

Wow!! 3 mins in and I’m blown away by the cinematography, your family, the display of culture and love!!

[@ODANANETWORK]

Thank you

[@Nikkinoonie]

I know right 😊‼️

[@a.konadu4010]

I came to Canada initially when I was four. Returned to Ghana for high school. From VERY humble beginnings too. Keeps me humble. I always try to help my family out no matter how little. This video really hit home. I've been an RN for 24 years now. Your dad's sister is beautiful. You can tell in her prime she was a real looker. Dentaa is one of the best KZbinrs. My 27 year old daughter is obsessed with you and thinks you're the most beautiful human on earth ❤️

[@kuyahkudey3217]

I went back to the town where I was born in the countryside of Jamaica. I had not been back for a very long time. I know how you must feel after making this trip.

[@susantilly3388]

Just saw you passing by my junction. Juaso is The Land of Legends. Am proud to be a native. Thanks for those beautiful memories. I shall visit again soon.

[@kwesifelixboafo619]

I love the layout of the town and the houses...

[@okorno22]

Refreshing. Never forget your root.

[@dianaaddison1]

I left ghana when I was 11 years to Netherlands Amsterdam… moved to England 2008” visited ghana 2012 and 2014 since 2014 haven’t been to Ghana 9 years now “ well I really miss Ghana “ hopefully this year will return to motherland…

[@nanaabakah8857]

Those of us from humble beginnings will definitely share a tear watching this. From Takoradi - Amanful to Atlanta- Georgia USA. Thanks dear for memories. God bless

[@jahs1247]

Awww I miss my motherland Ghana. We didn’t have much, but so much unconditional love surrounded us, by family, and a whole community. This is priceless money can’t buy. 🇬🇭❤️

[@ChiefAmu]

That compound house design provided both privacy and a place for kids to play. Dentaa this is gold congrats!

[@marrriiee]

i saw you at the airport on the 4th of december i think and oh my, you’re extremely beautiful. you had a black dress on and i remember i told my mum you’re the oprah winfrey in ghana and she had no idea what i was saying but i was just very happy talking about you ❤

[@ODANANETWORK]

Awww thank you so much

[@patricka3039]

The purest form of family and beginnings. Priceless, Dentaa.

[@zicohuud]

Family oriented, Ghana and its people, respecting and humbling,is drive from how families are interwoven, am a Dagomba from yendi,and all my siblings where sent to uncle's, anties, etc, Ashanties sent that t another level

[@adamfopa4170]

My greatest regret when I met Madam Dentaa at Dubai International Airport when I was on duty and I couldn't take a picture with her because I didn't have my phone with me. The discussion I had with made me believe she is a mother for all . One thing I have about her documentary, is the name of her kids . It's portrays her Africanism and Asante traits( Anigyeɛ , Nkunnim etc. )

[@nanafrima5522]

This is the best video i’ve seen on Ghana in a long time, made me homesick i love Ghana i love Accra but kumasi is my heart!!

[@jamesosei6888]

This brings back memories. Compound house living was the best!

[@GettingGoshen]

HOW BEAUTIFUL I literally SMILED the entire time. Watching your elders was priceless. It is wonderful to have such deep roots. Your children are awesome. I didn't know you had 3 boys.I wish you would have shown your mom more. Beautiful family💜

[@ChichiYakubu]

I couldn’t pause you’re such a great story teller and the cinematic experience was great. You were born for greatness

[@ODANANETWORK]

Thank you very much

[@maudadjei1936]

Oh my God Dentaa you got me so emotional. Especially when your little sister started saying it all about you. Keep on exploring.

[@obaapapatiencetwumbarimah3504]

I enjoyed watching this program BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE YOUR HUMBLE BEGINNING. keep doing amazing things. YOU ROCK SIS.

[@ODANANETWORK]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@StirUpYourPurpose]

Nice, must be memorable moment for the youths....what caught my attention is the hand shaking, is that the way it has always been, that is the young ones greet the elders that way?

[@kathyrama7079]

Oh God, I started watching this and was already in tears...

[@rosalineowusu2620]

Dentaa, I always watch your show but have never commented. I teared up in this entire episode 😢. Kudos to you!! Brings so much memories. I’ve been in the US for the past 26 years and finally went home with my 2 boys and husband last summer. We took the boys around to see both where my husband and I are from in the Ashanti Konongo area too:) We took them to Bonwire to experience weaving the Kente Cloth:) It was such an inspiration and self discovery experience for me and them. They enjoyed and cherished every moment of it. You’re absolutely right, knowing where you’re from, pushes you to do more. Great job and thank you for always sharing your experience with us 😊!!

