More and more Black Americans are itching to trace their lineage as the culture of ancestral rediscovery takes shape among celebrities.
The latest is former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, who recently flew thousands of kilometres to meet his assumed extended family in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after what he says was a DNA ancestry test revealing his African roots.
“So, DNA… is my key to identity,” Tyson said on his Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson podcast, speaking with his usual mix of disbelief and wonder. “I did my ancestry. I’m a n**** from Congo… ain’t that some BS.”
The words were raw, unfiltered, and authentically Tyson. They landed not just as a personal revelation but as a cultural statement one that resonated deeply in an era where technology, genetics, and identity are reshaping how the African diaspora sees itself.
Mike Tyson was a hit with fans in Kinshasa after embracing his Congolese roots as part of ongoing celebrations for one of boxing’s most iconic fights.
“My trip to Congo was a life-changing experience. The people there are beautiful! I look forward to returning. Very thankful to have met the president Felix Tshisekedi,” he said.
When Tyson’s private jet landed in Kinshasa in October 2025, the moment was charged with symbolism. For millions of Africans and people of African descent, it was a visual full circle one of boxing’s fiercest warriors setting foot on what he now calls “the land of my ancestors.”
Standing before a cheering crowd in Kinshasa, Tyson told local journalists:
“Today, I have stepped on the land of my ancestors.”
He was accompanied by local dignitaries, artists, and members of the Congolese Boxing Federation, who hailed his visit as both symbolic and historic. For a man whose life has been defined by struggle and reinvention, Tyson’s journey to Congo was more than a homecoming it was an act of reclamation.
While Tyson has not publicly disclosed which DNA testing service he used or shared any formal genealogical documentation, multiple outlets including Afroballers, Africanews, and Boxing Africa reported that the test was a “genealogical DNA test” tracing his ancestry to Central Africa.
Whether scientifically verified or not, the emotional truth of Tyson’s trip was clear: he wanted to connect physically and spiritually with the land that shaped his bloodline.
From Brooklyn to Kinshasa: The Fight Beyond the Ring
Mike Tyson’s story has always been one of extremes from poverty in Brooklyn to global superstardom, from heavyweight titles to public scandals, and finally, to redemption through self-reflection.
Yet his journey to Congo added another layer to his evolution: from a man fighting the world to a man seeking to understand himself.
In one of his podcast episodes earlier this year, Tyson mused about the power of DNA to rewrite personal narratives.
“You think you know who you are,” he said, “until some test tells you your ancestors came from somewhere you never imagined. That changes how you see everything your people, your pain, your pride.”
This theme of rediscovery has become central to a growing movement among Black Americans who, through ancestry testing, are seeking to bridge centuries of separation caused by the transatlantic slave trade.
DNA testing, once confined to forensics and medical research, has become a powerful tool for cultural identity. Companies like AfricanAncestry, 23andMe, and AncestryDNA have reported rising interest from African Americans wanting to trace their roots to specific countries or ethnic groups across Africa.
But not all DNA revelations are straightforward. Tyson’s announcement, for instance, has stirred debates about accuracy, transparency, and the ethics of public ancestry claims.
While his Congolese connection hasn’t been independently verified, Tyson’s sincerity and emotional response reflect a much larger truth: the yearning to belong to something older and greater than oneself.
Tyson joins a growing list of Black American stars who have used DNA tests to trace their roots back to Africa and, in some cases, physically return.
- Oprah Winfrey discovered her roots trace to the Kpelle people of Liberia, calling the revelation “spiritually grounding.”
- Whoopi Goldberg learned her lineage connects to the Papel and Bayote people of Guinea-Bissau.
- Samuel L. Jackson’s DNA test linked him to the Benga people of Gabon, a connection that led to an honorary citizenship ceremony in Libreville.
- Forest Whitaker discovered ancestral ties to both Ghana and Nigeria.
- Sheryl Lee Ralph, fresh off her Emmy win, traced her roots to Cameroon, saying, “Now I know the strength I’ve always felt has a name and a place.”
- Even Questlove, the musician and filmmaker, found through DNA that his ancestors were captured from Benin a discovery that inspired his Oscar-winning documentary Summer of Soul.
Together, these stories mark a new kind of homecoming a cultural awakening that flips history on its head. This time, the journey isn’t away from Africa but back to it.
For Tyson, discovering Congolese roots carries a deep emotional weight. The DRC’s story is one of survival and strength from the horrors of colonial rule under King Leopold II to years of conflict and exploitation. Yet it remains a land alive with rhythm, resilience, and spirit qualities that reflect Tyson’s own stormy but transformative life.
Observers were quick to draw parallels between Tyson’s visit and the legendary Rumble in the Jungle the 1974 heavyweight title fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa, then known as Zaire. Organized by promoter Don King and backed by President Mobutu Sese Seko, the event was more than a boxing match; it was a cultural moment that symbolized Black pride and global solidarity. Ali’s stunning eighth-round knockout of Foreman not only reclaimed his world title but also turned the African ring into a stage for empowerment. As the world marked the 50th anniversary of that historic fight in 2024, Tyson’s arrival in Kinshasa carried the same symbolic weight another champion returning to the continent, not to face an opponent, but to embrace his heritage.
Back then, Ali declared, “I’m home,” as Zairians cheered him as a son returning to the continent. Fifty years later, Tyson’s arrival carried a similar symbolism, though born of genetics rather than geopolitics.
DNA is the tiny code inside every cell that makes you who you are. It decides things like your eye color, height, and even certain traits you inherit from your family. We get half of our DNA from our mother and half from our father and through them, a mix from generations of ancestors before us.
When people take ancestry DNA tests, scientists look at small pieces of that code and compare them with DNA from people all over the world. By doing this, they can tell which regions your ancestors most likely came from.
So, if many parts of your DNA match people from Central Africa, it means that somewhere in your family line, your roots probably trace back there. That’s how Mike Tyson reportedly discovered that his ancestry links to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
But it’s important to remember, DNA doesn’t give exact answers like a family name or village. Instead, it paints a bigger picture of where your people came from long ago.
For many African Americans, who lost track of their exact roots because of slavery, this kind of science offers something powerful.
For Tyson, whose life has been marked by public battles with loss, anger, and redemption, that healing process may be the real prize. His trip to Congo wasn’t about politics or publicity it was about standing on soil that felt familiar, even if science could not yet prove why.
In interviews, Tyson has spoken openly about his complex spiritual journey one that has taken him from Islam to mysticism to the use of psychedelics as tools for healing and self-discovery. He often says he believes everything happens for a reason, including what he describes as his reconnection to Africa. His words echo through a new generation of African Americans turning their ancestral discoveries into activism, philanthropy, or artistic inspiration.
Tyson’s visit to Congo concluded with meetings with sports officials and a pledge to support youth boxing academies in Kinshasa. He also hinted at plans for a documentary chronicling his ancestry journey, though no details have been confirmed.
Whether or not Tyson’s genetic claim withstands scientific scrutiny, one truth is undeniable: his story has reignited conversations about identity, origin, and belonging.
