# Event Details - **Event Name**: The 2026 North Carolina Rice Festival "Ancestry Reveal" Event - **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 05 Mar, 2026 at 06:00 pm – Thu, 05 Mar, 2026 at 09:00 pm - **Event Description**: Local African American residents learn results of DNA tests tracing their lineage to groups from the rice-growing regions of west Africa.About this EventFrom the 17th through 19th centuries, untold numbers of West Africans from the fabled Rice Coast regions of that continent were brought directly to southeastern North Carolina--expressly for their skills in cultivating rice, which was dubbed "Carolina Gold" for the riches it yielded local plantation owners. The North Carolina Rice Festival's Ancestry Reveal event was created to explore the connections between local African American residents in the once-thriving rice-growing areas of Brunswick County and the people of the Rice Coast, whose descendants are today called the Gullah Geechee. Join us for a family-friendly evening of sharing and discovery as we reveal those connections and kick off a three-day "menu" of rice-related activities.Our 2026 PRESENTERDR. GINA PAIGE, CO-FOUNDER OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY, INC.Dr. Gina Paige (Hausa, Fulani) is the co-founder and current president of African Ancestry, Inc. In 2003, she helped to pioneer a new way of tracing African lineages using genetics. By doing so, African Ancestry created a new marketplace for people of African descent looking to more accurately and reliably trace their roots. Since then, Paige has traveled the world helping people demystify their roots and inform on identities so that they may better understand who they are by knowing where they’re from.Paige has worked with and revealed the roots of the world's leading icons and entities including Oprah Winfrey, John Legend, Chadwick Boseman, Spike Lee, Condoleezza Rice and The King Family. She also has served as speaker, presenter and/or partner to McDonalds, Capital One, The Walt Disney Company, Booz Allen Hamilton, Wells Fargo, The Wall Street Health Forum, New York Times Travel Show, United Healthcare and dozens of community organizations and faith-based entities. She’s often a go-to resource for African Diaspora communities including the embassies of Cameroon and Ghana; The Year of Return 2019 event, "From Jamestown to Jamestown" with the NAACP; the Back2Africa Festival in Cape Coast; and various African nations' tourism authorities and leaders.Paige has been a featured guest on hundreds of media outlet programs including "The Breakfast Club," Hot 97-FM, Time magazine, USA Today, "60 Minutes," "NewsOne Now" with Roland Martin, "HuffPost Live" with Marc Lamont Hill, "The Joe Madison Show," Sister Circle Live, Essence, The New York Times, "The Tom Joyner Morning Show," FOX Business News, Reuters, Canal Media Company, Black Enterprise, Ebony, NPR, Metro Source Urban Radio, American Urban Radio Networks, The Grio.com, and TheRoot.com, among many others. Her work is often featured on PBS’ "Finding Your Roots" program with Henry Louis Gates Jr. as well as "African American Lives 1 & 2", The Africa Channel, NBC’s "Who Do You Think You Are?" and CNN’s "Black in America" series. She created and served as co-host of SiriusXM radio's, "African Ancestry Radio" program.Born into a family of entrepreneurs, Paige launched her first business at age eight, self-publishing a children's magazine to raise money for an amusement park visit. While a student at Stanford University, she created and sold “Pik-A-Pak” care packages to help families stay connected with their student children. She earned a degree in economics from Stanford and later an MBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. Prior to founding African Ancestry, Paige founded and served as president of GPG Strategic Marketing Resources. She was honored with an honorary doctor of philosophy degree from Global Oved Dei Seminary University.Dr. Paige currently resides in Washington, DC. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/c1dab0d0-f30b-11f0-a0d9-23f031643b6b-rimg-w824-h740-dcbbc4bb-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/c204ce10-f30b-11f0-a977-c54f66ab18e0-rimg-w1113-h740-dc424345-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events2/banners/c2357b00-f30b-11f0-b1e4-475f0e34b788-rimg-w716-h740-dcf1f1f1-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/c25251d0-f30b-11f0-a0d9-23f031643b6b-rimg-w1113-h740-dc13171b-gmir.jpg https://youtu.be/eeGjCoefpmk - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/navassa/the-2026-north-carolina-rice-festival-ancestry-reveal-event/100001980591444326 - **Event Categories**: festivals, business, health-wellness - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Navassa - **state**: NC - **country**: United States - **location**: Navassa Community Center - **lat**: 34.2564918 - **long**: -78.01087629999999 - **full address**: Navassa Community Center, 338 Main Street, Navassa, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: The 2026 North Carolina Rice Festival "Ancestry Reveal" Event - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/dccfa84eda94b4d8eed307e4f4bfeed4d6f5b4cc0186e4e75aeb62192eac5e95-rimg-w1200-h552-dc000000-gmir.png?v=1768589235 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is The 2026 North Carolina Rice Festival "Ancestry Reveal" Event being held? - **A:** The 2026 North Carolina Rice Festival "Ancestry Reveal" Event takes place on Thu, 05 Mar, 2026 at 06:00 pm to Thu, 05 Mar, 2026 at 09:00 pm at Navassa Community Center, 338 Main Street, Navassa, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing The 2026 North Carolina Rice Festival "Ancestry Reveal" Event? - **A:** The 2026 North Carolina Rice Festival "Ancestry Reveal" Event is organized by North Carolina Rice Festival, Inc.. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** The 2026 North Carolina Rice Festival "Ancestry Reveal" Event is ideal for festival lovers, culture enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a vibrant, immersive community experience. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Navassa, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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