[@keepitreal888-gnc]

Thanks for sharing this emotional and personal moment with us. It reminds me of when I visit my place of birth in rural Jamaica. Each time I visit my community, I thank God for allowing my feet to touch the soil of the place where I was born, and to see the people who knew me as a child, and to hear stories about me that I don't remember. Very touching video!

[@julesnartey-tokoli5045]

A few lessons from this vlog: 1. Never lose or be ashamed of your roots. Be PROUD of your roots. 2. It really takes a village to raise a child! 3. Apart from God, life is nothing without meaningful, loving and trusting family-immediate and extended., and friends. 4. Humility 5. Self dignity is to be prized more than wealth. 6. Craft your life by beginning from the end you desire. 7. Be grateful-“Be good to the people on your way up the ladder, cos you’ll meet them on your way down-That’s the way it is!”-Lucky Dube This is the QUEEN of all your videos so far! Love!❤

[@CookingwithEfya]

My dear very true

[@kwennison]

One of your best. Just journeying with you through memory lane is a blast. It's great your kids we're able to see the humble beginnings. Continued success 👍🏾🇬🇭

[@mylesmills9666]

There is nothing like family love- phewwwww this even made me cry ... for a grown man like me

[@ODANANETWORK]

awwwwww!!

[@mylesmills9666]

@@ODANANETWORK yes Dentaa the part that got me your auntie broke down when she heard your Grandmother name.. as I can relate to losing love ones and having only few family left. I pray God give us long life to enjoy what TRUE family means... thanks for sharing ☺️

[@Aku_Mula]

You are loved! Seeing this makes my heart swell with joy for you. #becauseofthem #ontheirshoulders #family #heritage

[@giftyakowuah2628]

Am from Asante-Akyem Agogo. I love going to my people. The super reception! Asante Akyem y3 guy rough

[@Ghanadiaries]

My dad is from Agogo, and I was there 3 months ago.

[@giftyakowuah2628]

@@Ghanadiaries wow

[@ODANANETWORK]

Big up

[@kwamenyame1277]

Ayyyeeeee my people ooo!!! Asante Akyem fo) nie. From Hwidiem (Mom) and Agogo (Dad)

[@akinjoaquim1013]

Awesome. The past always bring back nostalgia. Love this.

[@AtosKitchen]

Dentaa, your a special kind of woman/human, and so is your Mother & Father. Ghana is not my home, and I've only visited once thanks to the influence of you and many others. The joy, beauty and love is palpable, you have me in tears and I will be back. This is how Ghana will Catch You! Thank you Dentaa🙏🙏

[@deffkidd9088]

You're blessed my sister

[@CookingwithEfya]

Wow such a memory 😊

[@Elasworld71]

Awww what a beautiful video. You achieved so much. Thank you for letting us get to know your family and your beginnings 🫶

[@marrriiee]

this was very emotional. i truly thank you for sharing this. this is breathtaking. wow, God bless all the women who have been here, raised us and continue to raise us.

[@audreyquaye4095]

One minute in and I am in tears! What a life! This is so touching! You have done so well. Congratulations! May God continue to bless you and your family always! 🎆😊💕

[@KofiOpoku-acheampong]

I grew up not far from chorkor. I was living in mamprobi. By Gods grace we relocate to California 😊

[@violatebah]

From humble beginnings and your still humble bless you Sis.

[@princostudio-bringingthebe3227]

Any time I see you, it makes me smile because you are very decent and knows how to sell yourself out there. I believe most young Ghanaian women needs to learn from you. keep glowing

[@nanawurababerantuoarmooh]

Wow, this video made me emotional! I love your children’s names

[@bortiorkorbortey8502]

Wow that so much emotional

[@aikinsyeboah]

Unity is strength 💪 ❤️

[@yungafricans9270]

You made me teary. Wow such humble beginnings and achieving so much. Young ladies , this is real life.. no toil no gain. These days young ones want to get rich now and in the end , they live with so much regret.

