Motherland: A Genetic Journey is the story of three people given the opportunity, through DNA searchers, to reconnect to their African roots. With a swab of a person's cheek, their lineage can be traced back as many as thirteen generations to determine the tribe of their ancestors.

Mark's search leads him from London to southern Niger to reconnect with the Kanuri tribe. Jacqueline's exploration reveals that her family comes from Jamaica. After learning her mixed-raced ancestry includes a slave owner, she visits what was once his sugar plantation. Beaula has always felt a deep affinity for Africa. Her test results lead her to the island of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea where the Bubi tribe still resides and welcomes her as a sister. For each person, the reconnection is emotional, but weighted with unanticipated cultural barriers.

Motherland explores the emotional terrain of being cut off from one’s roots. By following these intense journeys of rediscovery and reconnection, the film captures a wide range of identity issues in the African Diaspora.

"I was astounded by the programme - one of the most remarkable I have seen in recent years."
‒Greg Dyke, Director-General, BBC

"Highly Recommended. This film explores the importance of ancestry in determining self-image, and to a certain degree, self-respect. How much does our genetic background, especially the small slice of it examined by this kind of genetic testing, tell us about who we are, and shape how we see ourselves?"
‒Thomas J. Beck, University of Colorado at Denver for Educational Media Reviews Online

"Ground-breaking."
‒The Times (London)

International Documentary Festival, Amsterdam 2003
Prix Europa, 2003
Best Documentary, One World Media Award, 2002