African Ancestry Reviews 

Life reaffirming!!! As a person who was born and raised in the UK from Jamaican grandparents, who were all a part of the Windrush generation, I've always had that sense of pride, resilience, ambition and communal love. Now I am a 21 year old who absolutley loves the humanities subjects and studies biomedical science at university.

For my 21st birthday, I had a pan-african themed bashment party with the WHOLE village who helped raise me present. With some of the proceeds I gained from my village, I purchased the matriclan and patriclan test in early December 2025. By the 30th January 2026 the two packs arrived, and I activated my test kits, I obtained my cheek samples (3 per pack) and sent the pack off the next day (I advise tracking your package). I was over the moon when African Ancestry announced they had received it. By the end of February I gained the results to who I closely share my Y-DNA (Patrilineal) with in the motherland. Then over a month later, the last day in March, I received my MtDNA (potential delay due to popularity since every person in spite of their sex can undergo the test). For both tests, I received "African DNA" results, and a full breakdown of my Y-DNA and MtDNA (alleles, STRs and SNPs & alleles and HVRs - very useful when further analysing and interpreting results).

Having already undergone Ancestry DNA (autosomal DNA analysis only) which gave me the culmination of the "countries" and regions that people who make up my bloodline likely stem from, the African Ancestry test simply went deeper and added to this mosaic of cultures, people and history in my lineage (think of it like one out of MANY branches of a tree connected to a singular trunk/root). The analysis bypassing the past 500years (the devastating events of the transatlantic slave trade, colonisation and the abhorrent events and forgotten people in between), did so much for my ontological security, my worldview and my future aspirations. I view this insight into my lineage as a gift that keeps giving because it proves to me that continuity and knowledge of lineage is powerful for a person’s outlook on their identity and life - arguably the most precious "possession" a person can have. Lastly, speaking of gifts, I have constructed my family's genealogy which is a culmination of the two DNA tests and family oral history for my family, titled "Our Ancestry". This relearning of continuity and reconnecting to the knowledge of our lineage is a beautiful thing African Ancestry has enabled me to do. "None but ourselves can free our minds" ✨️🌍🇯🇲✊🏾🔑

Multiple failed collection attempts, delayed results, ignored emails, and I only found out there was an issue with my sample after contacting support myself because my account still said “sequencing in progress.” The biggest issue wasn’t even just the recollection it was the poor communication and customer service throughout the process. Based on my experience, I would not recommend this company. Also I still don’t have my results

I did this test in 2008 and my father’s DNA was traced to Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands. I did the same test again in March 2026 and the results were different. This time my father’s DNA was traced to Spain, Germany, and Hungary. This test isn’t accurate

Because African Ancestry is the only ancestry DNA company that identifies African descendant peoples ancestry Ethnic group. Unlike the host of other said companies that only reveal African peoples DNA populated in 54 modern day nations on the Continent of Africa.

It took at least 3 to 4 weeks for my DNA sample to be delivered to African Ancestry. Almost 4 months later I received my test results.

My DNA results from my father indicated that I was a 100% from the people of Gabon in Africa.

I later used another genetic testing provider that I my DNA was from several African countries (95%) and 3 European countries (5%). Non of the African countries were from Gabon. It's very possible my test results were mixed with someone else's DNA test results. I do not recommend African Ancestry for DNA analysis.

If I could rate this company any lower I would. Bought this as a Christmas gift for my daughter and it turned out to be a COMPLETE waste of $300 for them to say you, your mother, your mother's mother, and your mother's mother are 100% European and there are no African women in our database that match your DNA sequence.
Whaaaaattt?? That was it. No further information.
Their database has to be subpar at best. Ancestry has us as 7% Celtic/Gaelic, 4% Nordic, and 3% Western European. West African 71%, Central African 14%, and Southern African 1%. But African Ancestry says there are NO African women in our database that match your DNA sequence, UNBELIEVABLE! Needless to say, both my daughter and I are extremely disappointed and disgusted with this company of supposed African Americans preying on other African Americans and pretending to help them find their roots. Shame on you and may your ancestors "bless" all of you the way you have "blessed" your customers.

PLEASE DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY!!! This company uses false advertising practices to draw in business when they only test for mitochondrial or y chromosome DNA. That makes the product severely limiting and even people with majority African ancestry will be flagged as either being European or Portuguese. They have inadequate databases. They cost more than companies that provide better testing and better data such as Ancestry and 23andMe. I would strongly advise you not to consider this product unless you have some way of assuring that mitochondrial DNA was inherited through generations from a specific region in Africa which is essentially impossible if you are not 100% African. I even found a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and the company refused to acknowledge their false practices or offer any partial refund. Please go look at additional reviews regarding this product and you will see that several of them share similar experiences.

