Through

                                                                                                       each of my

                                                                                                              Ancestors,

I've known Africa.
And Africa knows me.
I'm not new to Africa, neither is Africa new to me. 
We've met over and over again.
I knew Africa when she met my Father, years before I was born. 
I met Africa, when she knew my Grandfather and my Great-Grandfather and my Great-Grandfather's Grandfather. 
When she sees me lurking about, 
like a child in a playground, 
running aimlessly from England to Dallas
With my fist raised shouting idealistically: "I am the New Africa!"
She smirks, like an experienced observer
Having seen this scene play out time and time again
"Oh!" She says, "They're at it again"
"Isn't that Kainde's boy?"
"I've always known him" She says
"I have known him over and over again"
Through each of my Ancestors, I have always known Africa,

so she's not new to me.

~ Akindele T.M. Decker

Akindele T.M. Decker was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa in 1983. He is a community historian, poet and writer. He has published over 5 books for children and young adults. His writings cover topics dealing with the middle-passage, identity, and historical periods in Africa and the African Diaspora. He serves as his family’s genealogist and historian, with over 16 years worth of independent genealogy research into his West African family lineage. He has served on panel discussions for the American Association for State and Local History, Association of African American Museums, BrookGreen Gardens, South Carolina Penn Center, and other heritage-based organizations.

What inspires you?

Identity influences so much of how we see the world. I am always inspired to learn about the historical experiences of our Ancestors and how they saw the world during their time. I find the amazing stories of survival, resilience, and love in the many stories I come across, while conducting genealogy research for my family tree very intriguing. There is so much we can learn from the footprints our Ancestors leave for us. The journeys they have endured through history can provide us a blueprint for our own journeys ahead in life.

What do you write about?

For the last 16+ years I have conducted independent research into my family genealogy. With the support and contributions of family, Academics, and others I have been able to trace my maternal and paternal family trees as far back as the 1700s. I write stories based on the experiences of certain Ancestors and key historical experiences over the past 300 years. I love to see their stories come to life from the historical records and data I have gathered over the years. I hope that my writing creates portals that readers can transport through to see, learn, and experience those historical periods.

some of your books are historical fiction?

My two most recent books, Runtown and 1800 are both Historical Fiction. This genre generally refers to fictional stories based on and usually set around real events. 1800 is loosely based on true events that took place during the American Revolutionary War with enslaved blacks in the British-American Colonies. It follows the journey of a few from the Chesapeake region, mainly Virginia, and the Southern colonies, all the way to Sierra Leone, West Africa around the 1790s into the 1800s. Runtown is also based on true events, inspired by an Ancestor on my paternal side during the 1840s. I want readers to get a visual experience of what it was like during that period, for the Liberated Africans from Sierra Leone who traveled to Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean as Immigrants. I also write Children’s books about my Grandfather’s folktales, to help preserve our West African folktales for today’s generations. In these folktales, readers are introduced to characters from the early 20th century, such as Grandpa TC and Cousin Tommy, who are both based on paternal Grandparents.

is there a lack of historical data available for africans and the african diaspora?

There are many primary sources available that meticulously document Africa’s colonial history. However, I believe that many of them are not easily accessible or available outside of the Academic community. There aren’t enough local repositories for historical data that are owned and managed by Africans, especially concerning colonial Africa’s 300+ years of history. Even with more recent wider access through digitization of primary sources, the interpretations of these sources must be representative of local voices. Oral records are treasured and resourceful for validating documented history and there are many rich stories to tell that have been preserved within families and local communities. Africans and the African Diaspora have been exceptional at preserving our local history through family lore, folktales, cultural art, and other mediums. Local communities should not only serve as sources of historical data but also as beneficiaries of the amazing stories and analysis that can be useful to communities and families as legacy or educational resources.

are there some interesting things you have discovered along your genealogy journey?

Building your family tree can be an exciting life-long journey and intriguing experience that you and your family can benefit from for generations. I have come across many fascinating stories and intriguing links throughout my genealogy research. There is a maternal Great-Great Grandfather who’s mother was noted as one of the black American Settlers who settled in Freetown in 1792, following the American Revolutionary War. My Paternal Grandfather, born in Calabar, Nigeria to Sierra Leonean parents, has an interesting connection to the early studies of the Krio and Gullah languages. There are countless other stories connecting to places like Ghana, Lagos, Calabar, Port Loko, London, Nova Scotia and other places. Readers may find footprints of their ancestors in some of these stories that make into the books I write.

any memorable early experiences as a writer?

In 2005, I conducted a poetry workshop for Selsdon Secondary School in England and that was an awesome experience.  The originality of the students in developing their poetic skills was inspiring.  I still have a collection of their poems stored in a safe place.  I tend to revisit that experience from time to time by reading some of their poems and funny illustrations some of them created.  Imagination is an incredible testament of the power of creativity we each have within us.  Another memorable experience was in 2012 for a poetry reading at Busboy & Poets in Washington D.C.  It was my first spoken word experience. I performed "Dancing in Blue Waters", a poem about the very diverse African Diaspora.  I think most treasured of all early memories, was around age 9 in Sierra Leone, reading my Grandfather’s folktales from his book “Tales of the Forest”. Those years were my earliest introduction to creative writing and imagination. I remember enjoying reading those West African stories and falling in love with the animated characters in them. Since then, I have been passionate about telling our own stories and inspiring others to do the same.

how can we get updates on future works?

Please visit this website regularly or follow me on Instagram and Facebook to get updates.  I hope you get to enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed working on them.  As always, I am grateful for the time you take to read and experience my work.