[@ArabaWaters]

I feel so emotional watching this, so so beautiful. Thanks for sharing ❤

[@venessaesi]

This made me so emotional! I love it so much ❤ Ghana and its people are so beautiful. I can't wait to visit again.

[@py20]

Precious memories; thanks for sharing. How I pray we can bless all those older uncles and aunties in our lives. Many of them have struggled their whole lives and really deserve a break. This was beautiful to watch!

[@ODANANETWORK]

Absolutely!!

[@TechOPK]

Wow.. Is very good to let kids back home to experience and feel how it is. happy family ❤

[@kwamenyame1277]

Asante Akyem my people oooo!!!! I’m very proud every time I watch your show. I’m from Hwidiem and Agogo.

[@maxineigiebor7309]

Why didn't you return before now? You have been in Ghana for a while. Why take such a long time to reach out to your family? Charity starts at home and I really hope you will take the initiative to do something wonderful for your family and home town. With that said, I must also add that I am not in the know of what you might have done in the past. I'm glad you were able to visit and reunite with your love ones. All blessings to you and family🙏🏿

[@jamesosei6888]

Juansa here 😊

[@deanhamilton9280]

This was such an emotional video I hallo throughout the vlog, you're such a sweet person as we Jamaican say never forget where you're coming from.🙏🙏

[@pgmh-v3d]

You are indeed a wonderful person my role model and mentor Dentaa ❤️ Thank you for all your wonderful words of wisdom to me and for being such a wonderful example to us young ladies. Love you so much ❤️❤️❤️ this got me so emotional. Thank you for sharing 🙏🏾

[@ODANANETWORK]

Love you too

[@OffeibeautyNaturals]

This is beautiful.

[@khaleeqkaashif9348]

This is so beautiful, so wonderful 💖 I love Family unions... 💯

[@ODANANETWORK]

The best!

[@SistersInChristChannel]

This is a lovely episode. I smiled throughout and i felt emotional when your 2nd son spoke about you. He will shine...And yes,some of us who are not even part of your household can tell that you're a super mum. Well done .

[@anyangrb]

As soon as you said “guess what happened”I knew flat tire lol. It’s making me have flashbacks of me you and kevin getting stuck in the mud. I Was just telling someone how we were some brave kids back in the day giving our dads heart attacks galavanting Accra to Kumasi on our own 😂

[@ODANANETWORK]

🤭

[@juniordorsett3890]

How lovely is this beautiful

[@amenuvevedelalorm2412]

This video brought tears to my eyes. It is always good to go back to where it all started from❤.

[@vitalokore3771]

Nice one my sis'. Thanks for being bold to peel a bit of you for the world to see. 'Sankofa' indeed- going back to your root. Very therapeutic!!! -Piesie

[@ODANANETWORK]

Well said

[@BuildVisions4Africa1]

Lovely episode. Hope everyone goes to give back and mobilize support for a community project. There's a lot we can achieve through social media mobilization.

[@doriaqua3104]

Back to your roots. Very interesting. Point of correction regarding greeting from right to left. All the different tribes in Ghana greet this way. It is not just an Akan tradition. As an old citizen who was amongst the first citizens post colonial I like to educate where possible. The Akan tribe consists of: Akwapim, Akyem, Ashanti, Fante, Nzema, Bono, Akwamu.

[@feliciayankson4580]

Back to your root! I love your hometown story, that’s where the fun started! This is a beautiful one! I have visited Juaso once with a friend of mine in late 80’s it was a beautiful town even by then!😊

[@ODANANETWORK]

So cool!

[@akualutterodt2543]

Woow my alma matta. Blessed assurance preparatory school, glad to know u also attended same school. This story is very emotional n fun to watch. Well done Dentaa

[@gilberttakyi3265]

Nice documentary, great journey

[@ODANANETWORK]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Asantedairy]

Eeii Asante Akyem ni baa

[@georginabotchey400]

Well done sis

[@mr.afrikaano8672]

I love this video, I will do the same thing you did. But I will like you to do something for the old people your aunties, like getting a nurse to go visit them monthly to check their health and building them a flashing toilet so that they can feel comfortable at their age. I will like to support something like that

[@asitis1]

Nice Video. Very emotional and relatable😊

[@simonburns1799]

Having lived in Ghana for many years, I found this video very enjoyable.

