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Canarvon's West African Ancestry

Many people in Southern Africa have ancestors that migrated from West and East Africa 300-1,500 years ago.  In South Africa today, many groups can trace a majority of their ancestry from West Africa 1,000 years ago, including the Zulu, Xhosa, Owambo, and others.  Some groups, like the Herero, Himba, and Damara migrated from West Africa some 300 years ago.

For people in Canarvon, approximately 25% of their ancestry is West African. Their Bantu ancestors are very similar to that within the Yoruba Population.  
image.png
Gumuz
Himba
Canarvon

In this diagram, you can see how the West African ancestry of the people in Canarvon is more similar to the West African ancestry in Himba populations than Gumuz populations.

Zulu
Himba
image.png
Canarvon

Furthermore, you can see that the West African ancestry of the people in Canarvon is more similar to the West African ancestry in Zulu populations than Himba populations.

image.png
Zulu
Yoruba
Canarvon

Building off of that, the West African ancestry of the people in Canarvon is more similar to the West African ancestry in Yoruba populations than Zulu populations. 

image.png
Himba
Zulu
Yoruba
Gumuz
Canarvon

Putting this all together, the West African ancestry for the people in Canarvon is most similar to Yoruba populations, then Zulu populations, then Himba populations, and least similar to Gumuz populations. 

Another way to think about how all the West African groups are connected throughout time is to imagine a tree/stream of connectedness.
Himba
Zulu
Yoruba
Gumuz
Canarvon

Common Ancestor of all West African populations as of 120,000 Years ago

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