Ye-Ruqor Heritage Retreat · Newton Village, Sierra Leone
You were always from somewhere. Now you can go back.
An 8-day ancestral homecoming in a living Temne village — intimate, intentional, and built by someone who made the journey herself.
This is not a group tour. This is a curated homecoming.
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 Aisha LaDon Abdul Rahman, MLIS, PhD — 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
Eight days. Seven nights. West Africa.
Naming Ceremony
You will receive a Temne name in Newton village, facilitated through the section chief. This is the moment everything changes.
Cultural Immersion
Eight days rooted in Temne language, traditional cooking, market visits, ancestral sites, and connection with village elders.
Genealogy Guidance
Personal genealogy sessions with Aisha — research strategy, DNA interpretation, and ancestral documentation grounded in identity and healing.
The Compound
Solar powered, Starlink connected. Built in a living Temne village — you won't be visiting Sierra Leone, you'll be living in it.
Only 4 Guests
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."Aisha LaDon Abdul Rahman, MLIS, 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
Price
$4,000 to $5,000 · Waitlist only
Questions
Before you join the waitlist
How much does the Ye-Ruqor Heritage Retreat cost?
The retreat is priced between $4,000 and $5,000. The exact price will be set before the first retreat opens. Right now the retreat is waitlist only.
When is the first retreat?
The first retreat is in 2027. People on the waitlist hear first when dates open.
How many people attend each retreat?
Four. It's intentionally small so that every part of the eight days is shaped around the four people there.
Is this a tour of Sierra Leone?
No. You live in a heritage compound in Newton village, a living Temne community, for eight days and seven nights. You receive a Temne name in a naming ceremony facilitated through the section chief, and you spend your days with the language, the cooking, the markets, the ancestral sites and the elders.
Do I need to have traced my roots before I come?
The retreat is built for people who have already started their research. It's where the paper trail becomes a homecoming. If you're at the beginning, start with the book or a Discovery Call.
What is the compound like?
It's solar powered and connected by Starlink, inside Newton village. I built it after tracing my own lineage, receiving my Temne name and becoming a Sierra Leone citizen in 2022.
How do I reserve a place?
Join the waitlist. Space is limited to four guests per retreat, and the waitlist is the only way in.
Your name is waiting for you in Sierra Leone.
Join the waitlist now. Space is extremely limited and when doors open, they open to a short list.
Join the waitlistLearn more about Ye-Ruqor
Visit 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