Celluloid Diaries: Gambia day 2: The roots of Kunta Kinteh

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Gambia day 2: The roots of Kunta Kinteh

roots tv series

Has anyone read Alex Haley’s novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family or seen the TV mini-series based on the book?

In the seventies, both the book and the TV series were a huge success. Roots sold over one million copies in its first year and won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. The mini-series was watched by 130 million people.

In case you wouldn’t know, Roots tells the dramatized story of slavery in The Gambia. It follows author Alex Haley’s family line, starting with his famous ancestor Kunta Kinteh’s enslavement in 1767 to his descendants’ liberation.


Kunta Kinteh Island


Last week, I did an excursion in The Gambia which was entirely dedicated to Kunta Kinteh and his life as it was portrayed in Roots

In the morning, we took a small cruise ship from Banjul to the North bank of the Gambia River. We first disembarked on Kunta Kinteh Island, formerly known as St. Andrew’s Island (named after a Portuguese sailor who died there of malaria). This used to be the last bit of African soil that many slaves saw before being transported in ships to the Americas. 

Before exploring the ruins of this UNESCO World Heritage site, our guide told us about its history, about how the Germans built the fortifications, and how the island becomes smaller due to erosion and might be gone one hundred years from now. 

He also told us stories about slavery in connection with Kunta Kinteh Island. We learned that prisoners were given mandatory names and that the slave trackers raped female slaves so that their children could serve them as well. The women then strangled their own babies to protect them from misery. What makes Kunta Kinteh’s story unique is that he fought to preserve his cultural heritage (like refusing to take the English name that the slave drivers gave him). 

Kunta Kinteh Island is now uninhabited apart from a large colony of Golden Silk Spiders.
  
st andrews island
kunta kinteh island gambia
kuntah kinteh island
slave island
slave yard
golden silk spider gambia

Slavery museum in Albreda 


Next, we left by boat to go to Albreda and Juffureh. 

As soon as we disembarked in Albreda, we were welcomed by a group of waving children and women who performed little tricks while crushing herbs. Poverty reigns in the village. A steady income is as good as non-existent and the inhabitants largely depend on small donations from passing tourists. Many of the villagers begged for money and were unwilling to take no for an answer. Most of them, however, just sat around talking and putting vegetables from one basket into another, while their dogs and goats slept next to them, numbed by the heat. Life is slow in Albreda. 

Our first stop was the Albreda Slavery Museum, which mainly consisted of drawings, pictures, and informational panels. Outside the museum is an exact replica of a slave ship. The museum wasn’t anything special, but I think it’s worth visiting the area as it’s one of the poorest parts of The Gambia and really opens your eyes on poverty and different ways of life.

albreda
children in gambia
gambia women
albreda
albreda museum
albreda slavery museum


Juffureh



We then walked to Kunta Kinteh’s home village Juffereh. Once more, we were struck by the poverty of the place. Juffureh may be a historically important community with a famous ancestor, but life is not treating the people well here. The begging, which now involved tugging at our clothes, made us feel uncomfortable. 

In Juffureh, we also met one of Kunta Kinteh’s descendants. She offered a certificate for sale as proof of our visit. 

juffureh
juffureh gambia
binta kinteh
sunset gambia
africa sunset


Adventure time



After the Roots Experience Tour, we thought the day’s adventure would be over. Actually, it had only just started. 

While we were heading back to the south bank our boat’s motor broke down in the middle of the river. We had to be rescued. That meant waiting for a little canoe to row us to the mainland. 

Back to where we started, we waited for a bus to pick us up at the entrance of Albreda. It was here that we learned that time in The Gambia had an entirely different meaning. Everything in The Gambia lasts twenty minutes, even if it’s two hours or forty minutes. "That’s how the term GMT was invented," our cruise coordinator joked. "You mean Greenwich Mean Time?" "Here it means Gambia Maybe Time. You can never be sure when someone or something will arrive."

After about an hour, a ramshackle little bus took us for an hour and a half drive to the ferry port. During the trip, one of my fellow travelers wanted to open the window but accidentally took out the glass instead. The air smelled of fresh herbs. 

The ferry was a different story. I felt as if we were being transported inside a garbage container. The passengers were mainly locals. Some had their goats on a leash; some carried a coffin. An authentic experience, to say the least. 

Back on shore, we immediately went to Poco Loco to enjoy our evening meals. There was singing on stage and the atmosphere was jolly. The crowd consisted mainly of white, older ladies and their young, black lovers. It was yet another part of this country - the part in which fun, comfort, and money took center stage. A small ginger cat found its way inside and perched itself on my lap - one of the many starving inhabitants of The Gambia.

