Lilith,

Permit me to suggest Liberia. As it is a West African country (bordered by Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Sierra Leone), it has associations with the New World nations which East African countries lack. Additionally, Liberia was founded by repatriated American salves, so there is a special thread which can be explored (they are referred to as Americo-Liberians). Several of the city and town names in Liberia have American roots, so there is another connection.

Good luck.

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Eudaimonia