[@ODANANETWORK]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@lydiareece6280]

Love the reunion with you and your family 💞💞💞🇧🇧🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@Vimac08]

Great episode. We are all proud of you Dentaa. Nice one ❤

[@yvonnewallace-bruce2554]

Welcome Sweet Adjeley 😋! When the storms hit just remember God is working out something good for you. So, cheer up milady, and get ready to rewrite yoir story in a big way. You're looking good and I like your hair style 😉 👌 🤞

[@mersicookware]

This gives me goose bumps. I love it

[@wextremeart4399]

Thank you so much for sharing I am so Honored and feel blessed for u sharing. I found out I'm 40% Ghanian just recently. I been watching all the videos I was a foster kid looking for my father did a DNA test I'm actually more than 40% African its other parts of the area too so yea thought I was Indian because of my Curly hair nope African no Indian

[@Arhinsamuel_a]

Wow this is deep 👌 Thanks for sharing May all your dreams and wishes come true 🙏

[@DolphynWheels48]

Odana, u are amazing person to return back to your hometown ..I just finished watching the video where u n ur family went back to visit Djuasos..u visited ur fathers family n other family members ..I was wondering if u helped ur village family in building something or helping them I am always watching videos of ppl who hv achieved things, gone back to their roots but never helped them ..I wld like to see that in videos

[@ODANANETWORK]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zl7RnZiPZtmDnpY

[@sikazwejerry4620]

God bless. Why should one person denies the family of unity, happiness, blessings and love?

[@albysam9997]

My beautiful mama and role model ❤❤❤ it the smile throughout for me 🤩🤩 Ioads of love.

[@Kwesiemman]

It all goes back to our past

[@PaulOtengKorang]

I love you Detaa too much

[@ODANANETWORK]

Love you too

[@walterhunter3353]

Loved your interview with Vanessa Williams

[@Dudus2000]

Beautiful family and beautiful town....

[@ODANANETWORK]

It really is!

[@sammydarko5416]

das very good of you Dentaa.Some people are even ashame of their root,others also perceive their root as headquarters of witches n wizard n wont bring their family .

[@Nikkinoonie]

What a Amazing video , I Love Love Love witnessing how a Community can play such a huge role in person’s development. This video reminded me of our past African American community’s . To keep it short , Beautiful video as a whole ❤❤Much Love, God Bless You and Keep Pushing and Producing MUCH NEEDED CONTENT ‼️ 🇺🇸

[@ODANANETWORK]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ebenofori3048]

Amazing grace ❤️ 🙌 ♥️ 💖. Great job, you went back 👏 👍 🙌 😀 👌 ❤️ Blessing voluminous.

[@glorianyarko8645]

Aww Dentaa you bring back memories.I grew up in nkawkaw our family house was behind the nkawkaw market.all my uncle's and aunties are dead memories.

[@ODANANETWORK]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zl7RnZiPZtmDnpY

[@eofori73]

This is a big family trip, well done to you

[@ODANANETWORK]

Yes it was!

[@gideonpeprah]

Beautiful 🥰🥰🥰. I'm teary already

[@ODANANETWORK]

😢

[@lucyako-nnubeng7272]

Aww bra afilima, still going strong

[@lillianngwexana990]

Humor of the second son! Lovely family.

[@nanakwasi9360]

Lovely trip,I am also from Juaso ,so is like going bk down memory lane.thank you for remembering your past.keep it up

[@ODANANETWORK]

My pleasure 😊

[@TheTradeuser]

Such a long journey, i am glad you are back home

[@yawfrimpong2941]

nice one beautiful names for the kids

[@samuelboateng3490]

God bless you and stap into your blessing Amen

[@nanaaddo9110]

pure ashanti family

[@Ghanadiaries]

Your aunt made me 😢. Ose Adansie se sen? These Ashanti women! 😆 🤣 😂 And she wants to know if you gave them the names 😆.

[@ODANANETWORK]

lol

[@lovelaceowusu-asante1725]

Very insightful video. ❤

[@blackentrepreneur8564]

That is a beautiful family, Odana u are truly bless.

[@GhanabaKwaku]

Adansie is your photocopy. Dentaa; you epitomize “It is not how[where] you start…”

[@johnson892]

You made me cry also

[@ODANANETWORK]

awwwww

[@loviswalesboateng6640]

Jouaso is one of the intellectual towns in Ashanti region.

[@juniordorsett3890]

There's no stopping us from the conternant or the Americas