Adopted just before she turned one, Sarah Culberson was greeted with a shock of a lifetime when she discovered her heritage, Part West African (her father) and part American (mother).
Although in her first year of grad school in her early 20s she had found her mother’s side of the family and additionally discovering her birth mom passed away from cancer, her reservations about meeting her birth father held her back until 2004 at the age of 28 when her whole life changed.
At 28 American adoptee Sarah Culberson found out her true origin as an Princess of Sierra Leone. By birth, a Mende princess of Bumpe in Sierra Leone but that singular heady discovery didn’t just keep her high in the clouds in the glories of new found fame, rather it spurred her to action to make living better for her people. Amazingly both her adopted and birth families teamed up under her lead to serve the people, creating a better life.
In view of being or service to her people, Sarah founded Sierra Leone Rising, a non-profit organization that raises funds to improve education, economic opportunities, and sustainable living for people in Sierra Leone.
In 2009 she co-authored her memoir, titled A Princess Found: An American Family, an African Chiefdom, and the Daughter Who Connected Them All.
Disney is on board The true life story of Princess Sarah Jane Culberson, American dancer, actress, philanthropist, educator, public speaker, and author Aka Lady of Bumpe, now 45.
