Just call Isaiah Washington 'Chief Gondobay Manga'?

I've seen a lot of cheesy stuff given to celebrities at pre-awards swag suites over the years. But the coolest thing I saw at the GBK Productions Golden Globes Suite this week is an African Ancestry DNA test that can trace maternal and paternal lineage.

A testament to the life-altering impact of the DNA test, former "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington was there to talk about his experience. Basically, it changed his life. "It's very important for us to finally be able to trace our roots," he said. "Until recently, it hasn't been possible."

After the actor swabbed his cheek and sent it to the folks at the African Ancestry DNA test, he discovered that he was a direct descendant of the Mende people of Sierra Leone.

When he visited the Mende tribe, they gave him the ancient name "Chief Gondobay Manga." Inspired, Washington started and funded the Gondobay Manga Foundation.

"I thought, 'Now what?' I sit here making money working on a TV show, I have everything I need. My kids have trust funds set up. What do I do? So I asked them, 'What do you need?' "

So far his organization has helped the Mende tribe build a new primary school in Njala Kendema for 150 students. The next project is the preservation of Bunce Island, a slave castle that housed thousands of African rice farmers who were shipped and sold into bondage in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Then there's the rehabilitation of the hospital in Bo, the second-largest city in Sierre Leone, which serves 1.5 million people. (For more info to gondobaymangafoundation.org. For info on the DNA test, go to africanancestry.com.)

As for the cancellation of the Globes, he's totally in favor of the Writers Guild sticking to its guns, even though he has friends feeling the financial strain.

"I know people with big job titles, huge houses and fancy cars whose basic expenses are $50,000 a month. And right now, they're still living in those big houses and driving the fancy cars, but they can't afford to eat."

Perhaps a short-term micro-finance remedy, albeit Hollywood-style, is at hand. The GBK Suite is donating 20% of the proceeds from the suite to charities, including the Writers Guild and Washington's foundation.

Photo credit: WireImage

Comments

[Bob]

Isn't this guy Homophobic?

[mamatoad]

Whehter he is or isn't is not germane to the article. Let's give him some credit for seeing beyond his own life - using his money to make a bit of the world better.

[chilote]

he'll never work in this town again, go on boy, get back to sierra leone

[Jonathan D.]

No - Isaiah's not a homophobe and played a gay character quite well in Get on the Bus. He was irritated at all the stupid reporter's questions at the last Globes and used a word he shouldn't have but has already appeared on other shows - deservedly. If Imus and Gold Channel Girl can go back to work, so can he. Enough with this nitpicky crap. Of all the a-hole actors in Hollywood he certainly isn't the worst and deserves to continue his career with the rest of them. He's had a long, established career anyway so whatever. I know he doesn't look older, but he's done well a long time.

[TheRedCarpetBagger]

Chilote needs to watch your racism and Jonathan D seems to get his facts confused, since the Globes reaction was AFTER the on-set incident that resulted in his being fired and his cast turning on him. Funny that mamatoad gives him credit for seeing beyond his own world only once it related to him. Too bad he couldnt do that for the gay people he encounters daily.