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.
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."
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.
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."
Detra had every fear you have. Every doubt. Every excuse.
And she went anyway.
Ready to Write Your Own Homecoming Story?
Detra's journey started with a single decision: to take the first step.
Yours can too.
Explore Our Upcoming Journeys:
- Ghana Group Trip: May 30 - June 6, 2026 → Book Now
- South Africa Group Trip: July 25 - August 1, 2026 → Book Now
- Thailand Group Trip: September 22-29, 2026 → Book Now
Because you're not a tourist. You're family. 💚💛❤️