The story of Detra Smith-O'Bryan: Author, visionary, and the woman who almost let fear stop her from coming home
The Woman Who Almost Didn't Go
Detra Smith-O'Bryan had every reason not to go to Ghana.
The flight was too long. Malaria was a real threat. She'd need vaccines. The media had painted a picture of poverty and danger. And honestly? She was scared.
For over 30 years, Detra had built her career helping others overcome barriers—as CEO of an affordable housing nonprofit in Tampa, Florida, she'd spent decades empowering underserved communities to achieve the dream of homeownership. She was a woman of faith, a published author, a certified coach who taught people about mindset transformation.
But when it came to Africa? Her own mindset was holding her hostage.
"I had all the fears," Detra admits. "The long flight. The diseases. What I'd been told about Africa my whole life. I almost talked myself out of going."
But something kept pulling her back. A whisper. A knowing. A feeling she couldn't quite name.
And then everything aligned.
When Your DNA Calls You Home
The first sign came in her DNA results.
Like millions of African Americans, Detra had taken an ancestry test, curious about where her people came from. She expected Nigeria—that's what everyone assumes, right? But when the results came back, there it was: Ghana.
A significant percentage of her heritage traced directly to the place she'd been too afraid to visit.
"I never thought of Ghana," she says. "Ever. It wasn't even an option. Because all you hear is Nigeria, Nigeria, Nigeria."
But now she couldn't unhear it. Her ancestors were calling.
Then came the second sign: Gabrielle Union's 50th birthday celebration in Ghana, which Detra watched on Netflix. Seeing a Black woman she admired celebrating life, heritage, and beauty in Ghana planted a seed.
The third sign: conversations with her Nigerian virtual assistant, T.T., who shared stories of West African culture, history, and connection that made Detra's heart ache with longing.
And finally, the invitation: a dear friend, Tahisha, connected her to an Urban League group trip to Ghana organized by Certified Africa.
Everything was aligning. And Detra, a woman who teaches others to move in faith, knew she had to practice what she preached.
The Moment Everything Changed
Ghana didn't just meet Detra's expectations. It shattered them.
From the moment she landed in Accra, the narrative she'd been told her whole life began to crumble. The infrastructure surprised her. The vibrancy of the city overwhelmed her. The warmth of the people disarmed her.
"It wasn't what I expected," Detra says. "I realized we only see what they want us to see on TV. This was different. This was real."
But the real transformation didn't happen in Accra's streets. It happened in a moment Detra will never forget: the Kente Royalty Photoshoot.
The Fabric That Wrapped Her in Identity
When the Ghanaian women draped the Kente cloth around Detra's shoulders, something shifted.
"There was something about the fabric," she recalls, her voice still filled with wonder. "The way they wrapped me. The way they looked at me."
One of the women stared at Detra for a long moment, then smiled and said: "You look like you're actually from here.”
Detra's husband, Marcus, stood watching, witnessing his wife step into an identity she didn't know she'd been missing.
"I felt it," Detra says. "A connection I can't even fully describe. I wasn't posing for a photo. I was in motion. I was home."
For a woman who'd spent her life teaching others to see beyond their circumstances, Ghana gave her a vision of herself she'd never seen before: African royalty. Rooted. Whole. Free.
The Journey That Broke Her Open
Ghana didn't just show Detra beauty. It showed her truth.
At Cape Coast Castle, Detra stood in the doorway of no return—the portal through which her ancestors were forced onto slave ships, never to see Africa again. History stopped being abstract. It became visceral, personal, sacred.
"I stood there and I thought about them," she says quietly. "My people. What they endured. What they survived so I could be here."
On a three-hour journey to rural Ghana, Detra and Marcus experienced the bumpy, unpaved roads that many Ghanaians navigate daily. Marcus, who'd complained about a rough road in their Florida neighborhood, turned to Detra and said:
"I will never complain about that road again."
Gratitude washed over them both. Perspective shifted. The privilege of their American life became painfully, beautifully clear.
"It made me appreciate where I am," Detra reflects. "But it also made me recognize how strong I am. How strong we are."
What Detra Found in Ghana (That She Didn't Know She Was Looking For)
Detra went to Ghana looking for her roots. She found so much more.
She Found Her Strength
As a self-described Capricorn, Detra admits she's risk-averse by nature. But Ghana taught her that fear is just a story we tell ourselves—and stories can be rewritten.
"I had to coach myself," she laughs. "I'm a certified coach, but I had to sit down and say, 'Okay, Detra. You tell people to move in faith. Now it's your turn.'"
And she did. She got on that plane. She faced her fears. And she emerged stronger.
She Found Her Pace
"Ghana taught me how to slow down," Detra says. "To listen to my thoughts. To connect deeper with myself—not for anybody else, but for me."
In a world that constantly demands more, faster, louder, Ghana whispered: Rest. Be. Receive.
She Found Family
"I didn't feel like a tourist," Detra says emphatically. "Not at all. I felt like we were living there. Like we just got on a bus and went for a good time with family."
The Certified Africa team—especially Carl, who went above and beyond on their last night—made Detra feel seen, cared for, and truly at home.
"Everything was intentional," she reflects. "The way the trip was structured. The storytelling. The history. The photoshoot. Even when things didn't go perfectly, they pivoted with ease. We felt safe. We felt loved. We felt like family."
The Transformation: From "If" to "When"
Before Ghana, Detra talked about traveling to Africa in terms of "if."
If I can get over my fear.
If the timing is right.
If I can afford it.
If it's safe.
After Ghana, everything shifted to "when."
When I go back to South Africa.
When I return to Ghana.
When I bring my children home.
