Adopted biracial man finds out he’s an African prince
CVK
Soooo cheesy, but I saw it on Good Morning America this morning and had to report back. So Marty Johnson, this regular guy in Minnesota decides he’s going to look for his birth parents. He finds his mom pretty quickly, who explains that he was born after a brief affair she had with this Nigerian exchange student.
He begins to track down his birth father, and all of a sudden one day he receives a letter in the mail that reads “Welcome to the Ogike dynasty! You come from a noble and prestigious family.” It turns out that his father is chief of Aboh village in Nigeria, considered royalty in that part of the world. As the chief’s first-born son, Johnson was in line to inherit the throne. Johnson traveled to Nigeria to meet with his African family, and a writer for GQ went along for the ride and wrote about it in this month’s issue (of COURSE they had to title the article “The Fresh Prince”–so predictable).
There was a really painful moment in the segment when Diane Sawyer tried to convince Johnson to demonstrate the tribal dances he learned while over there. Luckily, he begged off.
April wrote:
I just finished reading that, and then I thought I’d report it back to you… but NOPE, you’ve taken care of it!!
Posted 03 Jun 2005 at 9:18 am ¶
April wrote:
Hey, you should make a button for your site; I’d love to have it on my website.
Posted 03 Jun 2005 at 9:18 am ¶
Revolution wrote:
As a half-Zimbabwean with similar ties to my father’s family’s royal past, I think that story was great, I wish Chinenye Ogike and his family all the best.
Posted 03 Jun 2005 at 11:05 am ¶
Renu wrote:
WOW. Thanks for posting this, Carmen! What an amazing, touching story; I have to admit I got choked up more than a few times, reading the article. Something about finding the family you come from, and the place where you “belong,” that instantly becomes “home” gets me every time…
Posted 03 Jun 2005 at 1:54 pm ¶
Marty wrote:
Carmen- there is another article in this month’s (June) GQ that you might find interesting for your site here. Unfortunately it isn’t posted online. The article “The Critic” this month discusses why you won’t see Will Smith (or insert black male actor of your choice here) playing opposite a white actress in a romantic role anytime soon. Well thought out by the author.
As for the dance that Diane Sawyer asked me about- that was just a joke that we had going before we went on air. She had seen a video that Jason (the GQ writer) had taken of me dancing with my sisters and my cousins while at a party in Lagos and asked me if I would show that dance to her. I told her she would have to come to Nigeria for that. Just a running gag and nothing to take offense over.
(I didn’t really think the segment was cheesy though… but I haven’t seen the tape yet. Most people have told me it was great- but I guess they are mostly family.)
Posted 05 Jun 2005 at 4:47 pm ¶
Mister13 wrote:
Incredibly odd story , one which kind of makes you wonder how many more princes and princesses we have in America who have been robbed of their heritage.
Posted 13 Jun 2005 at 1:21 am ¶
The Wife wrote:
What a wonderful story! After the birth of our daughter Alyssa, Marty felt more compelled to investigate his biological birthrite. It wasn’t until his son, Jacob “GT” was born that he felt obligated to do right by his children. Fortunately, his birth mother was seeking him out at about the same time. Cinerella can’t compare to true life.
I don’t believe Marty was “robbed” of anything. He had a wonderful life with a family who loved him. He met and married a woman (me) who was actively seeking out her biological past. It was a natural progression for Marty to do the same. This is our children’s heritage.
Posted 28 Jun 2005 at 2:20 am ¶
Kathleen wrote:
I’m Marty’s Irish mom. Nothing cheesy about a family finding each other and developing a relationship that was cut off 37 years ago. Marty’s father and I did not have a brief affair. We developed a friendship that has been renewed by my finding our son and our son finding his father. The 3 families Marty is now connected to are all getting acquianted. My 2 daughter and 5 other grandchildren get to see Marty and wife and kids every year now since my first meeting with him in March 2001. My daughter and her husband treated me to the airline ticket that allowed me to meet him again after all those years of wanting to find him and hoping he got the family I could not provide. He did. I am so grateful for the life he was able to have with his Mom and Dad in Omaha, Nebraska. Last year I met Juanita at his 40th birthday party. I have met many of John’s family here in the US. He has several siblings who have emigrated and they have not only welcomed Marty into their hearts but have treated me like a family member as well.
In March I saw John again for the first time in 41 years. We are both pleased about this wonderful opportunity to have Marty as part of our families. John’s wife has welcomed Marty into her family of 6 other children. John gave Marty and his family Nigerian names this year when he visited them in Minnesota after visiting here in California. I was able to give Marty the name he still uses. I picked John Martin O’Connor as his name at birth. John and I called him Martin while I was waiting for him to be born. All that I hoped for him was given to hime by the wonderful family who raised him. That he calls me Mom too now is a joy to me.
Posted 03 Jul 2005 at 8:17 pm ¶
OBIANUJU OGIKE ANOKWUTE wrote:
HEY!,
WHATS ALL THIS ABOUT THE STORY BEING CHEEZEY, I GUESS WHO EVER WROTE THAT PIECE NEEDS TO BE PROPERLY EXAMINED,HE/SHE MIGHT HAVE SOME ISSUES THEY NEED TO DEAL WITH IF THEY CAN’T RECOGNIZE A TRUE HEARTFELT STORY WHEN THEY SEE ONE.I JUST FEEL SORRY FOR WHOEVER MADE THAT COMMENT COZ, IT SHOWS HOW AND WHAT THE PERSONS EMOTIONAL STATE IS.
Posted 25 Sep 2005 at 3:12 pm ¶
OBIANUJU OGIKE ANOKWUTE wrote:
BY THE WAY AM MARTYS SISTER FROM NIGERIA AND I AM REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE FOUND MY BROTHER NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS TO SPOIL IT.
Posted 25 Sep 2005 at 3:13 pm ¶
OBIANUJU OGIKE ANOKWUTE wrote:
well no one would blame you
Posted 03 Jan 2006 at 5:24 am ¶
Noemie Esposito Akinyele wrote:
Well..well….well! I feel that this story is a very heart warming homecoming between a son and his estranged mother. I am also a child of an interracial marriage, my mother is from Nigeria (West Africa) and my father is half Irish and Italian. I don’t have much to say, other than to say that I am happy for Marty and his family, and it’s now a relief that they can finally move on with their lives, and try to make op for lost times. As for those individuals who believe that this story was “cheesy”, I feel that is of very low thinking, and it’s utterly disrespectful for one who has no knowledge of someone’s painful history to just make a bitter comment…….that person must just be as bitter as thier bitter tongue! ciao
Posted 03 Mar 2006 at 1:33 pm ¶