June 11, 2025 - Titna, also known as Joshua Roberts, received his Guinea Bissau passport today from Coronel Lino Leal Da Silva, Diretor Geral, da Migrcao e Fronteira e Ministerio do Interior, completing his journey to becoming a citizen in his ancestral homeland.

From left to right, Claudio Altip, Assistant Coordinator, Decade of Return program; Siphiwe Baleka, President of the Balanta B’urassa History and Genealogy Society in America (BBHAGSIA) and Coordinator of the Decade of Retrun program; Titna “Joshua Roberts”; and Coronel Lino Leal Da Silva, Diretor Geral, da Migrcao e Fronteira e Ministerio do Interior

Titna received his permanent residency card back on August 31, 2024 after the Basketball Federation of Guiné-Bissau announced in June of 2023 that American Guard Joshua Roberts would be helping the development of basketball in the country and to add strength to their national team roster. Titna made his debut playing for the Niki Basket team in his ancestral homeland of Guinea Bissau during the U21 AMILCAR CABRAL CENTENARY TOURNAMENT on September 20, 2024.

Titna is departing to play professional basketball in Cape Verde and plans to return to and establish himself in Bissau later this year.

Titna becomes the fifth Afro Descendant to receive their passport in the past 30 days as part of the Decade of Return initiative after the government of the Republic of Guinea Bissau granted the first 20 citizenships in January and February of this year. The naturalization process was launched back in April of 2021 by BBHAGSIA.

“It’s great to see a young man returning home to Guinea Bissau and help develop the sports infrastructure,” said Mr. Baleka, who was the first Afro Descendant and Guinean citizen to represent the country in the African Continental Swimming Championships.