Thank you to those that told their experiences before I made the mistake of purchasing. I haven't purchased the product yet but soooooo glad I came to look at the ratings first. I also know that some rating are people that work for that company to tell good things as well and I hope this isn't the case here. I am on disability and was saving to purchase this, SMH , for this price ,it should be so much better than the others who are priced so much cheaper to give so much information than what the people are saying here. The part that is throwing me is the price to get mainly information of others and not the African side. Which is the reason many are buying this. Please do better or at least lower the prices to build trust. Quality is key not greead of money aka the prices with no real results. I will be checking back to see if a big change has happened in a good way.

First off I took the test years ago and I was completely satisfied with the results. I see a lot of people giving bad reviews not for the service but rather their disdain for their personal results. the truth is many African Americans carry European haplogroups which is why they're getting upset. it's a lack of understanding of DNA haplogroup science. you can be dark skin and still not be paternally or maternally connected to a tribe. even though you have African blood, your fore parents pass their haplogroup to you. example: if a white man has a son with black woman, the son will still have his father's haplogroup. if that mixed son has a son with a black woman, that son will still have a European haplogroup. you can't go off looks. I have a white cousin who shares my paternal haplogroup and we look nothing alike despite our great grandfathers being brothers. so, if you're thinking about taking the test I highly recommend you do it to at least find out. honestly, I would suggest you take multiple tests and compare. I took about 4 different company tests and it all made sense.
*some sites describe regions different and have more or less DNA references which could give you different percentages, but it should be close.

I wish I had read reviews before I fell for the hype. I received patriclan results saying that my father’s line is 100 percent European (Portuguese). This is absurd. My father’s family was held as slaves in Arkansas for generations and I look much like my paternal grandfather. I’m sure they will try to say something like maybe my father wasn’t my father, but that doesn’t work because I have done other tests that have correctly connected me to cousins on my father’s side. From the reviews, I’m seeing that others received the same or similar results, which to me indicates a problem with the patriclan testing. My matriclan results seemed to be accurate, but, then again, how can I confirm.
I have requested a retest or a refund and hope they will respond. I tried calling several times, but have had no success getting through. I was so excited to possibly obtain information at the ethnic group/tribal level, so you can imagine my disappointment in receiving this nonsense. I am very upset and sincerely hope they can make this right so that I can modify or remove this review.

African Ancestry is definitely a game changer because I always knew I am of African descent when I did DNA testing with Ancestry & 23andMe that estimated that I share 97.2-98% Sub-Saharan African DNA in western and Central African countries and I possess haplogroup L2a1f and E-M4451, which gave me an advantage and confirm everything I have researched.

African Ancestry is different because it traces the mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome to one of the ethnics group found in their African Lineage Database and they successfully linked both of my lineages to the Tuareg (Sahel Imazighen) people in Mali 🇲🇱 on my mother’s side of the family and the Fula people in Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼 on my father’s side. Both ethnic groups are semi-nomadic herders and agriculturalists, Muslim practitioners, and trained combatants and still learning more about them through research.

I didn’t stop with two direct lineages because I encouraged my father to take the MatriClan test to find out which ethnic group my paternal grandmother was descended from in Africa and the Yoruba people are the ethnic group in Nigeria 🇳🇬 we share genetic ancestry with and I am currently finding a living male relative on my mom’s side of the family to test her paternal lineage so I can complete the journey.

There are reviews that have 1-2 stars because of the service or they were unhappy with the results tracing their maternal or paternal lineages to a European ancestor, which is understandable.

The key thing to remember is that line that was of non-African origin is one of their many lineages in their family tree and it doesn’t mean they have no African ancestry and can test additional lineages to find African roots and are still part of the diaspora.

Because of the history of the transatlantic enslavement and displacement of our African ancestors and Europeans being in close proximity as a side effect, African Ancestry has no control over the results once they’re extracted and analyzed.

I’d encourage any person from the global African diaspora to test with African Ancestry to find their roots and that they we are more than we are defined by European colonial borders and narratives that describe the African continent in a negative light when it’s beautiful and diverse with 54 countries with each having beautiful cityscapes, cuisines, languages, and ethnic groups.

To end this review, I’m pleased by the overall service and got the privilege of meeting Dr. Gina Paige when I participated in the Live Reveal discovering my roots.

I was very disappointed with the product, that I paid so much for ( much more than any other product of this kind). It was a shock to me, when my Patriclan Certificate results came back stating that, I share DNA with the people of Spain and Portugal. That's all that is stated, absolutely no details about what society, just people. I also think that, there should be another way to obtain results, besides logging in to your account (sometimes technology doesn't work). My Wife sent for a Matriclan DNA kit for me as a gift, also in February. This kit included a certificate to be sent to us also. We can't log into our accounts (Google say, that the saved log in info is invalid). The certificate by mail hasn't come either. Hopefully AA can/will resolve these issues soon for us. It doesn't make me feel good to leave a negative review about the business of Our People. Forgive me, but that's our experience.