Disclaimer: The Roots cruise was sponsored by The Gambia Tourism Board, Bamboo Garden Hotel, and SN Brussels Airlines. The opinions are my own.

true story tv show roots the gambia kunta kinteh

63 comments:

  1. What a haunting place.
    And sad that those people live in such poverty. Sometimes we just can't fathom that level of poverty.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I remember watching Roots when it premiered - I was 10 or 11 at the time I think and it made a huge impression on me. How interesting to see all of this now.
    The poverty is so heartbreaking and it really is impossible to imagine.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It always bothers me to find there are so many poor people in this world, its really so sad. The sunset photos are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's hard to imagine what it's like to live in such poverty. I enjoyed reading about your trip, and seeing the photos. I really like the one with the woman wearing the shawl. It looks like something you'd see in a National Geographic magazine.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hallo Vanessa,
    Bedankt voor bezoek op mijn blog, en je reactie.
    Ik zie dat je Nederlands kent, dat maakt het voor mij wel iets makkelijker.
    Jou site ziet er prachtig en verzorgd uit, een stuk leersplezier voor velen.
    Hartelijke groeten Edward.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is absolutely beautiful. Looking at your photos makes me want to go exploring and see wonderful experiences Gambia has to offer. Beautiful photos!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Can't even imagine living that way, but sadly a lot of the world does indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I didn't even know you could take this kind of tour. What an amazing experience. I bet it was sometimes heart-wrenching, especially if some of the begging was from children. :(

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow. Thank you for sharing this. I feel so sorry for people living in such poverty. I'm sure this was an incredible and eye-opening experience. The pictures are stunning, too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a place! Those ruins are amazing... too bad they are riddled with spiders... EEK! Love the faces of the people there. Their faces will stick with me for some time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What amazing pictures from such a heartrending place. Thank you so much for sharing--this was fascinating!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've never read Roots, but I've always wanted to. I have seen the TV series, though. Going to The Gambia would be memorable, haunting, and heartbreaking. The pictures you shared are amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow. Can I just say what an amazing journey that must have been! Beautiful photos and my heart just hurts thinking about slavery and the human races' ability to be so cold and cruel. Though I am not naive as to think that the world rains love and sunshine, I am well aware of our capacity to express the very opposite end of that spectrum. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Knap hoe je het leven en de omgeving weer geeft. Het zijn beklijvende beelden.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I followed the TV series and I may have read the book, I cannot really remember, too long ago. I love the way you report about your experience. Must have been great, even with the discomforts and the break down. I'd have trouble with the begging, though, especially when they start to pull your clothes.
    I should see about getting hold of one of your novels. I'm currently reading Wolf Hall, but not progressing very well.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nice village africa, colored and wonderfull landscpes ,Have a nice week, greeting from Belgium

    http://retriever-louisettesblogs.blogspot.be/2014/11/armistice-tombeau-du-soldat-inconnu.html

    http://louisette.eklablog.com/mes-autres-blogs-p842116

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have not read the book. Now am curious reading this post. will try find it in my local bookstore.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Je ziet het dat jij op het vlak van de media goed beslagen bent. Zowel de tekst als de foto's maken van deze reportage iets héél bijzonders, dank je om dit te delen!
    OT: leuk dat jij ook Tiki-fan bent!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow. I can imagine this was quite the experience. I have to say that I love the color clothing in these pictures. (That was my positive takeaway since I find slavery so sad.)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love all of those photos? Why does it seem like I've heard of Kunta Kinteh?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't mean to put a question mark on the first sentence. I mean to put an !

      Delete
  21. oh wow!
    Just wow.
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you for sharing your trek! That place is eerie with memories. Now I know where Kunta Kinteh is.

    ReplyDelete
  23. That 'Never Again' statue is amazing. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow what an amazing and eye opening experience that must have been... I have a hard time walking past people sitting and silently asking for change here - I can only imagine how difficult and heartbreaking it must have been with them pulling at your clothes and knowing how desperate they must be...

    ReplyDelete
  25. Very interesting. As for "Roots," I read the book and saw the mini-series as well in the 70s. What blockbusters both were! I think I read somewhere online that they are remaking the mini-series now. Wonder if that's true.

    The little ginger cat knew a friend when it saw one.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for stopping by for Wordless Wednesday! :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a humbling experience--I've traveled outside the United States to poorer countries and I always return grateful of the things that I have and the opportunities that I've been given. I can remember seeing bits and pieces of Roots when I was little, and it mesmerized me. While what happened to the people of Gambia was horrific, I am glad that there are reminders there for all of us so that we can continue to fight against oppression and injustice!

