Connecting Heritage, Health & Healing

Who We Are

African Ancestry Link (AAL) is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to linking heritage, health, and healing through ethical DNA use to restore identity, improve wellness, and strengthen communities of African descent worldwide.

Why We Exist

AAL works at the intersection of ancestry discovery and preventive health, expanding access to DNA testing and genetic education for Africans on the continent and across the global diaspora. These communities have been historically excluded from genomic resources.

Through our programs, we:

Restore identity for individuals and families impacted by adoption, child-swap cases, trafficking, and hidden bloodlines.
Improve health outcomes by increasing DNA and genetic health literacy, early risk awareness, and preventive wellness, particularly for conditions such as sickle cell disease, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and mental health
Reconnect with heritage by helping people understand their ancestral roots and cultural histories.
Build community power through education, partnerships, and locally grounded initiatives across Africa, the United States, the Caribbean, and Brazil.

What makes AAL unique is our equity-first, community-led approach. We use DNA as a tool for healing, not fear, prioritizing education over diagnosis, prevention over panic, and ethics, consent, and cultural respect at every stage.

We believe that every African, no matter where they live, deserves the right to:

Know where they come from
Understand what runs in their blood.
Access healthcare and history through the power of DNA

Who We Are

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Our Story

African Ancestry Link (AAL) exists to restore identity, connection, and health for Africans and the global African diaspora through ethical DNA testing and education.

While DNA testing has helped many in the diaspora explore their roots, millions of Africans on the continent remain excluded due to cost, access barriers, and limited representation in global research. This exclusion affects not only ancestry discovery but also early detection of inherited health risks.

AAL is closing this gap by expanding access to DNA testing, genetic health education, and culturally grounded storytelling. We empower individuals and families to reconnect with relatives, understand their heritage, and take preventive action for lifelong health and well-being.

More than an organization, African Ancestry Link is a movement that uses science, culture, and community to rebuild trust, reconnect families, and ensure Africans are no longer left out of global genomic and health innovation.

Our Pillars at a Glance

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AAL’s pillars work together to link heritage, health, and healing, using DNA responsibly to restore identity, prevent disease, and empower African communities globally.

OUR MISSION

To expand equitable access to ethical DNA testing, genetic education, and ancestry discovery for Africans and the global African diaspora, regardless of geographic or economic barriers, empowering individuals and families to understand their heritage, detect health risks early, and take preventive action that improves lifelong health, identity, and well-being.

OUR VISION

African Ancestry Link envisions a world where every person of African descent, on the continent and in the diaspora, has the knowledge, tools, and support to trace their lineage, understand their genetic health risks, and prevent inherited diseases before they begin.

We see a future where DNA is used responsibly to restore identity, advance preventive healthcare, strengthen community trust, and close genomic equity gaps, ensuring African communities are no longer left out of global health innovation.