About African Ancestry
African Ancestry traces one direct maternal or paternal line to present-day African countries and ethnic groups. MatriClan follows mitochondrial DNA; PatriClan follows the paternal Y line. These are lineage tests rather than health screens or a full ancestry-percentage breakdown.
Choose a maternal or paternal testCollect cheek swabsReceive your lineage result
Offerings
African Ancestry MatriClan
Est. $309
one-time
Ancestry-only lineage test; no health reports.
What’s included in African Ancestry MatriClan
Included
Your present-day African country and ethnic group; Personalized Certificate of Ancestry; HVR1, HVR2 and HVR3 (hypervariable region) designations and mitochondrial DNA haplogroup
Not included
Results
- Results
- A maternal- or paternal-line ancestry result with the matching country and ethnic-group information where available.
- Timing
- Allow about 6–12 weeks after laboratory receipt.
Collection
Collect the supplied cheek swabs. Use the return label promptly: the domestic prepaid label expires 30 days after purchase.
Reviews
What people praise
Meaningful family connections
Customers describe country and ethnic-group results as a personal starting point for family-history research, conversations with relatives and a stronger connection to their ancestry.
What people complain about
Long waits for results
Some customers describe waiting several months for results, with delayed samples or recollection adding to the wait and updates sometimes requiring a support inquiry.
Stories
Mel
A more meaningful connection to African roots
Before a planned trip to Ghana, Mel and his wife used African Ancestry to learn more about their origins. The country and ethnic-group results gave the journey more meaning and prompted years of research and conversations about family history.
trustpilot.comLeslie Latrice
Giving her maternal ancestry a more specific focus
Leslie had previously received broad ancestry estimates but wanted a closer connection to her roots. Her African Ancestry MatriClan result linked her maternal line to Tuareg people in Mali, giving her a specific culture and place to explore further.
youtube.comThings to know
- Unused-kit returns are time limited.
After shipment, an unused kit must be returned within 30 days of purchase and a restocking deduction applies. No refund is available after laboratory receipt.
- Each lineage is a separate test.
Each lineage test is a separate purchase; family celebrations and memberships are separate.
- Genetic data are not sold or shared.
African Ancestry says genetic data are not sold or shared; lawful court and legal-process exceptions remain.
- PatriClan follows a Y-chromosome lineage.
PatriClan requires a sample with a Y chromosome; MatriClan follows the direct maternal line.
Alternatives
AncestryDNA · AncestryDNA Kit
Provides broad ancestral-origin estimates and relative matching rather than a direct maternal-line result.
$108.95
CRI Genetics · Health + Ancestry
Combines broad ancestry estimates with wellness reports rather than identifying one maternal African lineage.
$109.87
FamilyTreeDNA · Family Finder
Focuses on ancestry and genetic relatives rather than a dedicated direct maternal African origin test.
$48.95
Living DNA · Ancestry
Ancestry-only kit; no health reports.
Est. $99.95FAQs
Will this show all of my ancestry?
No. MatriClan follows one direct maternal line and PatriClan one direct paternal line. They do not provide a full autosomal ancestry-percentage breakdown.