Ye-Ruqor Heritage Retreat · Newton Village, Sierra Leone
An 8-day ancestral homecoming in a living Temne village — intimate, intentional, and built by someone who made the journey herself.
The eldest daughter has returned — and she built something for everyone still finding their way home. Ye-Ruqor is a heritage compound in Newton village, Sierra Leone, built by Dr. Aisha Abdul Rahman — archivist, genealogist, Temne woman, and Sierra Leone citizen — after tracing her lineage through DNA testing, receiving her Temne name from a chief, and obtaining Sierra Leone citizenship in 2022.
She is Temne. She built in a living Temne village. Space is intimate and intentional. Only four guests per retreat.
The experience
You will receive a Temne name in Newton village, facilitated through the section chief. This is the moment everything changes.
Eight days rooted in Temne language, traditional cooking, market visits, ancestral sites, and connection with village elders.
Personal genealogy sessions with Dr. Aisha — research strategy, DNA interpretation, and ancestral documentation grounded in identity and healing.
Solar powered, Starlink connected. Built in a living Temne village — you won't be visiting Sierra Leone, you'll be living in it.
Intentionally small. This is not a tour group. Every detail of the experience is curated for the four people in the room.
"I didn't just visit Sierra Leone. I tested my DNA, traced my lineage, obtained citizenship, received my Temne name from a chief, and built a compound in my ancestral village. This retreat is the culmination of a 20-year journey — not a travel package."Dr. Aisha Abdul Rahman, PhD · Archivist · Genealogist · Sierra Leone Citizen · Author of Tracing Our Roots, Reclaiming Our Legacy
Location
Newton Springs Village, Sierra Leone
Duration
8 days · 7 nights
Group size
Limited to 4 guests per retreat
Opening
Retreats opening soon — join the waitlist
Join the waitlist now. Space is extremely limited and when doors open, they open to a short list.
Join the waitlistVisit the full Ye-Ruqor website for the complete retreat experience, our story, and everything you need to know before you come home.
Visit yeruqor.com