American rapper Maino has discovered through a DNA ancestry test that his maternal lineage traces back to the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria.
The revelation was shared during an appearance on the “Way Up” show with Angela Yee. According to the ancestry discovery session, researchers found matches between Maino’s maternal DNA and the Yoruba people.
The host explained that the Yoruba have a spiritual system spanning 3,000 years, passed down through oral tradition and spread across multiple continents, including communities in Nigeria, Brazil, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the United States.
Maino, whose real name is Jermaine Coleman, asked whether his ancestors necessarily came from Nigeria. The response indicated that the people matching his DNA are indigenous to modern-day Nigeria. “The people who we found matches for with you are indigenous to what we call Nigeria today,” the host said.
He was told that Yoruba identity is tied to cultural traditions rather than distinct physical features and that he would need to travel to the southwestern part of Nigeria to connect directly with the community.
Maino reacted with a sense of personal connection. “I’ve been in Nigeria because I’ve been there. I felt like some energy. You understand? Like when I got there, no, we Nigerian, bro,” he said.
@theedellydior99 #fyp #AfricanAmericanTikTok #AfricanDiaspora #AfricanAncestryDNA #BlackCommunity ♬ original sound – theedellydior99
Maino is widely known for his 2008 anthem “Hi Hater” and the platinum-certified hit “All the Above” featuring T-Pain. The Brooklyn rapper has since expanded into reality television, independent label ownership and podcast hosting.
The DNA result places him among a growing number of African Americans tracing their ancestry to specific ethnic groups in West Africa.
