Jacob Scipio’s journey to Guyana: A Heartfelt Reconnection with his roots

British actor Jacob Scipio, who is known for his role as ‘Armando Aretas’ in Bad Boys for Life, embarked on a very poignant journey to Guyana, his ancestral homeland. Accompanied by his brothers, it was his first journey to the island of Leguan where his father was born and raised.

This was a trip to reconnect with heritage but also to be immersed into the cultural history of this country, leaving an indelible mark on the people he met.

Leguan in the Essequibo River was the island, on which Scipio based his heritage explorations. Jacob and his brothers visited the ancient St. Peter’s Anglican Church dating back to 1827 during their visit.

The sightseeing of this monument marked a close relationship with their kinship and the rich historical background of the island. The Scipio brothers managed to spare time to affiliate themselves with local societies, which brought them closer to the culture and traditions of their father’s homeland.

However, this was a time of reflection not only personally for Jacob. He also needed to establish meaningful contact with the youth in Guyana. To that end, he visited Leguan Secondary School where he interacted with students where he spoke stories about his own journey in the entertainment world.

It is these words that really inspired the learners to live their dreams. This encounter with Jacob depicts his passion to give back to society and to leave his mark on young people.

He interacted with students at Queen’s College, Georgetown, one of the country’s most prestigious schools. During an animated Q&A session, he candidly spoke about challenges that stood in his face, in the entertainment industry and most importantly, the lessons he learnt along the way.

Such genuineness and humility in him stirred up the hearts of students. It has motivated them to go for their dreams without minding the numerous obstacles that lie ahead. Scipio’s visit reminded people of that, no matter how high he may have reached, he still sticks by his roots and will inspire the coming generation.

Outside the academic world, Scipio also squeezed some time to tap into Guyana’s emerging creative industry. He met with Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Charles Ramson, as well as other officials in the local film industry. He implored students to be diligent in striving to improve themselves and not be bedevilled by trying to outdo others.

His speech on working and keeping faith in potential touched the hearts of all the participants who were encouraged to have a sense of possibility in Guyana’s network of culture and creativity.

The visit to Guyana would be incomplete for Jacob without the intake of what the country has in store for its people in terms of food. At the well-known Backyard Cafe, he tried the Guyanese cuisine, experiencing for the first time the egg ball. Such a short and simple moment further connected him with the community as a whole, giving the travel even a deeper sense of authenticity.

The visit was meaningful and impactful for Jacob Scipio. He revisited his father’s roots on the island of Leguan, passed out some pages of Hope of Destiny to the country’s youth, and captured the growth of the film industry, all which were parts of the self-discovery journey, immersing himself within the culture, and giving back.

Jacob Scipio’s visit comes as a powerful reminder of staying close to one’s roots and using great heights for the motivation required to bring others up for good.