Within months of returning from Ghana, Detra and Marcus booked their next trip: South Africa in September 2026. They're already planning a Thailand trip with Certified Africa in March 2027. And Detra is even considering hosting her own mindset transformation retreat in Ghana or South Africa, bringing her coaching clients home to the continent.
Her children—Detra's mission is clear: pass down the heritage, the connection, the transformation. She wants to do annual family vacations on the African continent instead of to Caribbean or on a cruise.
"My kids need to see this," she says. "They need to feel what I felt. They need to know who they are."
The Author Who Practices What She Writes
Detra is the author of The Mindset of Me: I See Fishes - Vision Beyond Circumstance, a book rooted in a childhood story that became her life philosophy.
When Detra was little, her neighbor would take her to see an aquarium. Detra would excitedly describe the colorful fish swimming through the water—vivid, alive, beautiful.
But here's the thing: There were no fish in that aquarium. Just rocks and coral.
Detra saw what wasn't there yet. She had vision beyond her circumstances.
And that's exactly what brought her to Ghana.
When fear said, "It's too far, too dangerous, too unknown," Detra's vision said, "But what if it's home?"
When doubt whispered, "You don't belong there," her faith declared, "My ancestors are calling me."
She saw the fish. And then she went after them.
"If you say you have faith," Detra teaches, "you have to move in faith—even when the clarity isn't there yet. You have to take the first step."
Ghana was her first step. And it changed everything.
Her Message to You: The One Still Hesitating
If you're reading this and thinking, "I want to go to Africa, but..."—Detra has something to say to you.
"Take the first step. Don't think of it as just a trip—it's an enlightenment. It's an expansion. It literally expanded my perspective on everything."
"Remind yourself who you are. We all are descendants of the same ancestor. Don't let fear dictate your possibilities."
"Be open-minded. Don't go over there closed. Open yourself up completely—like you're starting a new relationship. Go over there, remember who you are, and let the country do the rest."
"I guarantee you'll come back clearer minded. It will change your view of the world. It changed mine."
Detra had every fear you have. Every doubt. Every excuse.
And she went anyway.
Now she's planning her third trip with Certified Africa. She's bringing her family. She's hosting retreats. She's using her Ghana experience in her coaching and speaking.
Ghana didn't just give Detra a vacation. It gave her a vision of who she's always been—and who she's becoming.
What's Next for Detra?
Detra isn't done coming home.
This September, she and her family are heading to South Africa for 10 days of history, wildlife, worship, and wonder. They'll walk through Soweto, stand at the top of Table Mountain, visit Mandela's house, go on safari in Pilanesberg, and worship with local believers in Johannesburg.
In March 2027, she's bringing a group to Thailand with Certified Africa.
And somewhere on the horizon? A mindset transformation retreat in Ghana or South Africa, where Detra will guide others through the same internal journey she experienced—connecting mindset work with heritage travel, helping people come home to themselves while coming home to Africa.
"I'm all about connection," Detra says. "And there's no connection deeper than the one you find when you come home to the Motherland."
The Detra Effect: When One Transformation Becomes Many
Detra's story doesn't end with her.
She's becoming a bridge—just like Certified Africa—connecting the diaspora back home.
And that's the beautiful truth about transformation: it's contagious.
When one person breaks through fear and steps into their heritage, they light the way for others. When one CEO says, "I was scared, but I went anyway," it gives permission to the teacher, the nurse, the entrepreneur, the retiree who's been waiting for a sign.
Detra is that sign.
And if her story is resonating with you right now—if you feel that familiar pull, that whisper, that knowing—then maybe it's time to stop asking "if" and start planning "when."
Ready to Write Your Own Homecoming Story?
Detra's journey started with a single decision: to take the first step.
Yours can too.
Whether you've taken a DNA test and discovered your Ghanaian, Nigerian, or Senegalese roots... whether you've been inspired by a film, a book, or a friend's photos... whether you've been curious for years but held back by fear... your ancestors are calling you home.
And when you're ready, Certified Africa will be here—just like we were for Detra—to hold your hand and walk with you every step of the way.
Because you're not a tourist. You're family. 💚💛❤️
🌍 Explore Our Upcoming Journeys:
Mark your calendars! Here are the adventures we have planned for our CA family:
- Ghana Group Trip: May 30 - June 6, 2026 → Book Now
- South Africa Group Trip: July 25 - August 1, 2026 → Book Now
- Ghana Twins Festival / Homowo: August 14-15, 2026 → Book Now
- Thailand Group Trip: September 22-29, 2026 → Book Now
- Ethiopia Group Trip: November 1-12, 2026 → Book Now
- December in Ghana Group Trip: December 1-10, 2026 → Book Now
- Ghana New Year Experience: December 24, 2026 - January 2, 2027 → Book Now
- Zanzibar Group Trip: January 29 - February 4, 2027 → Book Now
- Trinidad Carnival: February 5-10, 2027 → Book Now
Whether you're ready to book or just dreaming, we're here to help you find your perfect adventure.
💌 Connect with Detra:
Detra Smith-O'Bryan is a CEO, author, certified mindset coach, and speaker based in Tampa Florida. Her book, The Mindset of Me: I See Fishes - Vision Beyond Circumstance, is available on Amazon.
If Detra's story resonated with you, or if you're interested in mindset coaching , visit her website at mindsetofme.com, connect with her on social media at @dsmithobryant, or reach out at author@mindsetofme.com.
And if you're ready to start your own transformation journey to Africa, we're here. Reach out at contact@certifiedafrica.com or join our WhatsApp Community to connect with travelers who've already come home.
Welcome to the family. 🌍✨