Maternal Line: L2b

L2 is considered to be the signature Bantu haplogroup as it accounts for about half of the genetic lineages found in Bantu populations in the southeastern portion of Africa. Because of the geographic spread due to the Bantu migration, L2 is the most predominant African-American mitochondrial lineage found at 20% in the New World. 

L2 is common among Niger-Kordofanian speakers in the Senegambia region and Gold Coast region. It is also found in descendants whose ancestors participated in the Bantu migration. Interestingly enough, according to Bryan Sykes (2009), the L2 haplogroup was very common amongst the African Burial Ground population, 400 enslaved and free Africans who were buried in the 17^th and 18^th century in New York (Manhattan). L2B haplogroup, dated around 30,000 years old, is generally located over the vast area of West and Central Africa as a result of the Bantu migration. Such haplogroup assignments can potentially shed light on geographical aspects of slavery in Africa during the Trans-atlantic slave trade. It is important to remember that the western coast was not always the origin of our African ancestors but rather the “shipping point”.

L2b might have origins in Guinea-Bissau/Senegal, Southern Africa, and some parts of Central East Africa.

My specific maternal line is

L2b1a3

 

As you can see, L2 is largely confined to West Africa, with some clusters also found in North Africa

 

 

Again, a map shows that L2 is largely found in West and Central Africa.