In 1860, wars and raids were being staged in Africa to capture Africans and sell them to Europeans into enslavement.  The Kingdom of Dahomey was deeply entrenched in the trade of people, usually captured during the fighting.  Many unfortunates were captured and being held in the barracoons in Dahomey when some wealthy American businessmen decided that they wanted to smuggle more Africans into America, even though their importation was outlawed in 1808.  120 people were purchased, 110 of them survived the journey to America and found themselves living just off the Mobile Bay, in Alabama.   

When these Africans were emancipated five years later by the government, their purchaser refused to pay for their passage home to Africa.  Additionally, he blocked their approval for re-patriation to Liberia, so that he could keep them on his plantation while he paid them meager wages.  Since they were not able to return home, they decided to create an African Town right here in the United States.  They worked, bought land, built homes, churches and even held court while governing themselves and living their African lives.  Their descendants are alive today, some still live in the Mobile/Plateau/Prichard area of Mobile.   

Join us as we visit Africatown for a retreat to heal the trauma suffered for generations due our enslavement and the middle passage of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. We will begin our healing journey together on Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 5:00pm.

• We will be staying together in a house in Mobile, Alabama.  

• You will be provided breakfast daily and three group dinners, and two boxed lunches when we are out in the field (you will be responsible for any other meals you require).

• We will visit the Africatown Heritage Center in Africatown, Plateau, Lewis' Quarters, and sail the Mobile Bay to visit the site where the Clotilda was burned after The 110 were offloaded from the ship. 

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 We will enjoy each other's company and support each other in healing our history; you will not be alone on this journey. We will be working on our healing right up until check-out on Monday, November 9 at 11:00 am.   

If you have any questions feel free to email me at SankofaSojourns@gmail.com or call (732) 882-7387. I am so excited for this opportunity to share our healing and cannot wait to see you in Africatown!

 

Itinerary

See below for selected itinerary details:

 

Thursday, Nov. 5

• Arrive in Mobile (airport transportation is not included, but once you arrive we got you!)

• Meet and Greet Activities

• Dinner

• Movie Night and grounding

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Friday, Nov. 6

• Morning Stretch, meditation and tools workshop

• Visit Africatown Heritage House

• Cruise on Mobile Bay 

• Dinner

• Crafts and Creativity

• Nighttime Meditation and Journaling 

 

Saturday, Nov. 7 

• Morning Stretch and Meditation

• Free time until sunset

• Dinner

• Game Night Fun!

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Sunday, Nov. 8

• Sunrise Stretch and Meditation

• Ancestral Healing Workshop

• Visit Africatown Sites 

• Energetic Cord Cutting Ceremony

• Rest, Round Table Talk, Integration of the experience

• Farewell Dinner, fun, games, etc...!

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Monday, Nov. 9

• Final reflections and farewells

• Check out at 11:00am

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Payment

The retreat is priced as follows:

 

1.  $1900.00 per person double occupancy

2.  *$1075.00 for local Sojourners not dining with us or staying at the hotel.  

3. **1208.00 for add-on guests who not Sojourners                                                                           

4. Your space can be reserved with a $50 deposit.  Payment in full is due by September 4, 2026.  Payment can be made via Zelle to Sankofasoujourns@gmail.com or Venmo @Gina-Diouf.  Credit and Debit Card Payments will also be available.  ***Please note there may be a 2.9% processing fee for credit/debit card purchases.  Click here to make your deposit payment:   https://www.sankofasojourns.com/_paylink/AZzzX61i

If you prefer to pay in installments the recommended payment schedule for $1900.00 is:

1. 1st installment of $308.00 by 4/3/26- after you've made your $50 deposit

2. 2nd installment of $ 308.00 by 5/1/26

3. 3rd installment of$308.00 by 6/5/26

4. 4th installment of $308.00 by 7/3/26

5. 5th installment of $308.00 by 8/1/26

6. Final installment of $308.00  by 9/4/26

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 Click here to register :                                                                                                                                   or go to bit.ly/AfricatownSojourn2026.

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Payment details are available at the link above or you can click here to put down your deposit: