Grammy-winning Haitian musician and Fugees co-founder Wyclef Jean has spoken openly about his connection to Nigeria on several occasions, tracing his ancestral roots back to West Africa through DNA testing and deep-seated cultural ties.
The musician, who spoke about his affinity with Africa in an interview with One54 Africa, noted that it started when he released the song ‘Diallo’ while in New York, United States. The group he was part of, ‘Fugees ‘, came from the word refugees, and as Haitians, they have a long-standing history with the African continent.
In April 2019, Wyclef publicly shared the results of his DNA ancestry test on social media. He revealed that his genetic breakdown tied him directly to Nigeria, famously celebrating the moment by joining Kizz Daniel’s viral #FvckYouChallenge.
In his video post, he declared:
”I just took my DNA test… 100 percent Nigerian Baba!”
Though most Afro-Haitians carry genetic roots spanning across West and Central Africa due to the transatlantic slave trade, Wyclef’s strong Nigerian marker led him to embrace the identity title “Haitian-Nigerian” whenever he visits the country.
Wyclef’s bond with Nigerian music goes back decades before the Afrobeats global wave. He maintained a close friendship and musical relationship with the late Nigerian music legend Sound Sultan, recording joint tracks such as “People Bad” and “King of My Country.”
He has performed in Nigeria multiple times, including headline appearances at the Guinness Black Gold Concert (2004) and Rhythm Unplugged (2013). During his visits, he frequently expressed that being in Lagos made him feel right at home.
In August 2023, Wyclef reaffirmed his roots while calling for greater international business investment in Nigeria. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “You don’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’re from, and my roots trace back to West Africa, Nigeria being the strongest I’ve seen so far. I’m proud to say Nigeria is open, transparent, and welcoming to international business
”You don’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’re from, and my roots trace back to West Africa, Nigeria being the strongest I’ve seen so far. I’m proud to say Nigeria is open, transparent, and welcoming to international business!”
Wyclef’s journey reflects a broader movement of Afro-Caribbean and African-American artists reconnecting with their lineage through music, lineage tracing, and direct engagement with contemporary West African culture.
