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Pella'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 Pella, approximately 20% of their ancestry is West African. Their Bantu ancestors are similar to that within both the Yoruba and Zulu populations.
Gumuz
Himba
Pella
In this diagram, you can see how the West African ancestry of the people in Pella is more similar to the West African ancestry in Himba populations than Gumuz populations.
Zulu
Himba
Pella
Furthermore, you can see that the West African ancestry of the people in Pella is more similar to the West African ancestry in Zulu populations than Himba populations.
Zulu
Yoruba
Pella
Building off of that, the West African ancestry of the people in Pella is more similar to the West African ancestry in Yoruba populations than Zulu populations.
Himba
Zulu
Yoruba
Gumuz
Pella
Putting this all together, the West African ancestry for the people in Pella 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
Pella
Common Ancestor of all West African populations as of 120,000 Years ago
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