You are one-half the product of your environment (nurture) and one-half the product of your genes (nature). The first part depends on the way you were raised, the resources available, your own choices and decisions and your location. The second part you have no control over whatsoever.

When your parents made you from half of each of their genetic material (in turn, half of each of THEIR parents’ genetic material), they gave you DNA that defines and identifies you for all your life. Unless you’re a criminal, you’re unlikely to have thought of this scientific curiosity very much, but you should.

Why? Because it’s the stuff you can’t change: The way you look, sound, your talents or lack thereof, your genetic predisposition to run or fight, how clever or stupid you are, all the good stuff. So shouldn’t you want to know what that stuff is?

Knowing who your ancestors are isn’t a uniquely African idea, but most people in Africa don’t even know who their grandparents were. They kind of hope the ancestors will find them. I like to know whose DNA runs through my chromosomes, and it’s a fascinating business trying to discover who those people were.

Try it: Draw a chart. First, put your name on the left of a piece of paper.

Then draw a line which splits in two. Put your fathers’ name at the top and your mothers at the bottom. From each of them draw another line that splits in two, citing their father and mother in turn. Do this is as many times as you have information. It’s called a pedigree. Since it doesn’t include siblings or cousins or aunts and uncles, it’s all about who made you. Along the way you’ll find out all kinds of things about yourself – and realise that it’s about as close as any of us come to immortality – the unbroken line of descent is your DNA chasing everlasting life.

If you don’t know where you come from, how will you know where you’re going to? Click here to find out what famous people are in his tree.