    ReplyDelete
  28. What an amazing experience. I've never traveled out of the US except for Mexico, but think it would be amazing to someday.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wow, your description is so raw, I feel like I've started reading the book over again. Such an amazing journey for you to go on, one that you'll never forget...thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a beautiful post! It's hard to imagine life that way. You are an excellent writer! :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is a lovely post. Thank you. What an amazing experience. That statue is powerful.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Oh wow this is so interesting! Thanks for sharing all of this :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Love the Gambia (sounds like my country Zambia - in name only) always have with its history being at the heart of it, its sad state of affairs that poverty has it at. Thanks for sharing your adventures and sharing your thoughts on Gambia.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I've never read roots before, but I bet this was an incredible learning experience. When we went to Haiti, we experienced a lot of begging too, and it's become a way of life.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Such a different world you visited - and while things aren't so prosperous for the people there, I'm glad slavery is no more for them.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi Vanessa - you really encountered all of life here ... humans at their most needy, to those who could afford lovers and live relatively luxuriously ... I didn't see Roots when it came out - I didn't much like seeing those sorts of things - since I've lived in Southern Africa and I've now learnt more history, and saw the film '12 years a Slave' - and understand our role in slavery in 17th, 18th, into the 19th century Britain ...

    Wonderful photos you took .. and thanks for sharing your experience and tour ... love the idea of Gambia Maybe Time ... I'll remember that - cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  37. I remember watching Roots in high school. I still consider it to be one of the best mini-series of all time. How interesting to visit where Kunta Kinteh grew up. It must have been incredibly sad to be surrounded by so many people who didn't know where there next meal was coming from. You captured some amazing photos, and seemed to make the most out of this difficult journey.

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  38. What a heart wrenching experience, but I'm sure you learned a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I remember watching that movie in high school and being so upset by it. Gorgeous photos. What an experience.

    ReplyDelete
  40. What a great post! I spent a few months in Africa, but never got to Western Africa or The Gambia. I look forward now to reading the Roots and planning a trip to this regions. Beautifully written and lovely photographs! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  41. That sounds like such a powerful experience. You recounted it so well - thank you for including so much history. Definitely hard to read at points, but important to know.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Beautiful pictures! We had to watch Roots in high school, and I remember so many emotions coming up and lots of discussion that's for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Oh wow. Thank you so much for sharing this. The poverty is just so saddening.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Interesting post. I haven't seen Roots since the seventies when I was a little girl.

    ReplyDelete
  45. How awesome that they do a Roots cruise. I had no idea!!! Looks like the trip of a lifetime and I LOVE the pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Thanks for enlightening me about this subject! I'm definitely going to have to pick up the book!

    ReplyDelete
  47. I did read 'Roots' in middle school and I was transfixed. What a work of art...

    ReplyDelete
  48. This was fascinating! What a cool trip!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Awesome photos. I'm probably one of the only people in America who hasn't seen Roots -- I'll need to remedy that.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Wow...that is interesting. A Roots cruise...as I said, interesting.

    Thrifting Diva
    www.thriftingdiva.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. I remember seeing Roots, or part of it, on tv. I didn't realize it was based in The Gambia. Was that the movie that helped launch Oprah's career?

    ReplyDelete
  52. I've read the books and also saw it on TV. It had a huge impact on me and my way of seeing many things in life. The tour sounds like an amazing experience!

    ReplyDelete
  53. What a life changing experience this would be. It for sure could be a heart changing moment.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I'm speechless. So many things to comprehend but I'm sure it was an experience you'll never forget. Thank you for sharing with us; I haven't traveled around the world nearly enough and seeing other people's experiences amazes me

    ReplyDelete
  55. I saw Roots as a kid. I want to read the book- it's on my Christmas list.

    Such a beautiful place. So sad that there is so much poverty. I'm sure GMT and lack of knowledge of the area stops many tourists from visiting.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Your photographs are simply beautiful. It's so hard to comprehend living a world so different than what we have come to know here in America. Wow. You are living such an empowering life!

    ReplyDelete
  57. I am speechless. Thank you so much for this post. I can read this over and over again. The pictures are amazing too.

    ReplyDelete
  58. You have been doing some serious adventuring lately.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Ik herinner me Roots nog. Geweldige serie! Erg bijzonder dat je dit van dichtbij hebt mee mogen maken. Je foto's zijn wederom prachtig. Die eerste zwart-wit foto is adembenemend :) Pawkisses :) <3

    ReplyDelete
  60. important source d4b09t3r42 cheap designer bags replica replica bags turkey o1r36j9e18 replica bags near me replica hermes bags m8x82p6r21 replica bags uk replica bags seoul hop over to this website s7n14w2k93 replica bags koh samui

    ReplyDelete