I took the test for matrilineal and gifted a test to my half-brother to obtain my patrilineal data. I was pleased with my experience. My brother had a slight hiccup with the return mailing envelope not being included with his initial package. But a call to customer service easily rectified that issue. I had already taken a test with Ancestry years ago and the data matches up with those results. My purchases proved well worth the cost.

My son asked for a test kit in Christmas 2023. The ONLY information that came back that he had 1 male ancestor of Spanish descent. There was nothing there about Africa. Mind you I am Jamaican my wife is Haitian, and we are both clearly black people. My son was very disappointed so for this year we got him a kit from Ancestry.com. It showed he was 1% of Spanish descent, a total 7% European decent but 93% of west African descent. My question is how could a DNA company have missed 99% of his DNA.

I’m very happy with the results that I’ve gotten. I have always known that I’m a descendent from someone that was in slaved with my dad being 98% African, can’t test my mom because she’s deceased but always know I had a connection to Sierra Leone. I’m very happy with my results.. Thank you, African Ancestry

What a terrific experience especially for my son! In school, just like his white classmates he was able to stick a pin on the world map showing which country his ancestors came from. Thank you so much African Ancestry! You made my day.

I am extremely disappointed with the service provided. This company is taking advantage of people who genuinely want to learn about their heritage. I strongly advise against using them and believe they should be shut down for their exploitative practices. Do not waste your money. Look for reputable companies that provide detailed and meaningful results.

Only leaving this one star because I have to. My mom is soooo pro black so of course this is wat she wanted for Mother’s Day. Somehow my shipping address changed to my billing address. They have no where on the site to update it. U will have to email them or wait until 1:00 pm when they have customer reps available.! The email process is trash.! Someone responded to me I gave them the information they asked for within five mins of it being requested of me. Here it is 3 hours later that person still has not emailed me back confirmed they got the information nothing.. my mom is one of them “buy black ppl” nd once again a black company has showed me why I shouldn’t do business with them.

Profoundly unprofessional which is inconsistent with the amount of money they require.

This is the review I want to submit to them, so I’m posting it, as is, here. They don’t make it easy for you to figure out how to post one on their site…

Why doesn’t African Ancestry provide an option for customers to share their results with potential matches, if they choose? That way, people can connect scientifically with those matches and determine their true connection to someone in their same tribe! That could connect test takers, here in the United States, in other countries and more importantly, relatives who, for instance, never left Sierra Leone!

A relative who never left Sierra Leone may be a cousin or other relative of our DNA match to Sierra Leone! Our DNA match may have been ONLY ONE person of a family that was sold into slavery, but others in the family were not! Then, we would be able to trace ourselves back to a specific family within our tribe! Wouldn’t that be a beautiful thing for African Ancestry to provide? The potential truly exists, in this case, since you’ve collected DNA for people living in those communities and tribes, correct?

The way you're doing it, we just have to take your word with no checks or balances. I find that VERY problematic. Other DNA tests, from other companies, connect ACTUAL people, not just to a tribe. I truly believe that should be done to deepen the experience for your customers. Otherwise, you’re leaving very complex information to be shared amongst individuals, in an online community, who know very little about genealogy and DNA.

Then, in the online communities guidelines, we’re told not to discuss other types of DNA products or companies, which to me is a red flag. Why would you have a problem with people discussing other products, if they’ve done tests with other companies? It sounds like something’s amiss and that there’s something to hide. it’s like they tell us at work, not to discuss your salary with other employees. That usually means that not everyone’s being paid fairly, so the “cover your a**” is to tell people not to discuss salary. Do you see what I’m coming from? I did a test with Ancestry.com and it showed 0% of my DNA coming from Sierra Leone. What’s up with that? Your results claim that my DNA is ONE HUNDRED PERCENT FROM A MENDE WOMAN IN SIERRA LEONE. BASED ON THE SCIENCE OF DNA, DO YOU KNOW HOW IMPROBABLE (VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE) THAT IS? DON’T PLAY US FOR SUCKERS.

We need professionals who help us understand what our connections are and how to potentially connect with people who may literally live right down the street!They may come from the same tribe and may have also taken your tests. I urge you to offer this option to us or we have some every tough questions for you to answer. As experienced as you are in this field, you know that what I’m recommending is NOT unrealistic. If you’ve already done the work, shouldn’t you want us to get the true fulfillment of connecting all of us to our true ROOTS in Africa? Not just to a place and to a tribe, but to A REAL PERSON OR PEOPLE? WELL, DO IT! Millions of us NEED TO KNOW THIS! Don’t be like other enterprises who claim to be about helping “our people” only to SCAM, EXPLOIT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF US. We’ve gotten enough of that over the last 405 years. Don’t be yet another who tears away at the little dignity we have left!

P.S. Why don’t you offer more countries and tribes DNA matches? There are many other countries and tribes in Africa, but I think you only offer 10-15 countries’ results… I SMELL A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT…