American actress, model and author Gabrielle Monique Union-Wade has recounted a deeply emotional and spiritual experience during a visit to Ghana, describing it as one of the most powerful moments of her life.
Speaking in an interview, Union-Wade reflected on a visit to the River of No Return, a historic site associated with the transatlantic slave trade. She explained that enslaved Africans were taken to the river after long marches, washed and prepared for sale in an effort to present them as healthy to buyers.
As the group walked towards the river, Union-Wade said her mother, who is in her late 70s, suddenly collapsed. With cameras rolling, the actress described fearing the worst. “I thought my mum had died,” she said, recalling the shock and panic of the moment. She added that she distinctly heard what she believed to be her late grandmother’s voice reassuring her that her mother would be fine.
After receiving medical attention, her mother recovered and insisted on continuing to the river. Union-Wade said emotions were already running high by the time they arrived, with visitors dispersing to pray, meditate and reflect individually.
She later noticed her husband standing in the river when, unexpectedly, a heavy downpour began on an otherwise hot, sunny day. Union-Wade described the sudden rain as “cleansing” and symbolic, leaving many present overwhelmed with emotion.
The actress said the experience felt “otherworldly” and reinforced her belief in ancestral connection, adding that moments of remembrance can carry profound personal meaning.