TRIBUTE TO MR. ERIC SHEPPARD – “MUBITA” (USA)
The people of Barotseland, Western Province have received with deep sadness the news of the passing of Mr. Eric Sheppard, fondly nicknamed “Mubita” by His Majesty the King of Barotseland, Litunga Lubosi Imwiko II, which occurred yesterday, 25th October 2026 in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA.
Who was Mubita?
Eric “Mubita” Sheppard was a distinguished African-American businessman, genealogist, and Pan-African visionary. He was the President, Founder and Visionary of Mubita LLC, a business tourism and international project development firm based in Williamsburg, Virginia, and its legacy company Diversity Restoration Solutions, Inc. (DRS).
He was the visionary leader behind:
- The Economic Unity Force (EUF)
- The Africa Homecoming Pilgrimage™️
- The Wall of Return and Restoration Center
His life’s mission was captured in his company motto: “Acknowledge Our Past and Embrace Our Future” – to help descendants of the enslaved in America restore relationships severed by slavery and build mutually beneficial trade with Africa.
His personal journey started in 1996 with family genealogy research, leading to the discovery in 2001 of the 1843 slave narrative of his ancestor, Moses Grandy. That discovery ignited his passion to reconnect with his ancestral roots in Africa.
Connection to Barotseland:
Western Province was not a random choice for Mr. Sheppard. He identified Barotseland because of King Mulambwa, the 10th Litunga of the Lozi, who is remembered for abolishing slave trade in the Kingdom. Through this historic link, he worked closely with the Barotse Royal Establishment, led by Induna Namamba, and the Zambian Government.
In 2019, he was the driving force behind the African-American Homecoming 2019 – 400 Years After Slave Trade, whose ground-breaking ceremony for the Global Centre at Sefula, Mongu District, was graced by the Zambian Government through the Tourism Minister Dr. Charles Banda. The Government described his initiative as a window to connect Zambia to the US tourism and investment market.
His dream, the “Homecoming” Concept, was to create industries in Western Zambia – tourism, culture, agriculture and manufacturing – so that African-Americans returning home would find not just a ceremony, but livelihoods and factories built by their own brothers and sisters. It is for this reason His Majesty the Litunga honoured him with the Silozi name Mubita – a name of trust and belonging.
Legacy:
Mubita LLC’s contact remains: info@mubita.net, http://www.homecomingdc.com. He leaves behind a vision of a Wall of Return at Sefula, where names of returning families would be engraved.
The people of Mongu, Kalabo, Senanga, Kaoma and Sesheke – where he hoped to see solar and other industries – will remember him as a son who came home.
MHSRIP.